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