Born into an acting family, he was the son of actor Domenico Maggio [1879-1943] and actress Antoinette Gravante [1880-1940]; ended up in reform school and before becoming an actor, worked in many trades including an ice cream man, and as a carpenter making props for the theater company of his father, where he made his stage debut telling short jokes. (Westernsallitaliana.blogspot.com).