Franco Zeffirelli
Directing
- Born
- February 12, 1923 · Florence, Tuscany, Italy
- Died
- June 15, 2019 (age 96)
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.
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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
Romeo and Juliet
April 2, 1968
Hamlet
December 19, 1990
Endless Love
July 17, 1981
Bellissima
January 4, 1952
Senso
March 25, 1954
Jane Eyre
January 20, 1996
The Champ
July 7, 1979
The Taming of the Shrew
March 8, 1967
La Terra Trema
December 3, 1949
Tea with Mussolini
March 25, 1999
Brother Sun, Sister Moon
March 3, 1972
Callas Forever
September 18, 2002
Behind the camera70
- 2025The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème Stage Director, Director
- 2024Giacomo Puccini: Turandot Stage Director
- 2022Georges Bizet: Carmen Director
- 2022Turandot Director
- 2022La Traviata Stage Director, Production Design
- 2022Carmen aus der Arena von Verona Director
- 2022The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot Director
- 2020Arena di Verona: Il Trovatore Director, Set Designer
- 2019La Bohème - Wiener Staatsoper Director
- 2019