Theo Von’s Parents: Facts about Roland von Kurnatowski Gina Capitani

Theo Von, the famous comedian and podcast host, has often spoken about his upbringing and the influence of his parents, Roland von Kurnatowski and Gina Capitani, on his life. The comedian, who later lost his dad as a teenager, revealed how his mother inspired him to go into comedy.

When comedian Theo Von was born, his mother, Gina Capitani, was 32, and his father, Roland Von Kurnatowski Sr., was 70. He was raised in Covington, Louisiana, as one of four siblings.

Growing up, he tried to make his folks laugh, but Theo Von’s parents reacted differently to his early attempts at comedy. Unfortunately, his father died when he was young, and the comedian had regrets about their relationship.

In late 2019, Von revealed that he was paying his mother’s rent. He said he was happy to do so as Capitani was still doing deliveries even though she was in her late 70s. He admitted he had a “tough time hearing his mother” growing up.

The podcaster suspects that he eventually got into comedy because, as a child, he always tried to make her laugh, which he cannot remember achieving. “I think there was always this stress that she was stressed, and I could not do anything,” he explained.

Now he can give her a life without stress. For Mother’s Day in 2017, he wrote on Instagram, “Happy Mother’s Day to my mom who loved me even when I wore [expletive] bandanas. #singlemom.” He was wearing the famous and classic paisley pattern bandana in the photo.

Roland Theodor Achilles von Kurnatowski Sr. was born on November 29, 1910 in Bluefields, Nicaragua. He died, aged 86, on August 18, 1996, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was laid to rest at the Metairie Cemetery. At the time of his death, Von was 16.

During a podcast session with Bobby Lee in 2019, Von was asked if his dad was a handsome man. Seeing as his father got together with his mother, despite their 38-years age difference. The comedian answered in the affirmative.

Kurnatowski had a close personal friendship with Harry Connick Sr., the father of actor, talk show host, and singer Harry Connick Jr. The comedian has never met the actor but hopes to share the story with him one day.

Before moving to the United States in 1922, Theo Von’s father lived in his native Nicaragua and was a mahogany farmer. However, it is unclear what his profession was when he got to the US, but he was different from his wife. While his wife never seemed to be relaxed, Kurnatowski knew how to have a good time, and his son could remember that he knew how to laugh.

In his ’80s, he had a girlfriend whom his children called Miss Maggie. She was around 20 years his junior and took care of him. Von regrets not getting to know his dad as much as he would have wanted. He remarked that he didn’t honor the relationship they had.

The comedian noted that he was embarrassed by his father, mainly because of his age. The embarrassment was not there when he was much younger because, at that time, he doted on his father. Even though he loved his father, he would sometimes get sad because of his father’s wrinkles.

Responding to a caller during one of his podcasts in May 2022 on forgiveness, Von said that he has been on “a long journey with this stuff.” He remarked:

“I believe that forgiveness is the only answer.”

The comedian added that he believes in “letting go of whatever that hurt is.” He explained that he possibly held on to his hurt because his only relationship with his mother was that he “was angry at her. […] As hard as it is, I don’t want to miss out on loving my mother twice,” Theo Von explained.