Across the cobblestone streets and historic piazzas of Torino, Italy, art takes many forms. But few creators possess the boundless, Renaissance-man versatility of Chris Heaven.

At 54 years old, Chris isn't just a cosplayer—he is a living crossover event. An actor, singer, writer, comic artist, and veteran costumer, Chris has been bringing characters to life since the golden era of fandom in the 1990s. While his portfolio features dark, theatrical icons like Freddy Krueger, Sweeney Todd, Supernatural's Crowley, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Agent Phil Coulson, his crowning achievement is something far more rare in the fandom world: an original character that took on a life of its own.

As part of our Cozzers Over 50 segment, COZ Magazine sat down with the Italian creator to discuss his origins in '90s sci-fi fandom, his actor’s approach to costuming, and the creation of his legendary web-series hero, Vincent Kosmos.

To understand Chris's longevity in the community, you have to trace his roots back to the decade where modern fan conventions were first finding their footing.

"I started cosplaying back in the 90s," Chris reflects. "I was in a Star Trek group."

Stepping into Starfleet uniform during the peak of 1990s sci-fi television gave Chris his first taste of the immersive magic of fandom. But where many cosplayers remain strictly within existing franchise boundaries, Chris’s background as a professional performer continuously pushed him to create. In 2008, he channeled his passion for storytelling and time-travel adventure into his own original creation: Vincent Kosmos.

What started as a character concept exploded into a full-scale multimedia universe. Over the years, Chris wrote, produced, and starred in a staggering 128 web-series episodes as Vincent Kosmos, authored three books, and published comic runs starring his signature time-thief hero.

What truly sets Chris apart in the Cozzers Over 50 category is his rigorous, cinematic approach to embodiment. When Chris prepares a new character—whether it’s Captain Hook, the sinister Demon Crowley, or the razor-wielding Sweeney Todd—he approaches the process less like a costumer and more like a Stanislavski-trained cinema actor.

"When I start a new character, I do the same job as a film actor," Chris explains. "I study the character thoroughly, exploring their psychology, their mannerisms, and everything about them."

That deep theatrical discipline allows Chris to transform entirely on camera and on the convention floor, capturing the subtle posture, vocal cadence, and inner life of the figures he portrays.

"It's easy if you don't care about people's judgment."

When asked about the hurdles and lessons learned across more than three decades of costuming, Chris offers a short, brilliant piece of philosophy delivered with a knowing chuckle:

"It's easy if you don't care about people's judgment," he says simply.

That fearless independence is precisely why Chris continues to innovate without burn-out or hesitation. When you build for the pure love of the craft, negative opinion simply evaporates like mist over the Po River.

As for how long the Italian actor and comic artist plans to stay in the game? While he currently doesn't have any new builds waiting on the workbench, his dedication to the art form remains absolute. His timeline for retiring from cosplay?

"Till death do us part."