Totò
Totò was born Antonio Clemente in a poor district of Naples, the illegitimate son of Anna Clemente from Sicily and Marquis Giuseppe De Curtis from Naples. Nicknamed “il principe della risata’ (the prince of laughter), he was an Italian comedian, film and theatre actor, writer, singer and songwriter, and widely considered one of the greatest Italian artists of the 20th century. While he first gained his popularity as a comic actor, his dramatic roles, poetry, and songs are all of cultural import; his style and a number of his recurring jokes and gestures have become universally known memes in Italy. As a comic actor, Totò is classified as an heir of the Commedia dell'Arte tradition, and has been compared to such figures as Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. At the age of 15, he was already acting as a comedian in small theatres, under the pseudonym "Clerment". His early repertoire mostly consisted in imitations of Gustavo De Marco's characters. He served in the army during World War I and then went back to acting to develop the trademarks of his style. In 1937, he appeared in his first movie "Fermo con le mani", and later starred in 96 more films, many of which are still frequently broadcast on Italian television. In his vast cinematographic career, Totò had the opportunity to act side by side with virtually all major Italian actors of the time. Totò's unmistakable figure, with his peculiarly irregular face (due to an accident in his teen years), and his unique trademark ability to disarticulate his body like a marionette, soon became very popular and his comic gags became part of the Italian culture. Totò died at the age of 69 in Rome after a series of heart attacks. Due to overwhelming popularity there were three funeral services: the first in Rome, and the second and third in Naples. Totò's birth home has been recently opened to the public as a museum.
Filmography
Totò e il Principe De Curtis - L'uomo oltre la maschera
as Se stesso
Totò e il Principe De Curtis - L'uomo oltre la maschera
as Se stesso
We Are Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
We Are Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
Cinecittà, de Mussolini à la Dolce Vita
as Self (archive footage)
Cinecittà, de Mussolini à la Dolce Vita
as Self (archive footage)
Siamo tutti Alberto Sordi?
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Siamo tutti Alberto Sordi?
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Naples '44
as Self (archive footage)
Naples '44
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood sul Tevere
Hollywood sul Tevere
How We Got the Italian Movie Business Into Trouble: The True Story of Franco and Ciccio
as Self (archive footage)
How We Got the Italian Movie Business Into Trouble: The True Story of Franco and Ciccio
as Self (archive footage)
SuperTotò
SuperTotò
Antologia di Totò
as Totò (se stesso)
Antologia di Totò
as Totò (se stesso)
Forza Italia!
as Self (archive footage)
Forza Italia!
as Self (archive footage)
Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti
Un sorriso, uno schiaffo, un bacio in bocca
as (archive footage)
Un sorriso, uno schiaffo, un bacio in bocca
as (archive footage)
Caprice Italian Style
as Anziano Signore / Iago
Caprice Italian Style
as Anziano Signore / Iago
What Are the Clouds?
as Iago
What Are the Clouds?
as Iago
Totò Story
Totò Story
Tutto Totò - Il tuttofare
Tutto Totò - Il tuttofare
Tutto Totò - Totò a Napoli
as Totò, la guida non autorizzata
Tutto Totò - Totò a Napoli
as Totò, la guida non autorizzata
Il latitante
as Gennaro La Pezza
Il latitante
as Gennaro La Pezza
Tutto Totò - Il grande maestro
as Mardoccheo Stonatelli
Tutto Totò - Il grande maestro
as Mardoccheo Stonatelli
The Witches
as Ciancicato Miao (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna")
The Witches
as Ciancicato Miao (segment "La Terra vista dalla Luna")
The Earth As Seen from the Moon
as Ciancicato Miao
The Earth As Seen from the Moon
as Ciancicato Miao
Tutto Totò - La scommessa
as Oberdan Lo Cascio
Tutto Totò - La scommessa
as Oberdan Lo Cascio
Tutto Totò - Don Giovannino
as Barnaba Parmiggiani aka 'Babà'
Tutto Totò - Don Giovannino
as Barnaba Parmiggiani aka 'Babà'
Tutto Totò - Premio Nobel
as il professor Serafino Bolletta
Tutto Totò - Premio Nobel
as il professor Serafino Bolletta
The Treasure of San Gennaro
as Don Vincenzo
The Treasure of San Gennaro
as Don Vincenzo
The Hawks and the Sparrows
as Totò Innocenti / Frate Cicillo
The Hawks and the Sparrows
as Totò Innocenti / Frate Cicillo
Rita the American Girl
as Serafino Benvenuti
Rita the American Girl
as Serafino Benvenuti
The Mandrake
as il frate
The Mandrake
as il frate
Latin Lovers
as Rag. Antonio Gargiulo (ep. Amore e morte)
Latin Lovers
as Rag. Antonio Gargiulo (ep. Amore e morte)
Totò d'Arabia
as Totò
Totò d'Arabia
as Totò
Beautiful Families
as Filiberto Comanducci
Beautiful Families
as Filiberto Comanducci
What Ever Happened to Baby Toto?
as Totò Baby / il Padre
What Ever Happened to Baby Toto?
as Totò Baby / il Padre
Laughs Italian Style
Laughs Italian Style
Totò versus the Black Pirate
as Josè
Totò versus the Black Pirate
as Josè
The Commandant
as Col. Antonio Cavalli
The Commandant
as Col. Antonio Cavalli
Gli onorevoli
as Antonio La Trippa
Gli onorevoli
as Antonio La Trippa
Toto and Cleopatra
as Marc'Antonio / Totonno
Toto and Cleopatra
as Marc'Antonio / Totonno
Totò sexy
as Nini Cantachiaro
Totò sexy
as Nini Cantachiaro
Le motorizzate
as Urbano Cacace (segment "Il Vigile Ignoto")
Le motorizzate
as Urbano Cacace (segment "Il Vigile Ignoto")
The Monk of Monza
as Pasquale Cicciacalda / Don Manuel
The Monk of Monza
as Pasquale Cicciacalda / Don Manuel
Totò vs the Four
as commissario Antonio Saracino
Totò vs the Four
as commissario Antonio Saracino
The Shortest Day
as frate bersagliere
The Shortest Day
as frate bersagliere
Two Colonels
as Colonnello Di Maggio
Two Colonels
as Colonnello Di Maggio
Toto at Night
as Nini
Toto at Night
as Nini
Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino
as Antonio La Puzza / Amministratore di Canarinis
Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino
as Antonio La Puzza / Amministratore di Canarinis
Lo smemorato di Collegno
as lo smemorato
Lo smemorato di Collegno
as lo smemorato
Totò diabolicus
as Galeazzo / Carlo / Scipione / Antonio / Laudomia / Pasquale
Totò diabolicus
as Galeazzo / Carlo / Scipione / Antonio / Laudomia / Pasquale
Totò versus Maciste
as Totokamen
Totò versus Maciste
as Totokamen
The Two Marshals
as Antonio Capurro
The Two Marshals
as Antonio Capurro
Totòtruffa '62
as Antonio LoRuffo
Totòtruffa '62
as Antonio LoRuffo
Sua Eccellenza si fermò a mangiare
as Dott. Biagio Tanzarella
Sua Eccellenza si fermò a mangiare
as Dott. Biagio Tanzarella
Totò, Peppino and... the Sweet Life
as Antonio Barbacane
Totò, Peppino and... the Sweet Life
as Antonio Barbacane
He Who Hesitates Is Lost
as Antonio Guardalavecchia
He Who Hesitates Is Lost
as Antonio Guardalavecchia
The Passionate Thief
as Umberto 'Infortunio' Pennazzuto
The Passionate Thief
as Umberto 'Infortunio' Pennazzuto
Letto a tre piazze
as Antonio Di Cosimo
Letto a tre piazze
as Antonio Di Cosimo
Toto, Fabrizi and the Young People Today
as Cavalier Antonio Cocozza
Toto, Fabrizi and the Young People Today
as Cavalier Antonio Cocozza
Gentlemen Are Born
as Ottone Degli Ulivi, detto Zazà
Gentlemen Are Born
as Ottone Degli Ulivi, detto Zazà
Noi duri
as L'Algerino
Noi duri
as L'Algerino
La cambiale
as Cesare Posalaquaglia
La cambiale
as Cesare Posalaquaglia
You're on Your Own
as Il nonno illuminato
You're on Your Own
as Il nonno illuminato
The Thieves
as Commissario Di Savio
The Thieves
as Commissario Di Savio
The Overtaxed
as Torquato Pezzella
The Overtaxed
as Torquato Pezzella
Toto in Madrid
as Totò Scorceletti
Toto in Madrid
as Totò Scorceletti
Totò in the Moon
as Pasquale Belafronte
Totò in the Moon
as Pasquale Belafronte
Toto in Paris
as Marchese Gastone de Chemantel / Chateau-Boiron / il vagabondo Totò
Toto in Paris
as Marchese Gastone de Chemantel / Chateau-Boiron / il vagabondo Totò
The Law Is the Law
as Giuseppe La Paglia
The Law Is the Law
as Giuseppe La Paglia
Legs of Gold
as Barone Luigi Fontana
Legs of Gold
as Barone Luigi Fontana
Totò, Peppino e le fanatiche
as Antonio Vignarello
Totò, Peppino e le fanatiche
as Antonio Vignarello
Big Deal on Madonna Street
as Dante Cruciani
Big Deal on Madonna Street
as Dante Cruciani
Toto and Marcellino
as Il Professore
Toto and Marcellino
as Il Professore
Totò, Vittorio and the Doctor
as Michele Spillone detto Mike
Totò, Vittorio and the Doctor
as Michele Spillone detto Mike
Totò, Peppino e i fuorilegge
as Antonio
Totò, Peppino e i fuorilegge
as Antonio
Toto, Peppino, and the Hussy
as Antonio Caponi
Toto, Peppino, and the Hussy
as Antonio Caponi
Totò Double or Nothing?
as Duca Gagliardo della Forcoletta
Totò Double or Nothing?
as Duca Gagliardo della Forcoletta
The Band of Honest Men
as Antonio Buonocore
The Band of Honest Men
as Antonio Buonocore
Il coraggio
as Gennaro Vaccariello
Il coraggio
as Gennaro Vaccariello
Roman Tales
as Professor Semprini
Roman Tales
as Professor Semprini
Destinazione Piovarolo
as Antonio La Quaglia
Destinazione Piovarolo
as Antonio La Quaglia
Are We Men or Corporals?
as Totò Esposito
Are We Men or Corporals?
as Totò Esposito
Totò all'inferno
as Antonio Marchi
Totò all'inferno
as Antonio Marchi
Toto and Carolina
as Antonio Caccavallo
Toto and Carolina
as Antonio Caccavallo
Variety carousel
Variety carousel
Totò Seeks Peace
as Gennaro Piselli
Totò Seeks Peace
as Gennaro Piselli
The Gold of Naples
as Don Saverio Petrillo (segment "Il guappo")
The Gold of Naples
as Don Saverio Petrillo (segment "Il guappo")
Il medico dei pazzi
as Felice Sciosciammocca
Il medico dei pazzi
as Felice Sciosciammocca
The Three Thieves
as Tapioca
The Three Thieves
as Tapioca
Poverty and Nobility
as Don Felice Sciosciammocca
Poverty and Nobility
as Don Felice Sciosciammocca
The Anatomy of Love
as Dionillo
The Anatomy of Love
as Dionillo
Where Is Freedom?
as Salvatore Lojacono
Where Is Freedom?
as Salvatore Lojacono
Of Life and Love
as Rosario Chiarchiaro
Of Life and Love
as Rosario Chiarchiaro
Funniest Show on Earth
as Tottons
Funniest Show on Earth
as Tottons
Una di quelle
as Rocco Bardelli
Una di quelle
as Rocco Bardelli
Neapolitan Turk
as Felice Sciosciammocca
Neapolitan Turk
as Felice Sciosciammocca
Man, Beast and Virtue
as Prof. Paolino
Man, Beast and Virtue
as Prof. Paolino
Toto and the Women
as Antonio Scaparro
Toto and the Women
as Antonio Scaparro
Toto and the Kings of Rome
as Ercole Pappalardo
Toto and the Kings of Rome
as Ercole Pappalardo
Cops and Robbers
as Ferdinando Esposito
Cops and Robbers
as Ferdinando Esposito
Seven Hours of Troubles
as Totò De Pasquale
Seven Hours of Troubles
as Totò De Pasquale
Toto the Third Man
as Piero / Paolo / Totò
Toto the Third Man
as Piero / Paolo / Totò
Toto the Sheik
as Antonio Sapone
Toto the Sheik
as Antonio Sapone
Le sei mogli di Barbablù
as Totò Esposito
Le sei mogli di Barbablù
as Totò Esposito
Tototarzan
as Antonio Della Buffas
Tototarzan
as Antonio Della Buffas
Figaro qua... Figaro là
as Figaro
Figaro qua... Figaro là
as Figaro
Side Street Story
as Pasquale Miele
Side Street Story
as Pasquale Miele
Totò Looking for Wife
as Totò
Totò Looking for Wife
as Totò
Yvonne of the Night
as Nino
Yvonne of the Night
as Nino
The Firemen of Viggiù
as Totò
The Firemen of Viggiù
as Totò
Toto Tours Italy
as Prof. Totò Casamandrei
Toto Tours Italy
as Prof. Totò Casamandrei
Fifa e arena
as Nicolino Capece
Fifa e arena
as Nicolino Capece
Two Little Orphans
as Gasparre
Two Little Orphans
as Gasparre
Slave Girl
as Gobbone il cammello (narratore)
Slave Girl
as Gobbone il cammello (narratore)
The Rape of the Sabine
as Aristide Tromboni
The Rape of the Sabine
as Aristide Tromboni
Two Hearts Against the Beast
as Totò
Two Hearts Against the Beast
as Totò
L'allegro fantasma
as Nicolino & Gelsomino & Antonino
L'allegro fantasma
as Nicolino & Gelsomino & Antonino
San Giovanni decollato
as Mastro Agostino Miciacio
San Giovanni decollato
as Mastro Agostino Miciacio
Animal Crackers
as Barone Tolomeo dei Tolomei
Animal Crackers
as Barone Tolomeo dei Tolomei
Hands Off Me!
as Conte Toto di Torretota
Hands Off Me!
as Conte Toto di Torretota