- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAntonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio
- Nicknames
- Il Principe
- Il Principe della Risata
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- 'Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio' was a descendant of the 'Comneno di Bizanzio' and also one of the most popular Italian film stars in history. His genre was undoubtedly the comedy where he achieved world fame. From 1917 he was an actor of the companies of the "comedia dell'arte" and also poet in Neapolitan dialect. In 1939 he started his career at the movies and as "Gaspare" in I due orfanelli (1947) he had his big breakthrough.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Volker Boehm
- Natural son of Anna Clemente and Giuseppe de Curtis (son of Marquis de Curtis). In 1929 lives with Liliana Castagnola famous cafe-concert singer who comittes suicide after being abandoned in 1930. In 1932 marries Diana Rogliani and has a daughter in 1933 named Liliana in hommage to previous lover. In 1933 adoptted by Marquis Franc isco Maria Gagliardi Focos from who inherites the titles. In 1951 began to live with Franca Faldini until his death- IMDb Mini Biography By: <carlos.a.ilharco@telecom.pt>
- Born in 1898, son of Anna Clemente and Giuseppe de Curtis, son of a Marquis. As a youngster, he preferred sports to studying, and in an incident with either a football or in the boxing ring, part of his nose became paralysed, thus giving him that look which later became his trademark. Travelled to Rome to work in local theatres and met Liliana Castagnola, who committed suicide when Toto would not refuse a contract in Padova. In 1931 he met Diana Bandini Rodigliani. They had a daughter, Liliana in 1934 and married in 1935 (various dates given). He filed for divorce in Hungary on the grounds of her infidelity and it was finally ruled in Italy in 1940. For the sake of their daughter, they continued their family life by still living together, but free to have other relationships. It was on the set of his first film "47 Morto Chi Parla" that he met the actress Silvana Pampanini. The media reported this blooming relationship and Diana accepted a marriage proposal from a lawyer. Apparently Toto felt very hurt and when he wrote the song "Malafemmina", it was rumoured that he really wrote it for Diana, not Silvana. His real true love came in the form of Franca Faldini in 1951 when he was taken aback by her photo on the cover of 'Oggi'. She was only 21- he 53. They secretly wed in Switzerland in 1954 and in October of that year, Franca almost died giving birth to their son Massenzio, who sadly died a few hours later. Toto threw himself back into work, but in 1956, he suffered a serious bout of bronchitis. Three days later in Milan, he forced himself to go on stage, but had to return to his sick bed. His tour took him to Geneva, then Florence, then Palermo. In each of these places he suffered gradual loss of sight which would plaugue him for the rest of his years. Up until two days prior to his death, he was working but still ill. His heart finally gave in on the 15 April 1967, and his last word were directed at the true love of his life: "I've loved you very much Franca. Very much."- IMDb Mini Biography By: rosariadinatale@hotmail.com
- SpouseDiana Bandini Rogliani(March 6, 1935 - 1939) (annulled, 1 child)
- Children
- Often played penniless characters conceiving ingenious schemes to make money
- His characters often wore a bowler hat
- Comedies with a predominantly light tone that often revealed some bitter undertones about the hardships of life
- His knack for physical acting; noted for his act as a marionette
- His characters were often married to unattractive, acid-witted harpies who had somehow born him some lovely, beautiful daughters
- Adopted by Marquis Francesco Gagliardi Foccas in 1933. In 1946 the Court of Naples granted him the titles of Imperial Highness, Prince Don Antonio Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno de Curtis di Bisanzio Gagliardi, Count Palatine, Knight of the Sacred Roman Empire, Esarca of Ravenna, Duke of Macedonia and Illiria, Prince of Costantinopoli, Cicilia, Tessaglia, Ponte of Moldavia, Dardania, Peloponneso, Count of Cyprus and Epiro, Count and Duke of Drivasto and Durazzo.
- His only son with Faldini, Massenzio, died at birth.
- Father of Liliana De Curtis.
- Had a relationship with Silvana Pampanini in the 40's.
- Best known for his acting career, he was also a poet and a writer of Neapolitan songs. His most famous song is probably "Malafemmena", a declaration of love and hate to his first wife.
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