Franco Nero
Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born November 23, 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor, producer, and director. 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 programmes. During the 1960s and 1970s, Nero was actively involved in many popular Italian "genre trends", including poliziotteschi, 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), and John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017). Nero has had a long relationship with Vanessa Redgrave, which began during the filming of Camelot. They were married in 2006, and are the parents of the actor Carlo Gabriel Nero.
Known For
Credits
- 2026 · Roma elastica as
- 2026 · Il Vecchio Terribile as Oste
- 2025 · The Estate as
- 2025 · In the Hand of Dante as Don Lecco
- 2024 · Titanus 1904 as Self
- 2024 · The Jester from Transylvania as One-eye
- 2023 · Silent Life: The Story of the Lady in Black as Valentino's Spirit
- 2021 · Marina Cicogna - La vita e tutto il resto as Self
- 2020 · Immortalist as Paolo Spersoni
- 2019 · Havana Kyrie as Vittorio Arditi De Bellis
- 2019 · A Rose in Winter as Rainer Praeger
- 2018 · Red Land as Professor Ambrosin
- 2015 · Road to Capri as Guido
- 2014 · Love Island as Marquis Polesini
- 2014 · Red Chairs - Parma and the Cinema as Self
- 2014 · Obsessive Rhythms as Carmine
- 2013 · The Outsider: The Cinema of Antonio Margheriti as Self
- 2012 · Crazy Dog as Alvaro Genta
- 2011 · Father as Enrico
- 2009 · Franco Cristaldi e il suo cinema Paradiso as
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2007 · Mineurs as Michele Acucella
- 2007 · Two Families as Morandi
- 2006 · The Holy Family as Zachary
- 2006 · Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern as Self
- 2005 · Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker as Self
- 2005 · The Spaghetti West as Self
- 2004 · Post Coitum as Bakchus
- 2002 · Ultimo stadio as Antonio
- 2001 · In the Company of Compañeros as Self
- 2001 · La voce del sangue as Antonio Castaldi
- 2001 · Sacra Corona as Bishop Gellért
- 2000 · Mirka as Il Sindaco
- 1999 · Li chiamarono... briganti! as Caporale Nerza
- 1998 · The Versace Murder as Gianni Versace
- 1996 · The Innocent Sleep as Adolfo Cavani
- 1995 · Jonathan of the Bears as Jonathan
- 1993 · Test of Memory as Paul Herzog
- 1993 · Der Fall Lucona as Enzo Lombardi
- 1993 · Azzurro profondo as Luca Morinari
- 1992 · Brothers and Sisters as Franco
- 1992 · Gold as Gabriele da Poppi
- 1992 · Amelia Lópes O'Neill as Fernando
- 1989 · A Double Victory as Saverio Pallucca
- 1988 · Young Toscanini as Claudio Toscanini
- 1988 · Run for Your Life as Commissario
- 1987 · Sweet Country as Paul
- 1985 · The Repenter as Falco
- 1985 · André schafft sie alle as Andre
- 1982 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Last Works as Self
- 1982 · Red Bells Part I: Mexico in Flames as John Reed
- 1981 · Le rose di Danzica as Il generale Konrad Von Den Berg
- 1981 · Enter the Ninja as Cole
- 1980 · The Man with Bogart's Face as Hakim
- 1980 · Day of the Cobra as Larry Stanziani
- 1979 · The Shark Hunter as Mike di Donato
- 1976 · Victory March as Captain Asciutto
- 1975 · Smiling Maniacs as Judge Dani
- 1974 · Challenge to White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1973 · Redneck as Mosquito
- 1970 · The Virgin and the Gypsy as The gypsy
- 1969 · Detective Belli as Commissario Stefano Belli
- 1966 · The Wild, Wild Planet as Lt. Jake
- 1966 · The Third Eye as Mino Alberti (as Frank Nero)
- 1965 · The Tramplers as Charley Garvey
- 1965 · La Celestina P… R… as Fabrizio
- Future · The Temptation Of Gracie as
- 2023 · Giorni felici as Antonio
- 2022 · Buon Lavoro as
- 2021 · The Duel as
- 2021 · Two Men Alone as Himself
- 2020 · Entree Des Artists as Henry's Grandfather
- 2015 · Sergio Corbucci: The Smiling Man as Himself
- 2015 · Earth as
- 2013 · Handy as Frank The Black
- 2012 · The Last Alchemist as Felix the Alchemist
- 2012 · New Order as Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen
- 2010 · Prigioniero di un segreto as Il barbone
- 2008 · A Night at the Grand Hotel as Ferran Moreno
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2006 · Amore e libertà - Masaniello as Vicerè
- 2006 · Hans as Giudice/barbone
- 2004 · Guardians of the Clouds as Padre
- 2003 · The Uncrowned Heart as Bear's Trainer
- 2000 · Winds of Passion as Michele Giangrande
- 2000 · Uninvited as Ralph Barolo
- 1998 · Il tesoro di Damasco as Andrea
- 1997 · Rack Up as Jesus Barro
- 1996 · The Conquest as Árpád vezér
- 1995 · Io e il re as Maggiore Ferri
- 1992 · From Time to Time as Leonard De Vinci
- 1990 · Breath of Life as Angelo
- 1988 · Race to Danger as Francis, il marinaio
- 1984 · Die Försterbuben as Böhme
- 1980 · The Blue-Eyed Bandit as Renzo Dominici
- 1979 · Le rose di Danzica as General Konrad von Der Berg
- 1977 · Sahara Cross as Jean Ballard
- 1975 · The Legend of Valentino as Rudolph Valentino
- 1963 · Un delitto as
- Future · Django Lives! as Django
- 2024 · Compagni d'arte as
- 2023 · On Our Way as
- 2023 · The Pope's Exorcist as The Pope
- 2023 · The Man Who Drew God as Emanuele
- 2023 · Django as Reverend
- 2022 · The Man from Rome as The Pope
- 2021 · We Are Cinema as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained as Self - Actor
- 2021 · Off the Rails as Giovanni
- 2021 · The Match as Old Branko
- 2020 · The Dark Dance as L'Impresario
- 2020 · Harmonie as
- 2019 · Christmas in Rome as Luigi Forlinghetti
- 2019 · Recon as Angelo
- 2019 · The Collini Case as Fabrizio Collini
- 2019 · Ed è subito sera as
- 2017 · Iceman as Ditob
- 2017 · The Broken Key as Hiram Abif
- 2017 · Agony as Carlo
- 2017 · The Neighborhood as Guglielmo
- 2017 · Il crimine non va in pensione as il primario
- 2017 · The Lost City of Z as Baron de Gondoriz
- 2017 · The Time of Their Lives as Alberto
- 2017 · John Wick: Chapter 2 as Julius
- 2016 · Delicious as Joe Benelli
- 2016 · Emigratis as Self
- 2016 · Road to Ruin as Self
- 2016 · Along the River as Frank De Ville
- 2014 · Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Self - Actor
- 2014 · Figli di Maam as
- 2014 · Killer Mermaid as Niko
- 2014 · Django, Sartana, Trinita' et les autres… as Lui-même
- 2013 · Istintobrass as Self
- 2013 · Memories They Told Me as Paolo
- 2013 · I Tarantiniani as Self
- 2012 · Django Unchained as Amerigo Vessepi
- 2012 · Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s as Self
- 2011 · Cars 2 as Uncle Topolino (voice)
- 2010 · Rasputin as Narratore
- 2010 · Letters to Juliet as Lorenzo
- 2010 · Restless Heart: The Confessions of Augustine as Augustinus (age 76)
- 2010 · Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire as Augustine of Hippo
- 2009 · Killing Is My Business, Honey as Enrico Puzzo
- 2008 · Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons as Max Freeman
- 2008 · Márió, a varázsló as Mario
- 2008 · Il sangue e la rosa as Conte Uberto Mancini
- 2008 · Bathory: Countess of Blood as King Mathias
- 2008 · La rabbia as Mentore
- 2008 · Bastardi as Rene Iuvara
- 2007 · The Final Inquiry as Caifa
- 2007 · L'inchiesta - Anno Domini XXXIII as Caifa
- 2006 · Giornata Nera as
- 2005 · Summer Solstice as Lorenzo
- 2005 · Forever Blues as Luca
- 2005 · Vasco Rossi - È solo un rock'n'roll show as Judge
- 2005 · Rosamunde Pilcher - Magic of Love as
- 2003 · Bad Inclination as Il barbone
- 2003 · Der Fürst und das Mädchen as
- 2002 · The Last Gunfighter as The pistolero
- 2002 · Die achte Todsünde: Das Toskana-Karussell as Giuseppe Mantaldo
- 2002 · Through the Night with... as Self
- 2002 · Fumata blanca as Cardenal Tura
- 2002 · Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften as Fashion Billionaire
- 2001 · La ragion pura as Marito
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2001 · Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 as General Francini
- 2001 · Chimera as Imprenditore
- 2001 · Ulisse - The pleasure of discovery as Self
- 1993 · Das Babylon Komplott as Chris Lang
- 1985 · Devil's Crude as Nick
- Future · El Sobrino as
- 2001 · Franco Nero: Back in the Saddle as Self
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Roberto Distasio
- 1998 · Talk of Angels as Dr. Vicente Areavaga
- 1997 · Painted Lady as Robert Tassi
- 1997 · Bella Mafia as Mario Domino
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1997 · The Medal as Ing. Ferrero
- 1997 · David as Nathan
- 1997 · David as Natan
- 1997 · Davide as Nathan
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1996 · The Return of Sandokan as Yogi Azim
- 1995 · Viva el lunes as Self
- 1995 · Desideria e l'anello del drago as Dragon King
- 1994 · The Dragon Ring as Dragon King
- 1991 · Young Catherine as Count Vorontsov
- 1991 · Touch and Die as Aquani
- 1990 · Die Hard 2 as General Ramon Esperanza
- 1989 · I promessi sposi as fra Cristoforo
- 1989 · Blaues Blut as Sandro Castellani
- 1988 · Magdalene as Janza
- 1988 · Top Line as Ted Angelo
- 1987 · Django Strikes Again as Django
- 1987 · The Girl as Johan (John) Berg
- 1986 · Un altare per la madre as -
- 1984 · The Last Days of Pompeii as Arbaces
- 1983 · The Hitchhiker as Dr. Peter Milne
- 1983 · The Falcon as Banović Strahinja
- 1982 · Red Bells Part II: I Saw the Birth of a New World as John Reed
- 1982 · Querelle as Lieutenant Seblon
- 1982 · Grog as Nicola Fanelli
- 1982 · Kamikaze '89 as Weiss
- 1982 · Na sowas! as Self
- 1982 · Sergey Bondarchuk as Self
- 1981 · The Salamander as Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci
- 1979 · Mimi as Guido
- 1979 · The Visitor as Jesus Christ
- 1978 · The Pirate as Baydr Al Fay
- 1978 · Force 10 from Navarone as Lescovar
- 1977 · The Pirate as Baydr Al Fay
- 1977 · Hitch Hike as Walter Mancini
- 1976 · 21 Hours at Munich as Issa
- 1976 · Keoma as Keoma
- 1976 · Submission as Armand
- 1975 · The Flower in His Mouth as Professore Michele Belcore
- 1975 · Death Rite as Sadry
- 1975 · Cry, Onion! as Onion Stark
- 1975 · How to Kill a Judge as Giacomo Solaris
- 1974 · Street Law as Carlo Antonelli
- 1974 · Der große Preis as Self
- 1974 · The Last Four Days as Walter Audisio
- 1974 · Blood Brothers as Nicola Bellizzi
- 1973 · White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1973 · The Assassination of Matteotti as Giacomo Matteotti
- 1973 · High Crime as Commissario Belli
- 1973 · Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears as Johnny Ears
- 1972 · The Monk as Ambrosio
- 1972 · Pope Joan as Louis
- 1972 · The Harder They Come as Django (archive footage)
- 1971 · Don't Turn the Other Cheek as Prince Dimitri Vassilovich Vladek Orlowsky
- 1971 · The Case Is Closed, Forget It as Vanzi
- 1971 · Vacation as Osiride
- 1971 · The Fifth Cord as Andrea Bild
- 1971 · Confessions of a Police Captain as Sostituto Procuratore Traini
- 1970 · Compañeros as Yodlaf Peterson
- 1970 · Dropout as Bruno
- 1970 · The Fifth Day of Peace as Bruno Grauber
- 1970 · Tristana as Horacio
- 1969 · The Battle of Neretva as Capitano Michele Rossi
- 1968 · The Mercenary as Sergei Kowalski, The Polish
- 1968 · A Quiet Place in the Country as Leonardo Ferri
- 1968 · Sardinia Kidnapped as Gavino
- 1968 · The Day of the Owl as Captain Bellodi
- 1967 · Man, Pride and Vengeance as José
- 1967 · Camelot as Lancelot Du Lac
- 1966 · The Bible: In the Beginning... as Abel
- 1966 · Texas, Adios as Burt Sullivan
- 1966 · Massacre Time as Tom Corbett
- 1966 · War of the Planets as Lt. Jake Jacowitx
- 1966 · Django as Django
- 1966 · The Hired Killer as Tony Lo Bello
- 1965 · I Knew Her Well as Italo - The garage attendant
- 1964 · Italian Engagement as
- 1962 · Scorched Skin as
- Future · La battaglia di Gorthene as