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 · In the Hand of Dante as Don Lecco
- 2024 · Titanus 1904 as Self
- 2023 · Silent Life: The Story of the Lady in Black as Valentino's Spirit
- 2023 · Giorni Felici as Antonio
- 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 · The Duel as
- 2021 · Off the Rails as Giovanni
- 2021 · The Match as Old Branko
- 2020 · Harmonie as
- 2020 · The Jester from Transylvania as One-eye
- 2019 · Havana Kyrie as Vittorio Arditi De Bellis
- 2019 · Christmas in Rome as Luigi Forlinghetti
- 2019 · Recon as Angelo
- 2019 · A Rose in Winter as Rainer Praeger
- 2019 · The Collini Case as Fabrizio Collini
- 2018 · Red Land as Professor Ambrosin
- 2017 · The Broken Key as Hiram Abif
- 2017 · Agony as Carlo
- 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 · Emigratis as Self
- 2014 · Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Self - Actor
- 2014 · Love Island as Marquis Polesini
- 2014 · Obsessive Rhythms as Carmine
- 2013 · Istintobrass as Self
- 2013 · Memories They Told Me as Paolo
- 2013 · The Outsider: The Cinema of Antonio Margheriti as Self
- 2013 · I Tarantiniani as Self
- 2012 · Django Unchained as Amerigo Vessepi
- 2012 · Crazy Dog as Alvaro Genta
- 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 Augustinus (age 76)
- 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 · Two Families as Morandi
- 2006 · Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern as Self
- 2005 · Forever Blues as Luca
- 2004 · Post Coitum as Bakchus
- 2003 · Bad Inclination as Il barbone
- 2002 · Ultimo stadio as Antonio
- 2002 · Through the Night with... as Self
- 2001 · Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 as General Francini
- 2001 · Ulisse - Il piacere della scoperta as Self
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Winds of Passion as Michele Giangrande
- 2000 · Uninvited as Ralph Barolo
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Roberto Distasio
- 1999 · Li chiamarono... briganti! as Caporale Nerza
- 1998 · Talk of Angels as Dr. Vicente Areavaga
- 1997 · Bella Mafia as Mario Domino
- 1997 · David as Natan
- 1996 · The Conquest as Árpád vezér
- 1995 · Io e il re as Maggiore Ferri
- 1995 · Jonathan of the Bears as Jonathan
- 1994 · The Dragon Ring as Dragon King
- 1993 · Azzurro profondo as Luca Morinari
- 1992 · Brothers and Sisters as Franco
- 1992 · Amelia Lópes O'Neill as Fernando
- 1990 · Breath of Life as Angelo
- 1990 · Die Hard 2 as General Ramon Esperanza
- 1988 · Young Toscanini as Claudio Toscanini
- 1988 · Run for Your Life as Commissario
- 1987 · The Girl as Johan (John) Berg
- 1987 · Sweet Country as Paul
- 1985 · The Repenter as Falco
- 1983 · The Hitchhiker as Dr. Peter Milne
- 1983 · The Falcon as Banović Strahinja
- 1982 · Querelle as Lieutenant Seblon
- 1982 · Grog as Nicola Fanelli
- 1982 · Kamikaze '89 as Weiss
- 1982 · Na sowas! as Self
- 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
- 1977 · Sahara Cross as Jean Ballard
- 1977 · Hitch Hike as Walter Mancini
- 1976 · 21 Hours at Munich as Issa
- 1976 · Keoma as Keoma
- 1976 · Submission as Armand
- 1976 · Victory March as Captain Asciutto
- 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 · Challenge to White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1974 · Der große Preis as Self
- 1974 · The Last Four Days as Walter Audisio
- 1974 · Blood Brothers as Nicola Bellizzi
- 1973 · High Crime as Commissario Belli
- 1973 · Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears as Johnny Ears
- 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
- 1970 · Dropout as Bruno
- 1970 · Compañeros as Yodlaf Peterson
- 1970 · The Virgin and the Gypsy as The gypsy
- 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 · A Quiet Place in the Country as Leonardo Ferri
- 1968 · Sardinia Kidnapped as Gavino
- 1968 · The Day of the Owl as Captain Bellodi
- 1967 · Camelot as Lancelot Du Lac
- Future · Roma elastica as
- 2025 · The Estate as
- 2022 · Buon Lavoro as
- 2021 · We Are Cinema as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained as Self - Actor
- 2019 · Ed è subito sera as
- 2017 · Iceman as Ditob
- 2017 · The Neighborhood as Guglielmo
- 2017 · Il crimine non va in pensione as il primario
- 2016 · Delicious as Joe Benelli
- 2016 · Road to Ruin as Self
- 2015 · Sergio Corbucci: The Smiling Man as Himself
- 2015 · Earth as
- 2015 · Road to Capri as Guido
- 2014 · Figli di Maam as
- 2014 · Django, Sartana, Trinita' et les autres… as Lui-même
- 2012 · The Last Alchemist as Felix the Alchemist
- 2012 · New Order as Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen
- 2009 · Franco Cristaldi e il suo cinema Paradiso as
- 2008 · Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons as Max Freeman
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2006 · The Holy Family as Zachary
- 2006 · Amore e libertà - Masaniello as Vicerè
- 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
- 2003 · Der Fürst und das Mädchen as
- 2002 · Fumata blanca as Cardenal Tura
- 2001 · La ragion pura as Marito
- 2001 · Sacra Corona as Bishop Gellért
- 2001 · Franco Nero: Back in the Saddle as Self
- 1998 · Il tesoro di Damasco as Andrea
- 1997 · The Medal as Ing. Ferrero
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1996 · Il Ritorno di Sandokan as Yogi Azim
- 1996 · The Innocent Sleep as Adolfo Cavani
- 1995 · Viva el lunes as Self
- 1993 · Das Babylon Komplott as Chris Lang
- 1993 · Der Fall Lucona as Enzo Lombardi
- 1992 · Gold as Gabriele da Poppi
- 1992 · From Time to Time as Leonard De Vinci
- 1991 · Touch and Die as Aquani
- 1989 · I promessi sposi as fra Cristoforo
- 1989 · A Double Victory as Saverio Pallucca
- 1988 · Top Line as Ted Angelo
- 1987 · Django Strikes Again as Django
- 1984 · The Last Days of Pompeii as Arbaces
- 1982 · Red Bells Part II: I Saw the Birth of a New World as John Reed
- 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
- 1978 · Force 10 from Navarone as Lescovar
- 1975 · The Legend of Valentino as Rudolph Valentino
- 1975 · Smiling Maniacs as Judge Dani
- 1973 · The Assassination of Matteotti as Giacomo Matteotti
- 1973 · Redneck as Mosquito
- 1972 · The Monk as Ambrosio
- 1971 · Confessions of a Police Captain as Sostituto Procuratore Traini
- 1967 · Man, Pride and Vengeance as José
- 1965 · The Tramplers as Charley Garvey
- 1965 · La Celestina P… R… as Fabrizio
- 1964 · Italian Engagement as
- Future · La battaglia di Gorthene as
- Future · The Temptation Of Gracie as
- 2025 · The Run as Hunter
- 2024 · Compagni d'arte as
- 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 · Immortalist as Paolo Spersoni
- 2020 · Entree Des Artists as Henry's Grandfather
- 2016 · Along the River as Frank De Ville
- 2014 · Red Chairs - Parma and the Cinema as Self
- 2014 · Killer Mermaid as Niko
- 2013 · Handy as Frank The Black
- 2011 · Father as Enrico
- 2010 · Prigioniero di un segreto as Il barbone
- 2010 · Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire as Augustine of Hippo
- 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 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2008 · Il sangue e la rosa as Conte Uberto Mancini
- 2007 · Mineurs as Michele Acucella
- 2007 · L'inchiesta - Anno Domini XXXIII as Caifa
- 2006 · Hans as Giudice/barbone
- 2005 · Summer Solstice as Lorenzo
- 2005 · Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker as Self
- 2005 · Rosamunde Pilcher - Magic of Love as
- 2003 · The Uncrowned Heart as Bear's Trainer
- 2002 · The Last Gunfighter as The pistolero
- 2002 · Die achte Todsünde: Das Toskana-Karussell as Giuseppe Mantaldo
- 2002 · Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften as Fashion Billionaire
- 2001 · In the Company of Compañeros as Self
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2001 · La voce del sangue as Antonio Castaldi
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Mirka as Il Sindaco
- 1998 · The Versace Murder as Gianni Versace
- 1997 · Painted Lady as Robert Tassi
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1997 · Rack Up as Jesus Barro
- 1997 · David as Nathan
- 1997 · Davide as Nathan
- 1995 · Desideria e l'anello del drago as Dragon King
- 1993 · Test of Memory as Paul Herzog
- 1991 · Young Catherine as Count Vorontsov
- 1989 · Blaues Blut as Sandro Castellani
- 1988 · Magdalene as Janza
- 1988 · Race to Danger as Francis, il marinaio
- 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
- 1982 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Last Works as Self
- 1982 · Red Bells as John Reed
- 1982 · Red Bells Part I: Mexico on Fire as John Reed
- 1981 · Enter the Ninja as Cole
- 1979 · Le rose di Danzica as General Konrad von Der Berg
- 1974 · Street Law as Carlo Antonelli
- 1973 · White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1972 · Pope Joan as Louis
- 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 · The Wild, Wild Planet as Lt. Jake
- 1966 · The Third Eye as Mino Alberti (as Frank Nero)
- 1966 · Django as Django
- 1966 · The Hired Killer as Tony Lo Bello
- 1965 · I Knew Her Well as Italo - The garage attendant
- 1963 · Un delitto as
- Future · Django Lives! as Django
- 1962 · Scorched Skin as