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