Biography
De Filippo was born in Naples to playwright Eduardo Scarpetta and theatre seamstress and costumier Luisa De Filippo. He began acting at the age of five and in 1932 formed a theater company with his brother Peppino and sister Titina, called compagnia del Teatro Umoristico I De Filippo. Peppino left the troupe in 1944 and Titina departed by the early 1950s. De Filippo starred in De Sica's L'oro di Napoli with Totò and Sophia Loren in 1954. In 1973 a production of his Sabato, domenica e lunedi (1959, Saturday, Sunday and Monday), starring Laurence Olivier in the lead role, won the London drama critics' award. His translation of Shakespeare's The Tempest into Neapolitan was published in 1982.
In 1981, De Filippo was appointed life senator of the Italian Republic. He died four years later in Rome. His artistic legacy has been carried over by his son.
Read more about this topic: Eduardo De Filippo
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