Vincenzo Maggio was born in Naples, Italy on October 10,
1902. He was the eldest son and least known son of a family of actors, all from
Naples. He is the brother of Beniamino [1907-1990], Dante [1909-1992] and
Pupella [1910-1999] and Rosalia [1921-1995]. There is another sister Margherita,
who preferred the quiet life of a housewife rather than the dusty boards of the
grueling stages and movie sets.
After a long apprenticeship in vaudeville theaters before
and during the Second World War, ‘Enzo’ decided to devote himself to the cinema
and follow in the footsteps of the brothers Dante and Beniamino and debuted on
the screen in 1950’s “È arrivato il cavaliere!”. After his first contact with
cinema his roles continued to become larger and larger and was considered by
directors and producers, a good character actor, a little 'subdued compared to
his two brothers who were building distinguished careers. As indeed were his
talented two sisters, Giustina (aka Pupella) and Rosalia.
Even while appearing in films, he would return now and
again to the theater, sometimes with his brothers and Rosalia, as in the 1955-56
season in “Napoletani a Napoli di Murolo” and, in the 1956-57 season, “La
Venere coi baffi”. Another of the many shows Enzo took part and in which he
received ovations was “Topo maggio nell'harem”.
Vincenzo appeared in seven Euro-westerns, from “Bullets
and Flesh” (1964) to “Another Try, Eh Providence?” (1973)
His is often confused with his nephew Vincenzo ‘Enzo’ Maggio,
who appeared in several of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill films. Vincenzo died in
Naples on July 13, 1973. Today we remember Vincenzo on what would have been his
110th birthday.
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