“Antonio Clemente was born on 15th February, 1898 in district Sanità n. 109 in via Santa Maria Antesaecula, Naples. He was born by unwed mother Anna Clemente.According to a legend started by Totò himself his father was Giuseppe De Curtis son of marquis De Curtis, who always opposed to the marriage between his noble son and the beautiful town girl.
The exuberant Totò grew up on the streets of Naples which he prefered better than going to school. When he finished elementary school, he was sent to a bording-school where he didn’t even graduate to recieve a high school diploma. While attending the boarding-school, his nose got broken by a teacher that was boxing playfuly with him.
While working various jobs, he approached the theater as a simple spectator. Some comic actors affacinated him, which he imitated perfectly. In 1913/1914 he debuted in one of many neapolitan theaters with a pseudonym, Clement.
Such a combination, his father the Marquis set about a new activity as a theatre’s agent. The new job give to him an economic independence from his family furthermore he back to approach Anna again. On 1921, Giuseppe’s father died and Giuseppe get married with Anna. Antonio became Antonio De Curtis (however the official recognition will be on 1928).”
This is part of the biography taken from the website http://www.antoniodecurtis.org.
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