Josef Than, professionally known as Pepi Than, had a complex family history, with his maternal lineage tracing its roots back to Brno, Moravia. His father, a prominent figure, held a managerial position at the Österreichische Postsparkasse, a prominent Austrian bank.
Pepi Than's personal life was also marked by tragedy and transformation. His first wife, the talented actress Grit Haid, was the sister of the renowned actress Liane Haid. Grit, affectionately known as Gretel, met a tragic end in 1938 when she perished in an airplane crash while attempting to leave Vienna.
In the aftermath of this devastating loss, Pepi Than relocated to the United States, where he eventually remarried to Marina Novikowa, marking a new chapter in his life.
