Born in Naples in 1903, Peppino De Filippo debuted at the age of 6 in Scarpetta's 'Miseria e Nobilta' in Rome. He studied the piano and went away to college for two years. During WWI, back in Naples, he joined Scarpetta's company 'Molinari', and it was here that he met 'Totò' . At 22, he joined the company of Salvatore De Muto, but had to return to the Scarpetta company after his estranged father, Vincenzo Scarpetta, passed away. Thus he, his brother Eduardo and their sister Titina, started work. In 1929 Peppino married Adela Carloni and their son, Luigi was born the year after. The three staged their own brand of comedy and worked alongside the likes of Tina Pica, Carlo Pisacane, Agostino Salvietti and Giovanni Berardi. In 1932 Peppino starred in his first film, "Tre Uomini in Frak". Success in all Italian theatres followed until 1945, when due to 'differences' between the two brothers led to the dissolution of the company. In 1945, Peppino separated from his wife of 16 years and he debuted with his new company with "I Casi Sono Due" at the Teatro Olimpia in Milan. From 1959 to 1969 he managed the Teatro delle Arti in Rome, and had worldwide success internationally during those years. In 1977 he married Clelia Mangano, his business partner. He died on 26 January 1980.
He married his second wife, actress Lidia Martora , only a few hours before her death. In fact they have been partners for more than 25 years, but he was still married to his first wife (and divorce was not allowed in Italy at that time). In December 1970 divorce was sanctioned by law. De Filippo asked immediately for divorce, but Lidia Martora was already seriously ill, so their wedding was allowed - a tragic trick of chance - only on the same day in which she died.
Son of actor/writer Eduardo Scarpetta , father of actor Luigi De Filippo , brother of actress Titina De Filippo and actor/writer Eduardo De Filippo , uncle of actors Augusto Carloni and Luca De Filippo , half-brother of actors Vincenzo Scarpetta , Eduardo Passarelli and Pasquale De Filippo.
