Franco Zeffirelli
Biography
Franco Zeffirelli was an Italian director and producer of operas, films and television. He was a senator from 1994 until 2001 for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party. Zeffirelli's operatic designs and productions have become worldwide classics. He is known for directing several movies, including the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and the 1967 version of The Taming of the Shrew. Born on February 12, 1923, in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, Zeffirelli passed away on June 15, 2019, at the age of 96. He is also known by the nickname Gianfra.
Career overview
Franco Zeffirelli was a director and producer of operas, films, and television. He is known for his operatic designs and productions, which have become worldwide classics. His work in film includes directing several notable movies.
One of his most notable film adaptations is the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He also directed a 1967 film version of The Taming of the Shrew, which remains the best-known film adaptation of the play. This film features Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Zeffirelli's directing career spanned multiple mediums, including opera, film, and television. He was a prolific director, with 102 known credits. His work has had a lasting impact on the world of opera and film, with many of his productions remaining classics to this day.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
135 titles- Giacomo Puccini: Turandot (2024) Stage Director
- Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- La Traviata (2022) Stage Director
- La Traviata (2022) Production Design
- Franco Zeffirelli: Rebel Conformist (2022) as Self
- Georges Bizet: Carmen (2022) Director
- Turandot (2022) Director
- Carmen aus der Arena von Verona (2022) Director
- The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot (2022) Director
- Arena di Verona: Il Trovatore (2020) Director
- Arena di Verona: Il Trovatore (2020) Set Designer
- La Traviata - Arena di Verona (2019) Director
- The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot (2019) Set Designer
- The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot (2019) Production Design
- The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (2018) Director
- The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (2018) Production Design
- The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (2018) Set Designer
- Zeffirelli's Inferno (2017) Director
- Zeffirelli's Inferno (2017) Writer
- The Opera House (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Don Giovanni (2015) Director
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Self - Director
- The Mystery of Dante (2014) as Self
- The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Self
- Carmen (Arena di Verona) (2014) Director
- The Metropolitan Opera: La Bohème (2014) Production Design
- Discovering Hamlet (2011) as Self
- Turandot - Puccini - Live from Verona (2011) Director
- Carmen (2010) Director
- Puccini: Turandot (2009) Production Design
- Puccini: La Bohème (2008) Director
- Luchino Visconti: Life as in a Novel (2008) as Self
- Callas Assoluta (2007) as Self (archive footage)
- Legends (2006) as Self
- Sartoria Tirelli - Vestire il cinema (2006) as Self
- Verdi: Aida (2006) Director
- Madama Butterfly (2004) Director
- Maria Callas: Living and Dying for Art and Love (2004) as Self
- La Boheme (2004) Director
- Bizet: Carmen (2003) Stage Director
- Callas Forever (2002) Director
- Callas Forever (2002) Screenplay
- Callas Forever (2002) Original Story
- Luchino Visconti (2002) as Self
- La Traviata (2002) Director
- Aida (2001) Director
- Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul (2001) as Self
- Don Giovanni (2000) Production Design
- Don Giovanni (2000) Director
- Tea with Mussolini (1999) Director
- Tea with Mussolini (1999) Novel
- Vivement dimanche (1998) as Self
- Sternstunde Kunst (1998) as Self
- Carmen (1997) Director
- Jane Eyre (1996) Director
- Jane Eyre (1996) Screenplay
- Sparrow (1994) Director
- Sparrow (1994) Screenplay
- A Magic Friend: The Maestro Nino Rota (1994) as Self
- Falstaff (1993) Director
- Falstaff (1993) Production Design
- Falstaff (1993) Set Designer
- Don Carlo (1992) Director
- The King of Ads (1991) Director
- Hamlet (1990) Director
- Hamlet (1990) Screenplay
- Don Giovanni (1990) Production Design
- 12 Directors for 12 Cities (1989) Director
- Young Toscanini (1988) Director
- Young Toscanini (1988) Original Story
- Pagliacci (1987) Director
- Turandot (1987) Production Design
- Turandot (1987) Director
- Otello (1986) Director
- Otello (1986) Adaptation
- Otello (1986) Production Design
- Television (1985)
- Tosca (1985) Set Designer
- Tosca (1985) Director
- StrataSphere: Portrait of Teresa Stratas (1983) as self
- Cavalleria rusticana (1982) Director
- La traviata (1982) Director
- La traviata (1982) Adaptation
- La traviata (1982) Production Design
- Puccini: La bohème (1982) Director
- Puccini: La bohème (1982) Production Design
- Puccini: La bohème (1982) Set Designer
- Endless Love (1981) Director
- My Name Is Anna Magnani (1980) as Self
- The Champ (1979) Director
- La Bohème (1979) Production Design
- La Bohème (1979) Director
- Otello - The Met (1978) Director
- Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci (1978) Director
- Callas: A Documentary (1978) as Narrator
- Carmen (1978) Director
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) Director
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) Writer
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) Creator
- Lorenzaccio (1977) Stage Director
- Verdi: Otello (1976) Stage Director
- Apostrophes (1975) as Self
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Pulcinella - Ieri e oggi (1973) as Self - Documentary host
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) Director
- Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) Screenplay
- Who's Afraid of Opera? (1972) Costume Designer
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Romeo and Juliet (1968) Director
- Romeo and Juliet (1968) Screenplay
- The Taming of the Shrew (1967) Screenplay
- The Taming of the Shrew (1967) Producer
- The Taming of the Shrew (1967) Director
- Much Ado About Nothing (1967) Stage Director
- Our World (1967) as Self
- For Florence (1966) Director
- The New Met: Countdown to Curtain (1966) as Self
- aspekte (1965) as Self
- La Bohème (1965) Director
- La Bohème (1965) Production Design
- Maria Callas Sings Tosca, Act II (1964) Director
- Maria Callas Sings Tosca, Act II (1964) Lighting Supervisor
- Maria Callas: At Covent Garden, 1962 and 1964 (1962) Music Director
- Maria Callas: At Covent Garden, 1962 and 1964 (1962) Stage Director
- Tempo (1961) as Self
- Camping (1958) Director
- Camping (1958) Screenplay
- The Bachelor (1955) First Assistant Director
- Senso (1954) Assistant Director
- Empty Eyes (1953) First Assistant Director
- Bellissima (1952) Assistant Director
- La Terra Trema (1949) Assistant Director
- Angelina (1947) as Filippo Garrone
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Franco Zeffirelli best known for?
Franco Zeffirelli is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mid-Century Modern (2025), Legends (2006), Vivement dimanche (1998), Sternstunde Kunst (1998).
When and where was Franco Zeffirelli born?
Franco Zeffirelli was born on February 12, 1923 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. They passed away on June 15, 2019.
How many credits does Franco Zeffirelli have?
Franco Zeffirelli has accumulated over 135 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1947 to 2024.
What is Franco Zeffirelli's background in cinema and television?
Franco Zeffirelli was an Italian director and producer of operas, films and television. He was a senator from 1994 until 2001 for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party. Zeffirelli's operatic designs and productions have become worldwide classics. He is known for directing several movies, including the 1968 versio...
Franco Zeffirelli by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self — aged about 51
- Apostrophes (1975) as Self — aged about 52
- aspekte (1965) as Self — aged about 42
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self — aged about 49
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self — aged about 52
- Legends (2006) as Self — aged about 83
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