Biography for
Franco Nero More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

23 November 1941, San Prospero, Parma, Italy

Birth Name

Francesco Sparanero

Height

5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini Biography

Blue-eyed well-built Italian actor Franco Nero, once was a painting photographer, when he was discovered as an actor by director John Huston. Grew up in provincial northern Italian town in the family of a strict police sergeant, Nero got on the scene six years old. Studied economics and trade in Milan University and during that time he was appearing in popular italian photo-novels. This gave him a chance to gain a little role in Carlo Lizzani's 'La Celestina' (1964). Year later handsome face of Nero was noticed by John Huston who chose him for the role of Abel in 'La Bibbia' (1966). But success came after he got the role of lonely gunfighter, dragging a coffin in one of the best spaghetti-westerns; Sergio Corbucci's 'Django' (1966). Nero then filmed a few other westerns of that style as Ferdinando Baldi's 'Texas addio' (1966) and Lucio Fulci's 'Tempo di massacro' (1966) and furthered his career by filming in all genres of the cinema and TV. During filming Joshua Logan's 'Camelot' (1967) he met the actress Vanessa Redgrave, who become his long time partner. Played with Catherine Deneuve in Luis Bunuel's 'Tristana' (1970) and with Sergei Bondarchuk in the war drama 'Bitka na Neretvi' (1969). Later director Bondarchuk cast Nero for the role of famous American reporter John Reed in two parts 'Krasnye kolokola II' (1982). In the late 60s and during the 70s Nero played many different roles, but most of them connected with political and criminal genre, criticized Italian justice system. In the early 80s, Nero was chosen for the role of white ninja in 'Enter the Ninja' (1981) and in 1990 as terrorist Gen. Esperanza, opposite Bruce Willis in Renny Harlin's 'Die Hard 2' (1990). Being a personage from more than 25 different nationalities; from Russian to American, from Egyptian to Israeli, with 150 roles, Franco Nero now prefers to participate only in little movies in supporting roles.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Tzvetislav Samardjiev, tzvetislav@abv.bg

Spouse

Vanessa Redgrave

(31 December 2006 - present) 1 child

Trivia

Father, with Vanessa Redgrave, of Carlo Gabriel Nero.

His luggage always includes a suitcase full with medicines.

His favourite color is black.

Gave away Natasha Richardson at her wedding to Liam Neeson.

Stepfather of Natasha Richardson and Joely Richardson.

Personal Quotes

"I would speak to Vanessa's father [Sir Michael Redgrave], or Laurence Olivier or John Gielgud, and they told me that, at a certain point, I had to make a choice. I could be a star and maybe make lots of money, or I could change roles all the time and have a more interesting - and longer - career. People will criticize you, they said, but if you keep changing, you'll win in the end." (Toronto Globe and Mail, 12 November 1982)

"I was working as a set photographer on De Laurentiis' The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966). Director John Huston had seen a photo of me and said, 'That's the face I want.'" (November 27, 1978)

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