Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi de Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò[a] (Italian pronunciation: [tot]) or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed il Principe della risata (the Prince of laughter), was an Italian actor, comedian, writer, poet, singer and lyricist. He was commonly referred to as one of the most popular Italian performers of all time. He is best known for his funny and sometimes cynical character as a comedian in theatre and then in many successful films shot from the 1940s to the 1960s, all regularly still on TV, but he also worked with many iconic Italian film directors in dramatic/poetic roles.[1]