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