Franco Zeffirelli

{{Short description|Italian filmmaker (1923–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=ITA|OMRI|size=100%}} | birth_name = Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli | image = Franco Zeffirelli, director, 1972.jpg | caption = Zeffirelli in 1972 | office = Member of the Senate of the Republic | term_start = 21 April 1994 | term_end = 29 May 2001 | constituency = Catania | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1923|2|12}} | birth_place = Florence, Italy | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2019|6|15|1923|2|12}} | death_place = Rome, Italy | alma_mater = Academy of Fine Arts of Florence | occupation = {{hlist|Film director|opera director|politician}} | party = {{ubl|Christian Democracy (before 1994)|{{lang|it|Forza Italia|italic=no}} (1994–2001)}} | children = 2 (adopted) | module2 = {{Infobox military person |embed=yes | allegiance = United Kingdom | branch = British Army | service_years = 1942–1945 | unit = 24th Guards Brigade | battles = World War II}} }}

'''Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli''' ({{IPA|it|ˈfraŋko ddzeffiˈrɛlli}}; 12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.notizieoggi24.it/2019/06/15/lutto-nel-mondo-del-cinema-morto-franco-zeffirelli/|title=Lutto nel mondo del cinema: morto Franco Zeffirelli|last=Redazione|date=15 June 2019|website=Notizie Oggi 24|language=it-IT|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref> was an Italian stage and film director, producer, production designer and politician. He was one of the most significant opera and theatre directors of the post–World War II era, gaining both acclaim and notoriety for his lavish stagings of classical works, as well as his film adaptations of the same.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 2019 |title=Franco Zeffirelli obituary |url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jun/15/franco-zeffirelli-obituary |access-date=6 August 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kandell |first=Jonathan |date=15 June 2019 |title=Franco Zeffirelli, Italian Director With Taste for Excess, Dies at 96 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/arts/music/franco-zeffirelli-dead.html |access-date=6 August 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Films he directed included the Shakespearean adaptations ''The Taming of the Shrew'' (1967), starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1968), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director; and ''Hamlet'' (1990), starring Mel Gibson and Glenn Close. His Biblical television miniseries ''Jesus of Nazareth'' (1977) won both national and international acclaim and is still frequently shown at Christmas and Easter in many countries.

A member of the {{lang|it|Forza Italia|italic=no}} party, he served as the Senator for Catania between 1994 and 2001.

A Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic since 1977, Zeffirelli also received an honorary British knighthood in 2004.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4037897.stm UK honour for director Zeffirelli], BBC News, 24 November 2004</ref> Zeffirelli was awarded the Premio Colosseo in 2009 by the city of Rome.

==Early life== Zeffirelli was born Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli in the outskirts of Florence, Tuscany, Italy, after an affair between Florentine Alaide Garosi, a fashion designer, and Ottorino Corsi, a wool and silk dealer from Vinci. Since both were married, Alaide was unable to use her surname or Corsi's for her child. She came up with "Zeffiretti", which are the "little breezes" mentioned in Mozart's opera ''Idomeneo'', of which she was quite fond. However, it was misspelt in the register and became Zeffirelli.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biography.yourdictionary.com/franco-zeffirelli|title=Franco Zeffirelli Facts|publisher=Biography.yourdictionary.com|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> When he was six years old, his mother died and he subsequently grew up under the auspices of the English expatriate community and was particularly involved with the so-called Scorpioni, who inspired his semi-autobiographical film ''Tea with Mussolini'' (1999).

Italian researchers found that Zeffirelli was one of a handful of living people traceably consanguineous with Leonardo da Vinci. He was a descendant of one of da Vinci's siblings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36053229|title=Leonardo da Vinci's 'living relatives' identified|work=BBC News|date=15 April 2016|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

Zeffirelli graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze in 1941 and, following his father's advice, entered the University of Florence to study art and architecture.<ref name="NYT2009">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/arts/music/19zeffirelli.html|title=Maestro Still Runs the Show, Grandly|work=The New York Times|date=18 August 2009|access-date=18 August 2009|last=Donadio|first=Rachel}}</ref> After World War II broke out, he fought as a partisan with the Italian Resistance, before he met up with British soldiers of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and became their interpreter. After the war, he re-entered the University of Florence to continue his studies, but when he saw Laurence Olivier's ''Henry V'' in 1945, he directed his attention toward theatre instead.

While working for a scene painter in Florence, he was introduced to Luchino Visconti, who hired him as an assistant director for the film ''La Terra trema'', which was released in 1948. Visconti's methods had a deep impact on Zeffirelli's later work.<ref name="Y!Movies-biog">{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800025046/bio|title=Franco Zeffirelli Biography|work=Yahoo! Movies|access-date=18 August 2009}}</ref> He also worked with directors such as Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini. In the 1960s, he made his name designing and directing his own plays in London and New York City and soon transferred his ideas to the cinema.

==Career== ===Film=== [[File:Director-Franco-Zeffirelli-and-Olivia-Hussey-in-the-movie-Romeo-and-Juliet-391759001112.jpg|thumb|Zeffirelli with Olivia Hussey while filming ''Romeo and Juliet'' in 1967]] Zeffirelli's first film as director was a version of ''The Taming of the Shrew'' (1967), originally intended for Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni but featuring the Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in their stead. Taylor and Burton helped fund production and took a percentage of the profits rather than their normal salaries.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

While editing ''The Taming of the Shrew'', Zeffirelli's native Florence was devastated by floods. A month later, he released a short documentary, entitled ''Florence: Days of Destruction'', to raise funds for the disaster appeal.<ref name=Get66>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QW0mAAAAIBAJ&pg=1659,15192|title=Burton Hosts Flood Special on Channel 33|newspaper=The Gettysburg Times|date=31 December 1966|access-date=29 December 2012}}</ref>

Zeffirelli's major breakthrough came the year after, when he presented two teenagers as ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1968). It made Zeffirelli a household name – no other subsequent work by him had the immediate impact of ''Romeo and Juliet''. The film earned $14.5 million in domestic rentals at the North American box office in 1969.<ref>"Big Rental Films of 1969", ''Variety'', 7 January 1970, p. 15</ref> It was re-released in 1973 and earned $1.7 million in rentals.<ref>"Big Rental Films of 1973", ''Variety'', 9 January 1974, p. 60</ref>

Film critic Roger Ebert, for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', wrote: "I believe Franco Zeffirelli's ''Romeo and Juliet'' is the most exciting film of Shakespeare ever made".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Romeo and Juliet|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/romeo-and-juliet-1968|work=RogerEbert.com|publisher=Roger Ebert|date=15 October 1968|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref>

After two successful film adaptations of Shakespeare, Zeffirelli went on to religious themes, first with a film about the life of St. Francis of Assisi titled ''Brother Sun, Sister Moon'' (1972), then his extended mini-series ''Jesus of Nazareth'' (1977) with an all-star cast. The latter was a major success in the ratings.

He moved on to contemporary themes with a remake of the boxing picture ''The Champ'' (1979) and the critically panned ''Endless Love'' (1981). In the 1980s, he made a series of successful films adapting opera to the screen, with such stars as Plácido Domingo, Teresa Stratas, Juan Pons and Katia Ricciarelli. He returned to Shakespeare with ''Hamlet'' (1990), casting Mel Gibson in the lead role. His adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë novel ''Jane Eyre'' (1996) was a critical success.

Zeffirelli frequently cast unknown actors in major roles: Leonard Whiting (Romeo in ''Romeo and Juliet''), Graham Faulkner (St. Francis in ''Brother Sun, Sister Moon'') and Martin Hewitt (David Axelrod in ''Endless Love'').

===Opera=== Zeffirelli was a major director of opera productions from the 1950s in Italy and elsewhere in Europe as well as the United States. He began his career in the theatre as assistant to Luchino Visconti. Then he tried his hand at scenography. His first work as a director was buffo operas by Gioachino Rossini. He became a friend of Maria Callas and they worked together on a ''La traviata'' in Dallas, Texas, in 1958. Of particular note is his 1964 Royal Opera House production of ''Tosca'' with Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi. In the same year, he created Callas' last ''Norma'' at the Paris Opera. He also staged at the Vienna State Opera: ''Don Giovanni'' (1972), ''La Bohème'' (1963), and ''Carmen'' with Elena Obraztsova and Plácido Domingo in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Carmen" am 09.12.1978 {{!}} Spielplanarchiv der Wiener Staatsoper |url=https://archiv.wiener-staatsoper.at/performances/10834 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=archiv.wiener-staatsoper.at}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vorstellungen mit Franco Zeffirelli {{!}} Spielplanarchiv der Wiener Staatsoper |url=https://archiv.wiener-staatsoper.at/search/person/3217 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=archiv.wiener-staatsoper.at}}</ref> Zeffirelli also collaborated with Joan Sutherland, designing and directing her performances of Gaetano Donizetti's ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' in 1959. Over the years he created several productions for the Metropolitan Opera in New York, including ''La bohème'', ''Tosca'', ''Turandot'' and ''Don Giovanni''. When the new Metropolitan Opera opened at Lincoln Center, he directed its first production, Samuel Barber's ''Antony and Cleopatra'', starring Leontyne Price.

==Honours== In 1996, he was awarded an honorary degree for services to the arts by the University of Kent at a graduation ceremony held in Canterbury Cathedral. In 1999, he received the Crystal Globe award for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In November 2004, he was awarded an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4037897.stm "UK honour for director Zeffirelli"], BBC News. Accessed 27 May 2008</ref>

===Awards and nominations=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 99%;" ! scope="col" | Association ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Work ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- !scope="row" rowspan="2"| Academy Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1969 | Best Director | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1969|title=The 41st Academy Awards {{pipe}} 1969|date=4 October 2014 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1983 | Best Art Direction | ''La Traviata'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983|title=The 55th Academy Awards {{pipe}} 1983|date=5 October 2014 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="4"| British Academy Film Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1969 | Best Direction | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1969/film|title=Film in 1969 {{pipe}} BAFTA Awards|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 1984 | Best Film Not in the English Language | rowspan="2"| ''La Traviata'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1984/film|title=Film in 1984 {{pipe}} BAFTA Awards|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | Best Production Design | {{won}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1987 | Best Film Not in the English Language | ''Otello'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1987/film|title=Film in 1987 {{pipe}} BAFTA Awards|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| British Academy Television Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1978 | Best Single Play | ''Jesus of Nazareth'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1978/television|title=Television in 1978 {{pipe}} BAFTA Awards|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| Cannes Film Festival | style="text-align:center;"| 1986 | Palme d'Or | ''Otello'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/1986/allSelections.html|title=Official Selection 1986|publisher=Cannes Film Festival|access-date=10 November 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216000419/http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/1986/allSelections.html|archive-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="5"| David di Donatello Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1969 | rowspan="2" | Best Director | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.daviddidonatello.it/motore-di-ricerca/cercavincitori2.php?idsoggetto=668&vin=Zeffirelli|title=Franco Zeffirelli – Premi David di Donatello|trans-title=Franco Zeffirelli – David di Donatello Awards|language=Italian|publisher=Accademia del Cinema Italiano|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1972 | ''Brother Sun, Sister Moon'' | {{won}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1979 | European David | {{sdash}} | {{won}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1991 | Best Foreign Film | ''Hamlet'' | {{won}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 2002 | Special David | {{sdash}} | {{won}} |- !scope="row"| Directors Guild of America Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1969 | Outstanding Directing – Feature Film | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1960s/1968.aspx?value=1968|title=1968 Awards|publisher=Directors Guild of America|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| Flaiano Prizes | style="text-align:center;"| 1996 | rowspan="2" | Career Award | rowspan="2" {{sdash}} | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premiflaiano.com/418/1996.html|title=Flaiano International Awards Winners 1996|publisher=Premi Flaiano|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| Globo d'oro | style="text-align:center;"| 2013 | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Boni|first=Federico|url=https://it.notizie.yahoo.com/blog/multisala/globi-doro-2013-tutti-vincitori-090456330.html|title=Globi d'Oro 2013: tutti i vincitori|trans-title=2013 Globi d'Oro: all the winners|work=Yahoo! News|language=Italian|date=5 July 2013|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="4"| Golden Globe Awards | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 1969 | Best Director | rowspan="2"| ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/franco-zeffirelli|title=Franco Zeffirelli {{pipe}} Golden Globes|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | Best English-Language Foreign Film | {{won}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1983 | rowspan="2" | Best Foreign Language Film | ''La Traviata'' | {{nom}} |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1987 | ''Otello'' | {{nom}} |- !scope="row" rowspan="2"| Nastro d'Argento Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1969 | Best Director | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nastridargento.it/1969-2/|title=Nastri d'Argento {{pipe}} 1969|language=Italian|publisher=Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists|access-date=10 November 2022|archive-date=10 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110120518/https://www.nastridargento.it/1969-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;"| 2013 | Special Silver Ribbon | rowspan="2" {{sdash}} | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Fusco|first=Fabio|url=https://movieplayer.it/news/franco-zeffirelli-un-nastro-d-argento-per-i-suoi-90-anni_23828/|title=Franco Zeffirelli: un Nastro d'Argento per i suoi 90 anni|trans-title=Franco Zeffirelli: a Silver Ribbon to celebrate his 90th birthday|work=Movieplayer|language=Italian|date=12 February 2013|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | style="text-align:center;"| 1999 | Crystal Globe | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kviff.com/en/history/1999|title=34th Festival|publisher=Karlovy Vary International Film Festival|access-date=10 November 2022|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212215817/https://www.kviff.com/en/history/1999|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| National Board of Review | style="text-align:center;"| 1969 | Best Director | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1968/|title=1968 Award Winners|publisher=National Board of Review|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row"| Palm Springs International Film Festival | style="text-align:center;"| 2003 | Director's Achievement Award | {{sdash}} | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.screendaily.com/palm-springs-honours-zeffirelli-redgrave-the-late-conrad-hall/4011720.article|title=Palm Springs honours Zeffirelli, Redgrave, the late Conrad Hall|work=ScreenDaily|date=7 January 2003|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="2"| Primetime Emmy Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1985 | Outstanding Individual Achievement – Classical Music/Dance Programming – Directing | ''Pagliacci'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/franco-zeffirelli|title=Franco Zeffirelli {{pipe}} Emmy Awards|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1986 | Outstanding Individual Achievements – Classical Music/Dance Programming | ''Great Performances'': "Cavalleria Rusticana" | {{won}} |- !scope="row"| Razzie Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1982 | Worst Director | ''Endless Love'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=21|title=1981 Razzie Awards|publisher=Golden Raspberry Award Foundation|access-date=10 November 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116032635/http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=21|archive-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="2"| Tony Awards | style="text-align:center;"| 1962 | Special Tony Award | ''Romeo and Juliet'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/year/1962/category/special-tony-award/show/any/|title=Winners / 1962 / Special Tony Award|publisher=American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1963 | Best Scenic Design | ''The Lady of the Camellias'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1963/category/scenic-design-play-or-musical/show/any/|title=Nominations / 1963 / Scenic Design|publisher=American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> |}

==Criticism== Zeffirelli received criticism from religious groups for what they call the blasphemous representation of biblical figures in his films.<ref name="glbtq">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Patricia Julian|title=Zeffirelli, Franco|publisher=glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Culture|date=9 January 2005|url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/zeffirelli_f.html|access-date=7 August 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814115944/http://www.glbtq.com/arts/zeffirelli_f.html|archive-date=14 August 2007}}</ref> He also roused accusations of antisemitism for describing Martin Scorsese's ''The Last Temptation of Christ'' as a product of "that Jewish cultural scum of Los Angeles which is always spoiling for a chance to attack the Christian world."<ref name="Ulaby2019">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/15/514094174/franco-zeffirelli-creator-of-lavish-productions-on-screen-and-stage-dies-at-96|title=Franco Zeffirelli, Creator Of Lavish Productions On Screen And Stage, Dies At 96|work=Weekend Edition, NPR|date=15 June 2019|access-date=15 June 2019|last=Ulaby|first=Neda}}</ref>

Zeffirelli was a highly conservative Catholic,<ref name="Ulaby2019"/> and served two terms in the Italian senate as a member of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right {{lang|it|Forza Italia|italic=no}} party.<ref name="BBCobit">{{cite news|title=Obituary: Franco Zeffirelli|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24855930|work=BBC News|date=15 June 2019|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref> He was criticized by members of the gay community for upholding the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality<ref name="glbtq"/><ref name="Ulaby2019"/><ref name="BBCobit"/> and by others for support of the Church's position on abortion.<ref name="Ulaby2019"/><ref name="BBCobit"/> At one point he even called for capital punishment for women who had terminated a pregnancy.<ref name="BBCobit"/>

He roused controversy again when he told a newspaper in 2006 that he had not suffered any harm when sexually abused by a priest as a child.<ref name="Ulaby2019"/>

==Personal life== thumb|right|Zeffirelli in 2008 In 1996, Zeffirelli came out as gay, but thereafter preferred to be discreet about his personal life.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/21/books.film|title=Zeffirelli tells all about priest's sexual assault|author=Barbara McMahon|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 November 2006|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref> Zeffirelli said that he considered himself "homosexual" rather than gay, as he felt the term "gay" was less elegant.<ref name='NYTProfile'>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/arts/music/19zeffirelli.html|title=Maestro Still Runs the Show, Grandly|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Rachel Donadio|date=18 August 2009|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref> Zeffirelli adopted two adult sons, men with whom he had lived and who worked for him for years, managing his affairs.<ref name='NYTProfile'/>

===Allegations of sexual assault=== Writer and film director Bruce Robinson claimed to have been the target of unwanted amorous attention from Zeffirelli during the filming of ''Romeo and Juliet'', in which Robinson played Benvolio. Robinson says that he based the lecherous character of Uncle Monty in the film ''Withnail and I'' on Zeffirelli.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Bruce Robinson|url=http://www.laurahird.com/newreview/brucerobinson.html|access-date=7 August 2007|last=Murphy|first=Peter|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707184620/http://www.laurahird.com/newreview/brucerobinson.html|archive-date=7 July 2007}}</ref>

In 2018, the American actor Johnathon Schaech alleged that Zeffirelli sexually assaulted him during the filming of ''Sparrow'' (''Storia di una capinera'', 1993).<ref>{{cite news|title=Actor Johnathon Schaech: I Was Molested by Director Franco Zeffirelli|url=http://people.com/movies/johnathon-schaech-molested-franco-zeffirelli/|work=People|date=11 January 2018|access-date=18 June 2019|last=Schaech|first=Johnathon}}</ref> Zeffirelli's son Giuseppe "Pippo", adopted by the filmmaker as an adult, issued a statement at the time denying the allegation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/2018/01/11/director-franco-zeffirelli-94-accused-molesting-actor-1992-son-denies/1025870001/|title=Director Franco Zeffirelli, 94, accused of molesting actor in 1992; son denies it|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=11 January 2018|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/franco-zeffirelli-abuse-accusers-speak-1219298|title=The Dark Side of Franco Zeffirelli: Abuse Accusers Speak Out Upon the Famed Director's Death|work=Hollywood Reporter|first=Rebecca|last=Keegan|date=18 June 2019|access-date=1 December 2019}}]</ref>

===Death=== Zeffirelli died at his home in Rome on 15 June 2019, aged 96.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/morto-franco-zeffirelli-1.4647533|title=È morto Franco Zeffirelli, addio al Maestro|publisher=La Nazione|date=15 June 2019|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/franco-zeffirelli-dead-romeo-juliet-920639 Franco Zeffirelli, Oscar-Nominated Director for 'Romeo and Juliet,' Dies at 96], Duane Byrge, The Hollywood REPORTER, 15 June 2019</ref>

==Selected filmography== * ''La Bohème'' (1965; production designer only)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/franco-zeffirelli-117884/filmography|title=Franco Zeffirelli Filmography|publisher=Allmovie|access-date=18 August 2009}}</ref> * ''Florence: Days of Destruction'' (1966) (documentary short) * ''The Taming of the Shrew'' (1967)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1968)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> – Academy Award nominee, director * ''Brother Sun, Sister Moon'' (1972)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Jesus of Nazareth'' (1977)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Cavalleria rusticana'' (1978) with Tatiana Troyanos and Plácido Domingo<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> (live Metropolitan Opera House – stage director) * ''Pagliacci'' (1978) with Teresa Stratas, Sherrill Milnes and Plácido Domingo<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> (live Metropolitan Opera House – stage director) * ''Carmen'' (1978)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''The Champ'' (1979)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Endless Love'' (1981)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> – Razzie Award nominee * ''Pagliacci'' (1982) with Plácido Domingo and Teresa Stratas<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Cavalleria rusticana'' (1982) with Plácido Domingo and Elena Obraztsova<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''La Bohème'' (1982)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> (live Metropolitan Opera – stage director) * ''La Traviata'' (1982)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> – Academy Award nominee, BAFTA winner, art direction; with Teresa Stratas and Plácido Domingo * ''Tosca'' (1985)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> (live Metropolitan Opera – stage director) * ''Otello'' (1986)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> – BAFTA winner, foreign language film; with Plácido Domingo and Katia Ricciarelli * ''Young Toscanini'' (1988)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Hamlet'' (1990)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Don Giovanni''<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> (live Metropolitan Opera – stage director) * ''Don Carlo'' with Luciano Pavarotti and Daniela Dessì<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> (live La Scala – stage director) * ''Storia di una capinera'' (also known as ''Sparrow''; 1993)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> with Sheherazade Ventura * ''Jane Eyre'' (1996)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Tea with Mussolini'' (1999)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" /> * ''Callas Forever'' (2002)<ref name="Allmovie_filmography" />

==Bibliography== * Zeffirelli, Franco; John Tooley (interviews by Anna Tims), [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/jul/23/how-we-made-zeffirelli-callas-tosca "How we made: Franco Zeffirelli and John Tooley on ''Tosca'' (1964)"], ''The Guardian'' (London), 23 July 2012 on theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name|1874}} * {{IBDB name}} * {{Charlie Rose view|4625}} * {{NPG name}} * {{NYTtopic|people/z/franco_zeffirelli}} * [http://www.senato.it/leg/13/BGT/Schede/Attsen/00000692.htm Italian Senate profile] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041016112029/http://www.keithbush.com/article_zeffirelli.htm Interview: Maria Callas and ''Callas Forever''] * [http://www.tipjar.com/dan/zeffirelli.htm Interview with Zeffirelli from 1999 about ''Tea With Mussolini''] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24855930 BBC Obituary: Franco Zeffirelli]

{{Franco Zeffirelli}} {{navboxes |title=Awards for Franco Zeffirelli |list1= {{BAFTA Award for Best Production Design}} {{David di Donatello Best Director}} {{Nastro d'Argento Best Director}} {{National Board of Review Award for Best Director}} {{Special Tony Award}} }} {{ACF Fiorentina Hall of Fame}}

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