Val Athanassiou，Val was born on August 9, 1969 in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia to Antonietta (Canu), a dressmaker, and Arthur Athanassiou, a surveyor. His family moved to Cootamundra and then to Sydney, where Val worked as an Accounts Clerk, Bartender, Security Guard, Barista and Waiter. He originally sought a sales career in the burgeoning Home Video industry.