Franco Nero
{{Short description|Italian actor (born 1941)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{for|the surname|Franconero}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Franco Nero
| image = 2016-02-01 1097 Franco Nero (cropped).JPG
| caption = Nero in 2016
| birth_name = Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1941|11|23}}
| birth_place = San Prospero Parmense, Parma, Italy
| occupation = Actor, producer, director
| years_active = 1962–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Vanessa Redgrave|2006}}
| children = 2, including Carlo
| relations = {{Plainlist|
- Natasha Richardson (stepdaughter)
- Joely Richardson (stepdaughter)}}
}}
Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film Django (1966), which made him a pop culture icon and launched an international career that includes over 200 leading and supporting roles in a wide variety of films and television productions.{{Cite web|last=Lyman|first=Eric J.|date=2013-01-01|title=Original 'Django' Franco Nero on His Iconic Character and the Film's Legacy (Q&A)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/original-django-franco-nero-his-407388/|access-date=2021-08-06|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}
During the 1960s and 1970s, Nero was actively involved in many popular Italian "genre trends", including polizieschi, gialli, and Spaghetti Westerns. His best-known films include The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966), Camelot (1967), The Day of the Owl (1968), The Mercenary (1968), Battle of Neretva (1969), Tristana (1970), Compañeros (1970), Confessions of a Police Captain (1971), The Fifth Cord (1971), High Crime (1973), Street Law (1974), Keoma (1976), Hitch-Hike (1977), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Enter the Ninja (1981), Die Hard 2 (1990), Letters to Juliet (2010), Cars 2 (2011), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), and The Pope's Exorcist (2023).
Nero has had a long relationship with Vanessa Redgrave, which began during the filming of Camelot. With Redgrave, Nero starred in two films directed by Tinto Brass: Dropout (1970) and La Vacanza (1971). They were married in 2006, and are the parents of the actor Carlo Gabriel Nero (b.1969).
Early life
Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero{{in lang|it}} [http://www.mymovies.it/biografia/?a=2622 Franco Nero] in MyMovies{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/section/movies|title=Movies|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{in lang|it}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20071016093237/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/52262/Franco-Nero Franco Nero] in CinemaItaliano.info{{in lang|it}} [http://www.cinemastore.it/index.php?target=actor&actorId=1835&role=1 Franco Nero] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120721214909/http://www.cinemastore.it/index.php?target=actor&actorId=1835&role=1 |date=21 July 2012 }} in Cinemastore Italy{{in lang|it}} [https://archive.today/20130126061425/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/193260/Franco_Nero_Biography Francoo Nero] Biography in Hollywood.com was born in San Prospero Parmense (Parma, Emilia-Romagna), the son of a commissioned officer in the Carabinieri.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20072275,00.html|title=He Lost His Guenevere, Vanessa Redgrave, but Franco Nero Found His Camelot Back in Italy|author=Ann Pearce|publisher=People}} His parents were originally from San Severo (Foggia, Apulia).{{cite news|title=San Severo, cittadinanza a Franco Nero|url=http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/spettacoli/2011/5-dicembre-2011/san-severo-cittadinanza-franco-nero-1902419357562.shtml|access-date=17 April 2013|newspaper=Corriere del Mezzogiorno|date=5 December 2011}}{{cite news |last=Fusco |first=Maria Pia |author-link=Maria Pia Fusco |date=22 January 2012 |title=Franco Nero straniero in patria |url=https://parma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2012/01/22/news/franco_nero_straniero_in_patria-28562126/ |work=la Repubblica |language=it |access-date=9 May 2018}} He grew up in Bedonia and in Milan. He studied briefly at the Economy and Trade faculty of the local university, before leaving to study at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano.{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Phelim |date=26 May 2011 |title=Franco Nero: No escaping Django |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/may/26/franco-nero-django |work=The Guardian |access-date=9 May 2018}}
Career
File:Sequestro di persona 72.png in Sardinia Kidnapped (1968)]]
Nero's first film role was a small part in Pelle viva (1962),{{cite news|first=Paolo|last=Russo|title="Io, Django e Fassbinder" Franco Nero, che grande attore|url=http://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/11/16/news/io_e_la_mia_fortuna_fra_b-movie_e_bunuel_incontro_col_franco_nero_che_non_t_aspetti-100732603/|access-date=6 July 2016|work=La Repubblica|date=16 November 2014}} and he had his first lead role in Sergio Corbucci's Django (1966) a Spaghetti Western and one of his best-known films.{{cite news |last=Lyman |first=Eric J. |author-link=Eric Lyman |date=1 January 2013 |title=Original 'Django' Franco Nero on His Iconic Character and the Film's Legacy (Q&A) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/original-django-franco-nero-his-407388 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=9 May 2018}} In 1966 from Django he went on to appear in eight more films released that year including Texas, Adios (1966) and Massacre Time.
In 1967, he appeared in Camelot as Lancelot, where Nero met his longtime romantic partner, and later his wife, Vanessa Redgrave.{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Laura |date=11 June 2010 |title=Vanessa Redgrave speaks about marriage to second 'husband' for the first time |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/7817915/Vanessa-Redgrave-speaks-about-marriage-to-second-husband-for-the-first-time.html |work=The Telegraph |access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cite news |last=Lambert |first=Victoria |date=9 March 2017 |title=Franco Nero: 'As you get older, you want a quiet woman – not one who yells' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/franco-nero-get-older-want-quiet-woman-not-one-yells/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/franco-nero-get-older-want-quiet-woman-not-one-yells/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cbignore}} Following this he appeared in the mafia film The Day of the Owl opposite Claudia Cardinale released in 1968.{{cite news |last=La Magna |first=Franco |date=19 November 2019 |title=Dalla mafia arcaica de "Il giorno della civetta" all'apocalittico "Cadaveri eccellenti" |url=https://www.lasicilia.it/news/cultura/305256/dalla-mafia-arcaica-de-il-giorno-della-civettaallapocalittico-cadaveri-eccellenti.html |work=La Sicilia |language=it |access-date=19 November 2019}}
A lack of proficiency in English tended to limit these roles, although Nero also appeared in other English-language films including The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Enter the Ninja (1981) and Die Hard 2 (1990).{{cite news |last=Pulici |first=Davide |date=26 November 2015 |title=Intervista a Franco Nero: buon compleanno! |url=https://www.nocturno.it/intervista-a-franco-nero-buon-compleanno/ |work=Nocturno |language=it |access-date=9 May 2018}}
Although often typecast in films like Los amigos (1973) or Keoma (1976) he has attempted an impressive range of characters, such as Abel in John Huston's epic The Bible: In The Beginning (1966), the humiliated engineer out for revenge in Street Law, the gay lieutenant in Querelle (1982), and Serbian mediaeval hero in The Falcon (1983). Nero has appeared in over 150 films, and has written, produced and starred in one: Jonathan degli orsi (1993).[http://www.1kult.com/2010/02/12/linterview-exclusive-de-franco-nero/ Franco Nero Interview from 1Kult.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430191754/http://www.1kult.com/2010/02/12/linterview-exclusive-de-franco-nero/ |date=30 April 2010 }} (English subtitled)
More recently, Nero starred in Hungarian director {{Interlanguage link multi|Koltay Gábor|hu}}'s Honfoglalás (Conquest) in 1996, in Li chiamarono... briganti! (1999) by Pasquale Squitieri and subsequently in Koltay's Sacra Corona (Holy Crown) in 2001.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
In 2009, Nero played an eccentric author called "Mario Puzzo" in Mord ist mein Geschäft, Liebling ("Murder is my trade, darling", Italian title "Tesoro, sono un killer"). German critics found his performance was the best part of the film: "Having Franco Nero playing in this film is really a great joy – it is only regrettable that after his appearances there is still so much film left.""Dass Franco Nero in diesem Film mitspielt, macht wirklich großen Spaß – schade nur, dass nach seinen Auftritten noch so viel Film übrig ist." {{Cite news|url= http://www.filmzentrale.com/rezis2/mordistmeingeschaeftlieblingob.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090919152925/http://www.filmzentrale.com/rezis2/mordistmeingeschaeftlieblingob.htm|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 19 September 2009|first=Oliver|last=Baumgarten|title= Mord ist mein Geschäft, liebling| newspaper=Filmzentrale| access-date=25 November 2011}}
In 2010, Nero appeared in the film Letters to Juliet with Redgrave.{{cite magazine |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=13 May 2010 |title=Letters to Juliet's Vanessa Redgrave |url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1989017,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cite news |last=King |first=Susan |date=14 May 2010 |title=Vanessa Redgrave knows love delayed |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-14-la-et-redgrave-nero-20100514-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=9 May 2018}} In 2011, he appeared as a guest star on the season 13 premiere episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His character, although Italian, was based on Dominique Strauss-Kahn.{{cite news |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=11 August 2011 |title=Exclusive: International Film Star Takes on Dominique Strauss-Kahn for Law & Order: SVU |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/svu-dsk-nero-1036309/ |publisher=TV Guide|access-date=9 May 2018}} In the same year, he received a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.{{cite news |last=Yuen |first=Jenny |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/05/italian-walk-of-fame-honours-stars |title=Italian Walk of Fame honours stars |date=5 September 2011}}
In 2012, Nero made a cameo appearance in the film Django Unchained in one scene alongside Jamie Foxx, who stars as Django Freeman in the film. Nero, playing the original Django, questions Foxx's Django about how his name is spelled, and asks him to spell it, referencing a scene from Nero's role as Django in the original Django film. Upon learning that their names are spelled the same way, Nero's Django says "I know" to Foxx's Django.{{cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |date=12 December 2012 |title=Django Unchained: Tarantino Frees the Slaves |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/12/django-unchained-tarantino-frees-the-slaves/ |magazine=Time |access-date=9 May 2018}}
In 2016 and 2017, he interpreted Gabriele Tinti's poetry, giving voice to the masterpieces in the National Roman Museum.{{cite web|url=http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/export/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Eventi/visualizza_asset.html_2021732403.html|title=Franco Nero legge 'Il Pugile' di Gabriele Tinti|website=www.beniculturali.it}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.it/evento/franco-nero-reads-songs-of-stone-by-gabriele-tinti-685650401?#franco-nero-attends-the-songs-of-stone-by-gabriele-tinti-at-museo-picture-id627638616|title=Franco Nero Reads 'Songs of Stone' By Gabriele Tinti}}
Nero appears in the dark comedy feature film The Immortalist in 2020, along with Sherilyn Fenn, Paul Rodriguez, Aries Spears and Jeff DuJardin, directed by Vlad Kozlov.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/rachel-true-sean-gunn-agnes-sherilyn-fenn-franco-nero-immortalist-cameron-douglas-elisabeth-rohm-the-runner-1202814905/|title=Rachel True, Sean Gunn Join 'Agnes'; Sherilyn Fenn, Franco Nero Topline 'Immortalist'; Cameron Douglas, Elisabeth Röhm In 'The Runner'|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=20 December 2019|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=22 December 2019}}
In June 2024, principal photography was completed on The Estate, a feature drama, executive produced by Nero, his wife Vanessa Redgrave, and son Carlo Gabriel Nero. The film is written and directed by his son, and stars Nero and Vanessa Redgrave.{{Cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=26 July 2024 |title=Vanessa Redgrave & Franco Nero Lead Social Thriller 'The Estate'. First Look Image Revealed As Filming Wraps In UK |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/vanessa-redgrave-franco-nero-the-estate-first-look-1236021370/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240820192322/https://deadline.com/2024/07/vanessa-redgrave-franco-nero-the-estate-first-look-1236021370/ |archive-date=20 August 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
In May 2025, Nero joined the cast of Bertrand Mandico's upcoming film Roma elastica.{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=28 May 2025 |title=Marion Cotillard Set for Bertrand Mandico’s Italian Cinema Homage ‘Roma Elastica’ to Be Shot at Cinecittà |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/marion-cotillard-bertrand-mandico-roma-elastica-cinecitta-1236411890/ |website=Variety}}
Personal life
File:Franco Nero with son Carlo Gabriel Nero (4505368767).jpg in 1979]]
His romantic involvement with English actress Vanessa Redgrave began in 1966 when they met on the set of Camelot. In 1969, they had a son, Carlo Gabriel Redgrave Sparanero (known professionally as Carlo Gabriel Nero), a screenwriter and director. After separating for many years, during which they both had relationships with other people, they reunited and married on 31 December 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/7817915/Vanessa-Redgrave-speaks-about-marriage-to-second-husband-for-the-first-time.html |title=Vanessa Redgrave speaks about marriage to second 'husband' for the first time |work=The Telegraph|date=11 June 2010 |access-date=18 August 2011}} Carlo Nero directed Redgrave in the cinematic adaptation of Wallace Shawn's play The Fever.{{cite news |last=Rorke |first=Robert |date=10 June 2007 |title=MAGICAL REDGRAVE |url=https://nypost.com/2007/06/10/magical-redgrave/ |work=New York Post |access-date=9 May 2018}}
Nero dated actresses Catherine Deneuve, Goldie Hawn and Ursula Andress in the 1970s.O'Brian, Jack (2 February 1970). "[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/911298968 Playboy Rebuffed]". The Jersey Journal.O'Brian, Jack (8 September 1975). "[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/5412448 Goldie and Vanessa's Oldie]". Lebanon Daily News"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?dat=19860109&id=JQROAAAAIBAJ&pg=4375,2221586 Kiss & Tell]". New Straits Times. 9 January 1986.
In 1983, he had a second son, Frank Sparanero (also known as Frankie Nero or Frank Nero Jr). Born in Rome by Danica Pevec (a.k.a. Alexandra Romanov), Frankie began his acting career with Pupi Avati in 1996 at a film Festival and then 1999 with the film Buck and the Magic Bracelet by Tonino Ricci. In addition to being an actor, he is also an artist, architect and photographer.
In December 1987, a paternity suit was filed against him in court in Colombia where he was filming a movie. Mauricia Mena claimed that Nero had fathered her son Franquito after a brief romantic affair.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7swAAAAYAAJ&q=Mauricia+Mena|title = Guión|year = 1987}}
In 1994, Nero walked his future stepdaughter Natasha Richardson (1963–2009) down the aisle when she married actor Liam Neeson.{{cite news |last=Lambert |first=Victoria |date=23 June 2017 |title=Original Django Franco Nero talks Vanessa Redgrave and playing the romantic lead at age 74 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/90330130/original-django-franco-nero-talks-vanessa-redgrave-and-playing-the-romantic-lead-at-age-74 |work=Stuff |access-date=9 May 2018}} Her father, Tony Richardson, had died in 1991.{{cite news |url=http://gotracey.com/natasha-richardson-fighting-aids-in-memory-of-her-father-people-online |author=Middlekauff, Tracey |title=Fighting AIDS in Memory of Her Father |work=People |year=2009 |access-date=21 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507074411/http://gotracey.com/natasha-richardson-fighting-aids-in-memory-of-her-father-people-online/ |archive-date=7 May 2009 }}
Filmography
{{pending films key}}
=Film=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Director ! class = "unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="3" |1965
|Italo | |
| The Tramplers
|Charley Garvey | |
| Wild, Wild Planet
| rowspan="2" |Lt. Jake Jacowitz | |
| rowspan="7" |1966
| |
| Hired Killer
|Tony Lo Bello | |
| Django
| |
| Massacre Time
|Tom Corbett | |
| The Third Eye
|Mino Alberti | |
| Texas, Adios
|Sheriff Burt Sullivan | |
| The Bible: In the Beginning...
|Abel |First American film |
| rowspan="2" |1967
|Don José | |
| Camelot
|Singing voice by Gene Merlino |
| rowspan="4" |1968
|Capt. Claudio Bellodi |
| Sardinia Kidnapped
|Gavino | |
| The Mercenary
|Sergei "Polack" Kowalski | |
| A Quiet Place in the Country
|Leonardo Ferri | |
| rowspan="3" |1969
|Ensign Bruno Grauber | |
| Detective Belli
|Detective Stefano Belli | |
| Battle of Neretva
|Capt. Michele Riva | |
| rowspan="4" |1970
|Horacio | |
| The Virgin and the Gypsy
|The Gypsy |
| Dropout
|Bruno Grazza | |
| Compañeros
|Yodlaf Peterson | |
| rowspan="5" |1971
|The Case Is Closed, Forget It |Vanzi | |
| Confessions of a Police Captain
|Deputy D.A. Traini |
| The Fifth Cord
|Andrea Bild | |
| La vacanza
|Osiride | |
| Long Live Your Death
|Dmitri Vassilovich Orlowsky | |
| rowspan="2" |1972
| |
| The Monk
|Ambrosio | |
| rowspan="6" |1973
|Mosquito | |
| Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears
|Johnny Ears | |
| The Assassination of Matteotti
| |
| High Crime
|Vice Commissioner Alessandro Nelli | |
| White Fang
|Jason Scott | |
| Blood Brothers (1974 film)
|Nicola Bellizzi | |
| rowspan="3" |1974
| |
| Street Law
|Carlo Antonelli | |
| Challenge to White Fang
|Jason Scott | |
| rowspan="4" |1975
|Judge Roberto Dani | |
| How to Kill a Judge
|Giacomo Solaris | |
| Cry, Onion!
|Onion Stark | |
| The Flower in His Mouth
|Professor Michele Belcore | |
| rowspan="4" |1976
|Capt. Asciutto | |
| Death Rite
|Sadry | |
| Submission
|Armand | |
| Keoma
|Keoma Shannon | |
| rowspan="2" |1977
|Jean Bellard | |
| Hitch-Hike
|Walter Mancini | |
| 1978
|Captain Nicolai Lescovar \ Colonel von Ingorslebon | |
| rowspan="3" |1979
|Uncredited |
| Mimi
|Guido | |
| The Shark Hunter
|Mike DiDonato | |
| rowspan="3" |1980
|Hakim | |
| The Blue-Eyed Bandit
|Renzo Dominici | |
| Day of the Cobra
|Larry Stanzani | |
| rowspan="3" |1981
|Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci | |
| The Falcon
| |
| Enter the Ninja
|Cole | |
| rowspan="4" |1982
| |
| Kamikaze 1989
|Weiss | |
| Querelle
|Lieutenant Seblon | |
| Grog
|Nicola Fanelli | |
| 1983
| |
| rowspan="2" |1985
|André | |
| The Repenter
|Judge Falco | |
| rowspan="4" |1987
|Paul | |
| The Girl
|Johan Berg | |
| Django Strikes Again
| |
| Grosso guaio a Cartagena
|Francis |Tommaso Dazzi | |
| rowspan="5" |1988
|Ted Angelo | |
| Pigmalione 88
|Lorenzo | |
| Young Toscanini
|Claudio Toscanini | |
| Magdalene
|Janza |{{ill|Monica Teuber|de|Monika Teuber}} | |
| Run for Your Life
|Comissare | |
| rowspan="2" |1990
|General Ramon Esperanza | |
| Breath of Life
|Gesulado | |
| 1991
|Fernando | |
| rowspan="4" |1992
|Franco | |
| Crimson Dawn
|Paul Herzog | |
| Zoloto
|Gabriele da Poppi |Fabio Bonzi | |
| The Player
|Himself |Scene deleted |
| rowspan="2" |1993
|The Lucona Affair |Enzo Lombardo | |
| Jonathan of the Bears
|Jonathan Kowalski | |
| 1995
|Major Ferri |Lucio Gaudino | |
| rowspan="3" |1996
|The Italians Are Coming |Luigi |Eyal Halfon | |
| The Innocent Sleep
|Adolfo Cavani |Scott Michell | |
| The Conquest
|Gábor Koltay | |
| rowspan="2" |1997
|Il tocco – La sfida |Jesus Barro |Enrico Coletti | |
| La medaglia
|Ferrero |Sergio Rossi | |
| rowspan="2" |1998
| |
| Talk of Angels
|Dr. Vicente Areavaga | |
| rowspan="2" |1999
|Nerza | |
| Uninvited
|Ralph Barolo | |
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Giancarlo | |
| Winds of Passion
|Michele Giangrande |Sandro Cecca | |
| rowspan="4" |2001
|The Businessman | |
| Sacra Corona
|Bishop Gellért |Gábor Koltay | |
| The Sleeping Wife
|Marco | |
| Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
|General Michelangelo Francini | |
| rowspan="2" |2002
|Fumata blanca |Cardinal Tura |Miquel García Borda | |
| Ultimo stadio
|Antonio | |
| rowspan="2" |2004
|Post Coitum |Bakchus | |
| Guardians of the Clouds
|Il Padre | |
| 2005
|Luca |Franco Nero |Also directorial debut |
| rowspan="2" |2006
|Hans |The Magistrate | |
| Amore e libertà – Masaniello
|Vicerè D'Arcos |Angelo Antonucci | |
| 2007
|Mineurs |Michele Acucella | |
| rowspan="5" |2008
|Márió, a varázsló |Mario | |
| Bastardi
|Rene Iuvara |Federico Del Zoppo, Andres Alce Meldonado | |
| The Rage
|Mentore | |
| Bathory: Countess of Blood
| |
| Ti stramo - Ho voglia di un'ultima notte da manuale prima di tre baci sopra il cielo
|Vagrant |Pino Insegno, Gianluca Sodaro |
| rowspan="2" |2009
|Mord ist mein Geschäft, Liebling |Enrico Puzzo |Sebastian Niemann | |
| Palestrina - Prince of Music
|Domenico Ferrabosco | |
| rowspan="3" |2010
|Angelus Hiroshimae |The Hunter |Giancarlo Planta | |
| Letters to Juliet
|Lorenzo Bartolini | |
| Prigioniero di un segreto
|Vagrant |Carlo Fusco | |
| rowspan="4" |2011
|Narrator | |
| New Order
|Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen |Marco Rosson | |
| Father
|Enrico | |
| Cars 2
|Uncle Topolino |Voice |
| rowspan="4" |2012
|Canepazzo |Alvaro Genta |David Petrucci | |
| A Memória que me Contam
|Paolo | |
| Django Unchained
|Amerigo Vessepi |Cameo |
| The Woods
|Enzo Philipo |Michael Mandell | |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|Carmine | |
| Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic
|Circles Introduction |Mike Disa |Voice |
| rowspan="3" |2014
|Niko | |
| Love Island
|Marquis Polesini | |
| Figli di Maam
|Herod | |
| rowspan="2" |2016
|Il Ragazzo della Giudecca |Salvatore |Alfonso Bergamo | |
| The Lost City of Z
|Baron de Gondoriz | |
| rowspan="5" |2017
|Guglielmo | |
| John Wick: Chapter 2
|Julius | |
| Il crimine non va in pensione
|Primario | |
| Iceman
|Ditob |Felix Randau | |
| The Time of Their Lives
|Alberto |Roger Goldby | |
| rowspan="3" |2018
|Hiram Abif | |
| Red Land (Rosso Istria)
|Professor Ambrosin |Maximiliano Hernando Bruno | |
| A Rose in Winter
|Rainer Praeger | |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|Ed è subito sera |Rosario De Martino |Claudio Insegno | |
| The Collini Case
|Fabrizio Collini | |
| 2020
|Recon |Angelo |Robert David Port | |
| rowspan="3" |2021
|Branko |Jakov Sedlar, Dominik Sedlar | |
| Off the Rails
|Giovanni |Jules Williamson | |
| Immortalist
|Paolo |Vladislav Kozlov | |
| rowspan="2" |2022
|The Pope |Sergio Dow | |
| The Man Who Drew God
|Emanuele |Franco Nero |Also director |
| 2023
| The Pope |Nominated - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor |
| 2024
| Antonio | Simone Petralia | |
| {{TBA}}
| {{TableTBA}} | Filming |
| {{TBA}}
| {{Pending film|Roma elastica}} | {{TableTBA}} | Filming |
=Television=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Director ! class = "unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1975 |
| 1976
|Television film |
| 1978
|Sheikh Baydr Al-Fay the Pirate |
| 1979
|General Konrad van Der Berg |Television miniseries |
| rowspan="2" |1983
|Crespi |Television miniseries |
| Die Försterbuben
|Andreas Boehme |Television film |
| 1984
|Arbaces |Television miniseries |
| rowspan="2" |1985
|Un marinaio e mezzo |Nick |Tommaso Dazzi |Television film |
| The Hitchhiker
|Dr. Peter Milne |Television series |
| 1986
|Un altare per la madre | |Television film |
| 1987
|Il generale |Television miniseries |
| 1988
|Ionescu |Television miniseries |
| rowspan="2" |1989
|Paolo Pizzi |Kathy Mueller |Television miniseries |
| The Betrothed
|Friar Cristoforo |Television miniseries |
| rowspan="2" |1990
|Blaues Blut |Sandro Castellani |Television series |
| Oggi ho vinto anch'io
|Saverio Palluca |Lodovico Gasparini |Television film |
| rowspan="2" |1991
|Television miniseries |
| Julianus barát
|Domenico |Gábor Koltay |Television miniseries |
| 1992
|Touch and Die |Aquani |Piernico Solinas |Television film |
| rowspan="2" |1993
|Das Babylon Komplott |Chris Lang |Television film |
| Azzurro profondo
|Luca Morinari |Filippo De Luigi |Television film |
| rowspan="2" |1994
|Nemici intimi |Lorenzo Stradella |Piernico Solinas |Television film |
| The Dragon Ring
|The Dragon King |Television miniseries |
| 1996
|Yogi Azim |Television miniseries |
| rowspan="5" |1997
|Television film |
| Desert of Fire
|Marcel Duvivier |Television miniseries |
| Painted Lady
|Robert Tassi |Television miniseries |
| Nessuno escluso
|Alfonso Martinez |Massimo Spano |Television film |
| Bella Mafia
|Mario Domino |Television film |
| 1998
|Il tesoro di Damasco |Andrea |José María Sánchez |Television film |
| 2000
|St. Paul |Television miniseries |
| rowspan="2" |2001
|La voce del sangue |Antonio Castaldi |Television film |
| The Crusaders
|Ibn-Azul |Television miniseries |
| 2002
|Die achte Todsünde: Toskana-Karussell |Giuseppe Mantaldo |Television film |
| rowspan="3" |2003
|The Uncrowned Heart |Bear's Trainer |Television film |
| Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften
|Pietro Bellini |Marco Serafini |Television miniseries |
| Cattive inclinazioni
|Vagrant |Pierfrancesco Campanella |Television film |
| 2005
|Lorenzo |Television film |
| 2006
|Television film |
| rowspan="2" |2007
|Count Massimo di Romano |Karsten Wichniarz, Axel de Roche |Television series |
| Two Families
|Morandi |Television film |
| rowspan="4" |2008
|Il sangue e la rosa |Umberto Mancini |Salvatore Samperi, Luciano Odorisio, Luigi Parisi |Television series |
| Mein Herz in Chile
|Carlos Sanchez |Jörg Grünler |Television film |
| A Night at the Grand Hotel
|Ferran Moreno |Thorsten Näter |Television film |
| Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons
|Max Freeman |Television miniseries |
| 2010
|Restless Heart: The Confessions of Saint Augustine |Television miniseries |
| 2011
|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |Roberto Distasio |Television series |
| 2017–18
|Joe Benelli |Television series |
| 2019
|Christmas in Rome |Luigi Forlinghetti |Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2022
|Reverend |Television series |
=Video games=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class = "unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2011
|Uncle Topolino |Voice |
Discography
- 1985 – Will Change The World/Cambierà (Lovers, LVNP 802, 7" – with his son Carlo)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|626259}}
- {{tcmdb name}}
{{David di Donatello Best Actor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nero, Franco}}
Category:David di Donatello winners
Category:Italian expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:Italian male film actors
Category:Male Spaghetti Western actors
Category:Male Western (genre) film actors
Category:People from the Province of Modena
Category:Male actors from Emilia-Romagna