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 · 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
- 2022 · Buon Lavoro as
- 2021 · We Are Cinema as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained as Self - Actor
- 2021 · Marina Cicogna - La vita e tutto il resto as Self
- 2021 · Off the Rails as Giovanni
- 2021 · The Match as Old Branko
- 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 · 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 · The Time of Their Lives as Alberto
- 2017 · John Wick: Chapter 2 as Julius
- 2016 · Delicious as Joe Benelli
- 2016 · Emigratis as Self
- 2015 · Road to Capri as Guido
- 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
- 2012 · New Order as Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen
- 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
- 2008 · Bastardi as Rene Iuvara
- 2007 · The Final Inquiry as Caifa
- 2007 · L'inchiesta - Anno Domini XXXIII as Caifa
- 2005 · Summer Solstice as Lorenzo
- 2005 · The Spaghetti West as Self
- 2005 · Rosamunde Pilcher - Magic of Love as
- 2004 · Guardians of the Clouds as Padre
- 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 · La voce del sangue as Antonio Castaldi
- 2001 · Ulisse - The pleasure of discovery as Self
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Winds of Passion as Michele Giangrande
- 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
- 1996 · The Innocent Sleep as Adolfo Cavani
- 1995 · Viva el lunes as Self
- 1995 · Desideria e l'anello del drago 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
- 1989 · A Double Victory as Saverio Pallucca
- 1988 · Young Toscanini as Claudio Toscanini
- 1988 · Top Line as Ted Angelo
- 1988 · Run for Your Life as Commissario
- 1987 · Django Strikes Again as Django
- 1987 · The Girl as Johan (John) Berg
- 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 · Kamikaze '89 as Weiss
- 1982 · Na sowas! as Self
- 1982 · Red Bells as John Reed
- 1982 · Red Bells Part I: Mexico on Fire as John Reed
- 1980 · The Man with Bogart's Face as Hakim
- 1979 · The Shark Hunter as Mike di Donato
- 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 · Hitch Hike as Walter Mancini
- 1976 · 21 Hours at Munich as Issa
- 1976 · Keoma as Keoma
- 1976 · Submission as Armand
- 1975 · Death Rite as Sadry
- 1975 · Cry, Onion! as Onion Stark
- 1975 · How to Kill a Judge as Giacomo Solaris
- 1974 · Der große Preis as Self
- 1974 · The Last Four Days as Walter Audisio
- 1973 · White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1973 · Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears as Johnny Ears
- 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 · Django as Django
- 1965 · I Knew Her Well as Italo - The garage attendant
- 1965 · La Celestina P… R… as Fabrizio
- Future · Roma elastica as
- 2025 · The Run as Hunter
- 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 · Giorni felici as Antonio
- 2021 · Two Men Alone as Himself
- 2020 · The Dark Dance as L'Impresario
- 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
- 2014 · Love Island as Marquis Polesini
- 2013 · I Tarantiniani as Self
- 2012 · The Last Alchemist as Felix the Alchemist
- 2008 · A Night at the Grand Hotel as Ferran Moreno
- 2007 · Mineurs as Michele Acucella
- 2006 · The Holy Family as Zachary
- 2006 · Amore e libertà - Masaniello as Vicerè
- 2006 · Hans as Giudice/barbone
- 2006 · Giornata Nera as
- 2001 · La ragion pura as Marito
- 2001 · Chimera as Imprenditore
- 2001 · Sacra Corona as Bishop Gellért
- 1999 · Li chiamarono... briganti! as Caporale Nerza
- 1965 · The Tramplers as Charley Garvey
- Future · Django Lives! as Django
- 1997 · Rack Up as Jesus Barro
- 1995 · Io e il re as Maggiore Ferri
- 1993 · Azzurro profondo as Luca Morinari
- 1981 · Le rose di Danzica as Il generale Konrad Von Den Berg
- 1980 · The Blue-Eyed Bandit as Renzo Dominici
- 1975 · The Legend of Valentino as Rudolph Valentino
- 1971 · Confessions of a Police Captain as Sostituto Procuratore Traini
- 1966 · The Wild, Wild Planet as Lt. Jake
- Future · The Temptation Of Gracie as
- 2005 · Vasco Rossi - È solo un rock'n'roll show as Judge
- Future · La battaglia di Gorthene as
- 2026 · Il Vecchio Terribile as Oste
- 2024 · Compagni d'arte as
- 2021 · The Duel as
- 2019 · Havana Kyrie as Vittorio Arditi De Bellis
- 2019 · Christmas in Rome as Luigi Forlinghetti
- 2019 · Ed è subito sera as
- 2017 · Agony as Carlo
- 2016 · Road to Ruin as Self
- 2016 · Along the River as Frank De Ville
- 2015 · Sergio Corbucci: The Smiling Man as Himself
- 2015 · Earth as
- 2014 · Figli di Maam as
- 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 · Handy as Frank The Black
- 2013 · Memories They Told Me as Paolo
- 2013 · The Outsider: The Cinema of Antonio Margheriti as Self
- 2012 · Crazy Dog as Alvaro Genta
- 2012 · Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s as Self
- 2011 · Father as Enrico
- 2010 · Prigioniero di un segreto as Il barbone
- 2009 · Franco Cristaldi e il suo cinema Paradiso as
- 2008 · Márió, a varázsló as Mario
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2007 · Two Families as Morandi
- 2006 · Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern as Self
- 2005 · Forever Blues as Luca
- 2005 · Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker as Self
- 2004 · Post Coitum as Bakchus
- 2003 · Bad Inclination as Il barbone
- 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 · Ultimo stadio as Antonio
- 2001 · In the Company of Compañeros as Self
- 2001 · Franco Nero: Back in the Saddle as Self
- 2000 · Uninvited as Ralph Barolo
- 2000 · Mirka as Il Sindaco
- 1998 · Il tesoro di Damasco as Andrea
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1995 · Jonathan of the Bears as Jonathan
- 1994 · The Dragon Ring as Dragon King
- 1993 · Das Babylon Komplott as Chris Lang
- 1993 · Test of Memory as Paul Herzog
- 1993 · Der Fall Lucona as Enzo Lombardi
- 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
- 1990 · Breath of Life as Angelo
- 1988 · Magdalene as Janza
- 1988 · Race to Danger as Francis, il marinaio
- 1987 · Sweet Country as Paul
- 1986 · Un altare per la madre as -
- 1985 · The Repenter as Falco
- 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
- 1981 · Enter the Ninja as Cole
- 1981 · The Salamander as Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci
- 1980 · Day of the Cobra as Larry Stanziani
- 1979 · Le rose di Danzica as General Konrad von Der Berg
- 1977 · Sahara Cross as Jean Ballard
- 1976 · Victory March as Captain Asciutto
- 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
- 1974 · Blood Brothers as Nicola Bellizzi
- 1973 · The Assassination of Matteotti as Giacomo Matteotti
- 1973 · High Crime as Commissario Belli
- 1971 · Don't Turn the Other Cheek as Prince Dimitri Vassilovich Vladek Orlowsky
- 1971 · The Fifth Cord as Andrea Bild
- 1970 · Dropout as Bruno
- 1970 · The Virgin and the Gypsy as The gypsy
- 1968 · A Quiet Place in the Country as Leonardo Ferri
- 1968 · Sardinia Kidnapped as Gavino
- 1967 · Man, Pride and Vengeance as José
- 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
- 1964 · Italian Engagement as
- 1963 · Un delitto as
- 1962 · Scorched Skin as