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
- 2024 · Titanus 1904 as Self
- 2023 · Giorni felici as Antonio
- 2023 · The Pope's Exorcist as The Pope
- 2023 · Django as Reverend
- 2022 · Buon Lavoro as
- 2021 · The Match as Old Branko
- 2019 · Havana Kyrie as Vittorio Arditi De Bellis
- 2019 · Recon as Angelo
- 2017 · Agony as Carlo
- 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 · Love Island as Marquis Polesini
- 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 · Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire as Augustinus (age 76)
- 2008 · Bathory: Countess of Blood as King Mathias
- 2008 · Bastardi as Rene Iuvara
- 2007 · The Final Inquiry as Caifa
- 2004 · Post Coitum as Bakchus
- 2003 · Der Fürst und das Mädchen as
- 2002 · Through the Night with... as Self
- 2002 · Ultimo stadio as Antonio
- 2001 · Ulisse - Il piacere della scoperta as Self
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Roberto Distasio
- 1997 · Bella Mafia as Mario Domino
- 1997 · David as Natan
- 1996 · The Conquest as Árpád vezér
- 1995 · Viva el lunes as Self
- 1995 · Io e il re as Maggiore Ferri
- 1990 · Die Hard 2 as General Ramon Esperanza
- 1989 · I promessi sposi as fra Cristoforo
- 1988 · Top Line as Ted Angelo
- 1987 · The Girl as Johan (John) Berg
- 1985 · The Repenter as Falco
- 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
- 1981 · The Salamander as Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci
- 1979 · Mimi as Guido
- 1978 · The Pirate as Baydr Al Fay
- 1977 · Sahara Cross as Jean Ballard
- 1976 · Submission as Armand
- 1975 · Cry, Onion! as Onion Stark
- 1974 · Der große Preis as Self
- 1973 · Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears as Johnny Ears
- 1973 · Redneck as Mosquito
- 1970 · Dropout as Bruno
- 1970 · Tristana as Horacio
- 1967 · Camelot as Lancelot Du Lac
- 1966 · Django as Django
- Future · Roma elastica as
- 2025 · In the Hand of Dante as Don Lecco
- 2022 · The Man from Rome as The Pope
- 2021 · The Duel as
- 2021 · Off the Rails as Giovanni
- 2020 · The Dark Dance as L'Impresario
- 2019 · Christmas in Rome as Luigi Forlinghetti
- 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
- 2015 · Earth as
- 2014 · Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Self - Actor
- 2014 · Obsessive Rhythms as Carmine
- 2013 · I Tarantiniani as Self
- 2012 · Crazy Dog as Alvaro Genta
- 2012 · New Order as Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen
- 2008 · Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons as Max Freeman
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2007 · L'inchiesta - Anno Domini XXXIII as Caifa
- 2007 · Two Families as Morandi
- 2005 · Forever Blues as Luca
- 2003 · Bad Inclination as Il barbone
- 2002 · Fumata blanca as Cardenal Tura
- 2001 · Sacra Corona as Bishop Gellért
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Winds of Passion as Michele Giangrande
- 1999 · Li chiamarono... briganti! as Caporale Nerza
- 1998 · Il tesoro di Damasco as Andrea
- 1997 · Painted Lady as Robert Tassi
- 1997 · The Medal as Ing. Ferrero
- 1997 · David as Nathan
- 1997 · Davide as Nathan
- 1996 · The Return of Sandokan as Yogi Azim
- 1995 · Desideria e l'anello del drago as Dragon King
- 1994 · The Dragon Ring as Dragon King
- 1992 · From Time to Time as Leonard De Vinci
- 1991 · Young Catherine as Count Vorontsov
- 1990 · Breath of Life as Angelo
- 1989 · Blaues Blut as Sandro Castellani
- 1987 · Sweet Country as Paul
- 1986 · Un altare per la madre as -
- 1984 · The Last Days of Pompeii as Arbaces
- 1982 · Red Bells as John Reed
- 1979 · The Visitor as Jesus Christ
- 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 · Victory March as Captain Asciutto
- 1975 · Death Rite as Sadry
- 1974 · Blood Brothers as Nicola Bellizzi
- 1973 · White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1972 · The Monk as Ambrosio
- 1972 · The Harder They Come as Django (archive footage)
- 1971 · Vacation as Osiride
- 1971 · The Fifth Cord as Andrea Bild
- 1971 · Confessions of a Police Captain as Sostituto Procuratore Traini
- 1970 · Compañeros as Yodlaf Peterson
- 1969 · The Battle of Neretva as Capitano Michele Rossi
- 1968 · The Mercenary as Sergei Kowalski, The Polish
- 1968 · Sardinia Kidnapped as Gavino
- 1966 · The Bible: In the Beginning... as Abel
- 1966 · Texas, Adios as Burt Sullivan
- 1965 · I Knew Her Well as Italo - The garage attendant
- Future · The Temptation Of Gracie as
- 2025 · The Run as Hunter
- 2024 · Compagni d'arte as
- 2023 · On Our Way as
- 2023 · The Man Who Drew God as Emanuele
- 2011 · Father as Enrico
- 2010 · Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire as Augustine of Hippo
- 2008 · Il sangue e la rosa as Conte Uberto Mancini
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2005 · The Spaghetti West as Self
- 2005 · Rosamunde Pilcher - Magic of Love as
- 2001 · Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 as General Francini
- 1998 · Talk of Angels as Dr. Vicente Areavaga
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1996 · The Innocent Sleep as Adolfo Cavani
- 1995 · Jonathan of the Bears as Jonathan
- 1993 · Das Babylon Komplott as Chris Lang
- 1993 · Der Fall Lucona as Enzo Lombardi
- 1992 · Gold as Gabriele da Poppi
- 1988 · Run for Your Life as Commissario
- 1987 · Django Strikes Again as Django
- 1983 · The Falcon as Banović Strahinja
- 1982 · Red Bells Part II: I Saw the Birth of a New World as John Reed
- 1981 · Enter the Ninja as Cole
- 1979 · The Shark Hunter as Mike di Donato
- 1975 · How to Kill a Judge as Giacomo Solaris
- 1974 · Challenge to White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1973 · The Assassination of Matteotti as Giacomo Matteotti
- 1973 · High Crime as Commissario Belli
- 1971 · The Case Is Closed, Forget It as Vanzi
- 1968 · A Quiet Place in the Country as Leonardo Ferri
- 1968 · The Day of the Owl as Captain Bellodi
- 1966 · Massacre Time as Tom Corbett
- Future · Django Lives! as Django
- 2023 · Silent Life: The Story of the Lady in Black as Valentino's Spirit
- 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 · Two Men Alone as Himself
- 2020 · Harmonie as
- 2020 · Immortalist as Paolo Spersoni
- 2020 · Entree Des Artists as Henry's Grandfather
- 2020 · The Jester from Transylvania as One-eye
- 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
- 2016 · Along the River as Frank De Ville
- 2015 · Sergio Corbucci: The Smiling Man as Himself
- 2015 · Road to Capri as Guido
- 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 · Handy as Frank The Black
- 2013 · Memories They Told Me as Paolo
- 2013 · The Outsider: The Cinema of Antonio Margheriti as Self
- 2012 · The Last Alchemist as Felix the Alchemist
- 2012 · Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s as Self
- 2010 · Prigioniero di un segreto as Il barbone
- 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 · La rabbia as Mentore
- 2007 · Mineurs as Michele Acucella
- 2006 · The Holy Family as Zachary
- 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 · Summer Solstice as Lorenzo
- 2005 · Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker as Self
- 2005 · Vasco Rossi - È solo un rock'n'roll show as Judge
- 2004 · Guardians of the Clouds as Padre
- 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 · La ragion pura as Marito
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2001 · La voce del sangue as Antonio Castaldi
- 2001 · Chimera as Imprenditore
- 2001 · Franco Nero: Back in the Saddle as Self
- 2000 · Uninvited as Ralph Barolo
- 2000 · Mirka as Il Sindaco
- 1998 · The Versace Murder as Gianni Versace
- 1997 · Rack Up as Jesus Barro
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1993 · Test of Memory as Paul Herzog
- 1993 · Azzurro profondo as Luca Morinari
- 1992 · Brothers and Sisters as Franco
- 1992 · Amelia Lópes O'Neill as Fernando
- 1991 · Touch and Die as Aquani
- 1989 · A Double Victory as Saverio Pallucca
- 1988 · Magdalene as Janza
- 1988 · Young Toscanini as Claudio Toscanini
- 1988 · Race to Danger as Francis, il marinaio
- 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 Part I: Mexico on Fire as John Reed
- 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
- 1979 · Le rose di Danzica as General Konrad von Der Berg
- 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 · Street Law as Carlo Antonelli
- 1974 · The Last Four Days as Walter Audisio
- 1972 · Pope Joan as Louis
- 1971 · Don't Turn the Other Cheek as Prince Dimitri Vassilovich Vladek Orlowsky
- 1970 · The Virgin and the Gypsy as The gypsy
- 1970 · The Fifth Day of Peace as Bruno Grauber
- 1969 · Detective Belli as Commissario Stefano Belli
- 1967 · Man, Pride and Vengeance as José
- 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 · The Hired Killer as Tony Lo Bello
- 1965 · The Tramplers as Charley Garvey
- 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