About

Known credits:
103
Birthday:
1923-02-12
Place of birth:
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Website:
Click here

Franco Zeffirelli

Overview

Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli KBE, Grande Ufficiale OMRI (12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019), commonly known as Franco Zeffirelli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfraŋko dzeffiˈrɛlli]), was an Italian director and producer of operas, films and television. He was also a senator from 1994 until 2001 for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party.

Some of his operatic designs and productions have become worldwide classics.

He was also known for several of the movies he directed, especially the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. His 1967 version of The Taming of the Shrew with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remains the best-known film adaptation of that play as well. His miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977) won both national and international acclaim and is still frequently shown on Christmas and Easter in many countries.

A Grande Ufficiale OMRI of the Italian Republic since 1977, Zeffirelli also received an honorary British knighthood in 2004 when he was created a KBE. He was awarded the Premio Colosseo in 2009 by the city of Rome.

Known for

Acting
2022 Franco Zeffirelli: Rebel Conformist Actor Self 59
Average
2017 The Opera House Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2014 The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films Actor Self 59
Average
2014 Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films Actor Self - Director 62
Fair
2014 The Mystery of Dante Actor Self 59
Average
2011 Discovering Hamlet Actor Self 59
Average
2008 Luchino Visconti: Life as in a Novel Actor Self N/A
N/A
2007 Callas Assoluta Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2001 Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul Actor Self 59
Average
1999 Luchino Visconti Actor Self 59
Average
1994 A Magic Friend: The Maestro Nino Rota Actor Self 58
Average
1980 My Name Is Anna Magnani Actor Self 59
Average
1978 Callas: A Documentary Actor Narrator 59
Average
1967 Our World Actor Self N/A
N/A
1966 The New Met: Countdown to Curtain Actor Self N/A
N/A
1947 Angelina Actor Filippo Garrone 59
Average

Directing
2022 Carmen aus der Arena von Verona Directing Director N/A
N/A
2022 The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot Directing Director 58
Average
2020 Maria Callas Sings Tosca, Act II Directing Director N/A
N/A
2020 Arena di Verona: Il Trovatore Directing Director N/A
N/A
2019 La Traviata - Arena di Verona Directing Director N/A
N/A
2018 The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème Directing Director 59
Average
2017 Zeffirelli's Inferno Directing Director N/A
N/A
2014 Carmen (Arena di Verona) Directing Director N/A
N/A
2011 Turandot - Puccini - Live from Verona Directing Stage Director 59
Average
2010 Carmen Directing Director N/A
N/A
2008 Puccini: La Bohème Directing Director N/A
N/A
2006 Verdi: Aida Directing Director 59
Average
2004 La Boheme Directing Director N/A
N/A
2004 Madama Butterfly Directing Director N/A
N/A
2003 Bizet: Carmen Directing Stage Director N/A
N/A
2002 Callas Forever Directing Director 59
Average
2002 La Traviata Directing Director N/A
N/A
2001 Aida Directing Director 59
Average
2000 Don Giovanni Directing Director 59
Average
1999 Tea with Mussolini Directing Director 60
Fair
1997 Carmen Directing Director N/A
N/A
1996 Jane Eyre Directing Director 62
Fair
1994 Sparrow Directing Director 59
Average
1993 Falstaff Directing Director 59
Average
1992 Don Carlo Directing Director N/A
N/A
1991 The King of Ads Directing Director 59
Average
1990 Hamlet Directing Director 62
Fair
1989 12 Directors for 12 Cities Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Young Toscanini Directing Director 58
Average
1987 Pagliacci Directing Director 58
Average
1987 Turandot Directing Director 59
Average
1986 Otello Directing Director 58
Average
1985 Tosca Directing Director N/A
N/A
1982 La traviata Directing Director 59
Average
1982 Cavalleria rusticana Directing Director N/A
N/A
1982 Puccini: La Boheme Directing Director N/A
N/A
1981 Endless Love Directing Director 58
Average
1979 The Champ Directing Director 61
Fair
1978 Carmen Directing Director N/A
N/A
1978 Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci Directing Director 59
Average
1977 Lorenzaccio Directing Stage Director N/A
N/A
1977 Jesus Of Nazareth Directing Director N/A
N/A
1976 Verdi: Otello Directing Stage Director N/A
N/A
1972 Brother Sun, Sister Moon Directing Director 61
Fair
1968 Romeo and Juliet Directing Director 67
Fair
1967 The Taming of the Shrew Directing Director 61
Fair
1966 For Florence Directing Director 59
Average
1965 La Bohème Directing Director 59
Average
1962 Maria Callas: At Covent Garden, 1962 and 1964 Directing Director 59
Average
1958 Camping Directing Director 58
Average
1955 The Bachelor Directing First Assistant Director 59
Average
1954 Senso Directing Assistant Director 62
Fair
1953 Empty Eyes Directing First Assistant Director 59
Average
1952 Bellissima Directing Assistant Director 64
Fair
1949 La Terra Trema Directing Assistant Director 63
Fair

Writing
2017 Zeffirelli's Inferno Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2002 Callas Forever Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2002 Callas Forever Writing Original Story 59
Average
1999 Tea with Mussolini Writing Novel 60
Fair
1996 Jane Eyre Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
1994 Sparrow Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1990 Hamlet Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
1988 Young Toscanini Writing Original Story 58
Average
1986 Otello Writing Adaptation 58
Average
1982 La traviata Writing Adaptation 59
Average
1972 Brother Sun, Sister Moon Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1968 Romeo and Juliet Writing Screenplay 67
Fair
1967 The Taming of the Shrew Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1958 Camping Writing Screenplay 58
Average

Production
1967 The Taming of the Shrew Production Producer 61
Fair

Art
2019 The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot Art Set Designer N/A
N/A
2019 The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot Art Production Design N/A
N/A
2018 The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème Art Set Designer 59
Average
2018 The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème Art Production Design 59
Average
2014 The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème Art Production Design N/A
N/A
2009 Puccini: Turandot Art Production Design 59
Average
1993 Falstaff Art Production Design 59
Average
1993 Falstaff Art Set Designer 59
Average
1990 Don Giovanni Art Production Design 59
Average
1987 Turandot Art Production Design 59
Average
1986 Otello Art Production Design 58
Average
1985 Tosca Art Set Designer N/A
N/A
1982 La traviata Art Production Design 59
Average
1982 Puccini: La Boheme Art Production Design N/A
N/A
1982 Puccini: La Boheme Art Set Designer N/A
N/A
1965 La Bohème Art Production Design 59
Average

Lighting
2020 Maria Callas Sings Tosca, Act II Lighting Lighting Supervisor N/A
N/A