Franco Zeffirelli
Personal Info
Known for
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1923-02-12
Day of Death
2019-06-15 (96 years old)
Place of Birth
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Franco Zeffirelli
Biography
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.
Acting
(2022)
(2017)
The Opera House
as Self (archive footage)
(2014)
The Mystery of Dante
as Self
(2014)
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
as Self - Director
(2014)
(2011)
Discovering Hamlet
as Self
(2008)
(2007)
Callas Assoluta
as Self (archive footage)
(2006)
(2002)
Luchino Visconti
as Self
(2001)
(1994)
(1980)
My Name Is Anna Magnani
as Self
(1978)
Callas: A Documentary
as Narrator
(1967)
Our World
as Self
(1966)
(1947)
Angelina
as Filippo Garrone
Crew
(2022)
The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot
Director
(2022)
Carmen aus der Arena von Verona
Director
(2020)
Arena di Verona: Il Trovatore
Director
(2019)
La Traviata - Arena di Verona
Director
(2019)
The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot
Production Design, Set Designer
(2018)
The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème
Director, Production Design, Set Designer
(2017)
Zeffirelli's Inferno
Director, Writer
(2014)
Carmen (Arena di Verona)
Director
(2014)
The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème
Production Design
(2011)
Turandot - Puccini - Live from Verona
Stage Director
(2010)
Carmen
Director
(2009)
Puccini: Turandot
Production Design
(2008)
Puccini: La Bohème
Director
(2006)
Verdi: Aida
Director
(2005)
Don Giovanni
Director
(2004)
Madama Butterfly
Director
(2004)
La Boheme
Director
(2003)
Bizet: Carmen
Stage Director
(2002)
Callas Forever
Director, Screenplay, Original Story
(2002)
La Traviata
Director
(2001)
Aida
Director
(2000)
Don Giovanni
Production Design, Director
(1999)
Tea with Mussolini
Novel, Director
(1997)
Carmen
Director
(1996)
Jane Eyre
Screenplay, Director
(1994)
Sparrow
Director, Screenplay
(1993)
Falstaff
Director, Production Design, Set Designer
(1992)
Don Carlo
Director
(1991)
The King of Ads
Director
(1990)
Hamlet
Director, Screenplay
(1990)
Don Giovanni
Production Design
(1989)
12 Directors for 12 Cities
Director
(1988)
Young Toscanini
Director, Original Story
(1987)
Pagliacci
Director
(1987)
Turandot
Director, Production Design
(1986)
Otello
Director, Adaptation, Production Design
(1985)
Tosca
Set Designer, Director
(1982)
La traviata
Director, Adaptation, Production Design
(1982)
Cavalleria rusticana
Director
(1982)
Puccini: La bohème
Director, Production Design, Set Designer
(1981)
Endless Love
Director
(1979)
The Champ
Director
(1978)
Carmen
Director
(1978)
Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci
Director
(1978)
Otello - The Met
Director
(1977)
Lorenzaccio
Stage Director
(1976)
Verdi: Otello
Stage Director
(1972)
Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Director, Screenplay
(1968)
Romeo and Juliet
Director, Screenplay
(1967)
The Taming of the Shrew
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1967)
Much Ado About Nothing
Stage Director
(1966)
For Florence
Director
(1965)
La Bohème
Director, Production Design
(1964)
Maria Callas Sings Tosca, Act II
Lighting Supervisor, Director
(1962)
Maria Callas: At Covent Garden, 1962 and 1964
Music Director, Stage Director
(1958)
Camping
Director, Screenplay
(1955)
The Bachelor
First Assistant Director
(1954)
Senso
Assistant Director
(1953)
Empty Eyes
First Assistant Director
(1952)
Bellissima
Assistant Director
(1949)
La Terra Trema
Assistant Director