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 The Old Filmmaker
- 2026 · In the Hand of Dante as Don Lecco (86)
- 2025 · The Estate as
- 2023 · On Our Way as
- 2023 · The Pope's Exorcist as The Pope
- 2023 · Django as Reverend
- 2022 · The Man from Rome as The Pope
- 2022 · Buon Lavoro as
- 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 · Havana Kyrie as Vittorio Arditi De Bellis
- 2019 · Recon as Angelo
- 2019 · A Rose in Winter as Rainer Praeger
- 2019 · The Collini Case as Fabrizio Collini
- 2017 · Iceman as Ditob
- 2017 · The Broken Key as Hiram Abif
- 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
- 2015 · Earth as
- 2015 · Road to Capri as Guido
- 2014 · Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Self - Actor
- 2014 · Love Island as Marquis Polesini
- 2014 · Killer Mermaid as Niko
- 2013 · Istintobrass 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 · Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire as Augustine of Hippo
- 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 · Il sangue e la rosa as Conte Uberto Mancini
- 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 · Rosamunde Pilcher - Magic of Love as
- 2003 · Der Fürst und das Mädchen as
- 2002 · Through the Night with... as Self
- 2002 · Fumata blanca as Cardenal Tura
- 2002 · Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften as Fashion Billionaire
- 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 · Talk of Angels as Dr. Vicente Areavaga
- 1998 · The Versace Murder as Gianni Versace
- 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
- 1996 · The Conquest as Árpád vezér
- 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
- 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 · Querelle as Lieutenant Seblon
- 1982 · Grog as Nicola Fanelli
- 1982 · Kamikaze '89 as Weiss
- 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 · Day of the Cobra as Larry Stanziani
- 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 · Death Rite as Sadry
- 1975 · Cry, Onion! as Onion Stark
- 1974 · Challenge to White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1974 · Street Law as Carlo Antonelli
- 1974 · Der große Preis as Self
- 1974 · The Last Four Days as Walter Audisio
- 1973 · White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1973 · The Assassination of Matteotti as Giacomo Matteotti
- 1973 · Redneck as Mosquito
- 1972 · The Monk as Ambrosio
- 1972 · Pope Joan as Louis
- 1972 · The Harder They Come as Django (archive footage)
- 1971 · The Case Is Closed, Forget It as Vanzi
- 1971 · Vacation as Osiride
- 1970 · Compañeros as Yodlaf Peterson
- 1970 · The Fifth Day of Peace as Bruno Grauber
- 1970 · Tristana as Horacio
- 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 · The Day of the Owl as Captain Bellodi
- 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
- Future · El Sobrino as
- 2024 · Titanus 1904 as Self
- 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 · The Dark Dance as L'Impresario
- 2019 · Christmas in Rome as Luigi Forlinghetti
- 2017 · Agony as Carlo
- 2017 · The Time of Their Lives as Alberto
- 2013 · Memories They Told Me as Paolo
- 2013 · I Tarantiniani as Self
- 2012 · New Order as Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen
- 2011 · Father as Enrico
- 2009 · Franco Cristaldi e il suo cinema Paradiso as
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2008 · Bastardi as Rene Iuvara
- 2006 · The Holy Family as Zachary
- 2006 · Giornata Nera as
- 2005 · Summer Solstice as Lorenzo
- 2005 · Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker as Self
- 2005 · The Spaghetti West as Self
- 2004 · Post Coitum as Bakchus
- 2004 · Guardians of the Clouds as Padre
- 2002 · Ultimo stadio as Antonio
- 2001 · La voce del sangue as Antonio Castaldi
- 2001 · Chimera as Imprenditore
- 2000 · Winds of Passion as Michele Giangrande
- 1999 · Li chiamarono... briganti! as Caporale Nerza
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1996 · The Innocent Sleep as Adolfo Cavani
- 1995 · Io e il re as Maggiore Ferri
- 1995 · Jonathan of the Bears as Jonathan
- 1993 · Der Fall Lucona as Enzo Lombardi
- 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 · A Double Victory as Saverio Pallucca
- 1988 · Young Toscanini as Claudio Toscanini
- 1988 · Run for Your Life as Commissario
- 1983 · The Falcon as Banović Strahinja
- 1982 · Red Bells Part II: I Saw the Birth of a New World 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 · The Blue-Eyed Bandit as Renzo Dominici
- 1979 · The Shark Hunter as Mike di Donato
- 1977 · Sahara Cross as Jean Ballard
- 1976 · 21 Hours at Munich as Issa
- 1976 · Victory March as Captain Asciutto
- 1975 · The Flower in His Mouth as Professore Michele Belcore
- 1975 · How to Kill a Judge as Giacomo Solaris
- 1975 · Smiling Maniacs as Judge Dani
- 1971 · Confessions of a Police Captain as Sostituto Procuratore Traini
- 1970 · Dropout as Bruno
- 1970 · The Virgin and the Gypsy as The gypsy
- 1968 · Sardinia Kidnapped as Gavino
- 1967 · Man, Pride and Vengeance as José
- 1966 · The Hired Killer as Tony Lo Bello
- 1965 · The Tramplers as Charley Garvey
- 1965 · La Celestina P… R… as Fabrizio
- 1963 · Un delitto as
- Future · Django Lives! as Django
- 2026 · Il Vecchio Terribile as Oste
- 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
- 2019 · Ed è subito sera as
- 2018 · Red Land as Professor Ambrosin
- 2016 · Road to Ruin as Self
- 2015 · Sergio Corbucci: The Smiling Man as Himself
- 2014 · Figli di Maam as
- 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
- 2007 · Mineurs as Michele Acucella
- 2007 · Two Families as Morandi
- 2006 · Amore e libertà - Masaniello as Vicerè
- 2006 · Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern as Self
- 2005 · Forever Blues as Luca
- 2002 · Die achte Todsünde: Das Toskana-Karussell as Giuseppe Mantaldo
- 2001 · La ragion pura as Marito
- 2000 · Uninvited as Ralph Barolo
- 2000 · Mirka as Il Sindaco
- 1998 · Il tesoro di Damasco as Andrea
- 1993 · Azzurro profondo as Luca Morinari
- 1992 · Gold as Gabriele da Poppi
- 1988 · Race to Danger as Francis, il marinaio
- 1984 · Die Försterbuben as Böhme
- 1982 · Sergey Bondarchuk as Self
- 1979 · Le rose di Danzica as General Konrad von Der Berg
- 1975 · The Legend of Valentino as Rudolph Valentino
- 1966 · War of the Planets as Lt. Jake Jacowitx
- 1966 · The Third Eye as Mino Alberti (as Frank Nero)
- 1964 · Italian Engagement as
- Future · The Temptation Of Gracie as
- 2024 · Compagni d'arte as
- 2020 · Harmonie as
- 2020 · Immortalist as Paolo Spersoni
- 2020 · Entree Des Artists as Henry's Grandfather
- 2017 · Il crimine non va in pensione as il primario
- 2016 · Along the River as Frank De Ville
- 2014 · Django, Sartana, Trinita' et les autres… as Lui-même
- 2013 · Handy as Frank The Black
- 2012 · The Last Alchemist as Felix the Alchemist
- 2010 · Prigioniero di un segreto as Il barbone
- 2008 · Márió, a varázsló as Mario
- 2008 · A Night at the Grand Hotel as Ferran Moreno
- 2006 · Hans as Giudice/barbone
- 2005 · Vasco Rossi - È solo un rock'n'roll show as Judge
- 2003 · Bad Inclination as Il barbone
- 2003 · The Uncrowned Heart as Bear's Trainer
- 2002 · The Last Gunfighter as The pistolero
- 2001 · In the Company of Compañeros as Self
- 2001 · Sacra Corona as Bishop Gellért
- 2001 · Franco Nero: Back in the Saddle as Self
- 1997 · Rack Up as Jesus Barro
- 1993 · Das Babylon Komplott as Chris Lang
- 1993 · Test of Memory as Paul Herzog
- 1986 · Un altare per la madre as -
- 1985 · André schafft sie alle as Andre
- 1985 · Devil's Crude as Nick
- 1982 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Last Works as Self
- 1974 · Blood Brothers as Nicola Bellizzi
- 1973 · High Crime as Commissario Belli
- 1973 · Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears as Johnny Ears
- 1971 · Don't Turn the Other Cheek as Prince Dimitri Vassilovich Vladek Orlowsky
- 1971 · The Fifth Cord as Andrea Bild
- 1968 · A Quiet Place in the Country as Leonardo Ferri
- 1966 · The Wild, Wild Planet as Lt. Jake
- 1966 · Django as Django
- 1965 · I Knew Her Well as Italo - The garage attendant
- 1962 · Scorched Skin as
- Future · La battaglia di Gorthene as