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 Run as Hunter
- 2025 · In the Hand of Dante as Don Lecco
- 2023 · Silent Life: The Story of the Lady in Black as Valentino's Spirit
- 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 · We Are Cinema as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Marina Cicogna - La vita e tutto il resto as Self
- 2020 · Harmonie as
- 2020 · Immortalist as Paolo Spersoni
- 2019 · Havana Kyrie as Vittorio Arditi De Bellis
- 2019 · Christmas in Rome as Luigi Forlinghetti
- 2019 · The Collini Case as Fabrizio Collini
- 2019 · Ed è subito sera as
- 2017 · Iceman as Ditob
- 2017 · The Broken Key as Hiram Abif
- 2017 · Il crimine non va in pensione as il primario
- 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
- 2014 · Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Self - Actor
- 2014 · Red Chairs - Parma and the Cinema as Self
- 2014 · Killer Mermaid as Niko
- 2013 · Istintobrass as Self
- 2013 · Memories They Told Me as Paolo
- 2013 · The Outsider: The Cinema of Antonio Margheriti 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 · Prigioniero di un segreto as Il barbone
- 2010 · Letters to Juliet as Lorenzo
- 2010 · Restless Heart: The Confessions of Augustine as Augustinus (age 76)
- 2009 · Franco Cristaldi e il suo cinema Paradiso as
- 2009 · Killing Is My Business, Honey as Enrico Puzzo
- 2008 · Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons as Max Freeman
- 2008 · Márió, a varázsló as Mario
- 2008 · A Night at the Grand Hotel as Ferran Moreno
- 2008 · Bathory: Countess of Blood as King Mathias
- 2007 · Mineurs as Michele Acucella
- 2007 · The Final Inquiry as Caifa
- 2006 · Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern as Self
- 2006 · Hans as Giudice/barbone
- 2005 · Summer Solstice as Lorenzo
- 2005 · Vasco Rossi - È solo un rock'n'roll show as Judge
- 2003 · Der Fürst und das Mädchen as
- 2002 · Through the Night with... as Self
- 2001 · La ragion pura as Marito
- 2001 · Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 as General Francini
- 2001 · Chimera as Imprenditore
- 2001 · Ulisse - The pleasure of discovery as Self
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Saint Paul as Gamaliel
- 2000 · Uninvited as Ralph Barolo
- 2000 · Mirka as Il Sindaco
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Roberto Distasio
- 1998 · Il tesoro di Damasco as Andrea
- 1997 · Painted Lady as Robert Tassi
- 1997 · Rack Up as Jesus Barro
- 1997 · David as Nathan
- 1997 · David as Natan
- 1997 · Davide as Nathan
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1996 · The Return of Sandokan as Yogi Azim
- 1996 · The Innocent Sleep as Adolfo Cavani
- 1995 · Viva el lunes as Self
- 1994 · The Dragon Ring as Dragon King
- 1993 · Test of Memory as Paul Herzog
- 1993 · Azzurro profondo as Luca Morinari
- 1991 · Young Catherine as Count Vorontsov
- 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 · Young Toscanini as Claudio Toscanini
- 1987 · Django Strikes Again as Django
- 1985 · André schafft sie alle as Andre
- 1984 · Die Försterbuben as Böhme
- 1984 · The Last Days of Pompeii as Arbaces
- 1983 · The Hitchhiker as Dr. Peter Milne
- 1983 · The Falcon as Banović Strahinja
- 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
- 1981 · Enter the Ninja as Cole
- 1981 · The Salamander as Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci
- 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 · Mimi as Guido
- 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 · Submission as Armand
- 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 · Challenge to White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1974 · Street Law as Carlo Antonelli
- 1974 · Der große Preis as Self
- 1973 · White Fang as Jason Scott
- 1973 · High Crime as Commissario Belli
- 1972 · Pope Joan as Louis
- 1972 · The Harder They Come as Django (archive footage)
- 1971 · Don't Turn the Other Cheek as Prince Dimitri Vassilovich Vladek Orlowsky
- 1971 · The Fifth Cord as Andrea Bild
- 1971 · Confessions of a Police Captain as Sostituto Procuratore Traini
- 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 · The Day of the Owl as Captain Bellodi
- 1967 · Camelot as Lancelot Du Lac
- 1966 · The Bible: In the Beginning... as Abel
- 1966 · Massacre Time as Tom Corbett
- 1966 · Django as Django
- 1966 · The Hired Killer as Tony Lo Bello
- Future · La battaglia di Gorthene as
- 2025 · The Estate as
- 2024 · Titanus 1904 as Self
- 2024 · The Jester from Transylvania as One-eye
- 2023 · Giorni felici as Antonio
- 2023 · On Our Way as
- 2021 · Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained as Self - Actor
- 2021 · Off the Rails as Giovanni
- 2021 · The Match as Old Branko
- 2020 · The Dark Dance as L'Impresario
- 2019 · Recon as Angelo
- 2019 · A Rose in Winter as Rainer Praeger
- 2018 · Red Land as Professor Ambrosin
- 2017 · The Neighborhood as Guglielmo
- 2016 · Road to Ruin as Self
- 2015 · Road to Capri as Guido
- 2014 · Obsessive Rhythms as Carmine
- 2012 · Crazy Dog as Alvaro Genta
- 2010 · Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire as Augustine of Hippo
- 2008 · Il sangue e la rosa as Conte Uberto Mancini
- 2008 · La rabbia as Mentore
- 2008 · Bastardi as Rene Iuvara
- 2007 · L'inchiesta - Anno Domini XXXIII as Caifa
- 2005 · The Spaghetti West as Self
- 2005 · Rosamunde Pilcher - Magic of Love as
- 2004 · Post Coitum as Bakchus
- 2002 · Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften as Fashion Billionaire
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2001 · La voce del sangue as Antonio Castaldi
- 2001 · Sacra Corona as Bishop Gellért
- 2001 · The Crusaders as Ibnazul
- 2000 · Winds of Passion as Michele Giangrande
- 1999 · Li chiamarono... briganti! as Caporale Nerza
- 1998 · Talk of Angels as Dr. Vicente Areavaga
- 1997 · Bella Mafia as Mario Domino
- 1997 · Desert of Fire as Marcel Duvivier
- 1996 · The Conquest as Árpád vezér
- 1995 · Io e il re as Maggiore Ferri
- 1995 · Desideria e l'anello del drago as Dragon King
- 1990 · Breath of Life as Angelo
- 1985 · The Repenter as Falco
- 1971 · The Case Is Closed, Forget It as Vanzi
- Future · Roma elastica as
- 2022 · Buon Lavoro as
- 2021 · The Duel as
- 2017 · Agony as Carlo
- 2015 · Sergio Corbucci: The Smiling Man as Himself
- 2015 · Earth as
- 2014 · Love Island as Marquis Polesini
- 2014 · Django, Sartana, Trinita' et les autres… as Lui-même
- 2013 · Handy as Frank The Black
- 2013 · I Tarantiniani as Self
- 2012 · New Order as Dr. Cornelius Van Morgen
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2006 · Amore e libertà - Masaniello as Vicerè
- 2004 · Guardians of the Clouds as Padre
- 2003 · Bad Inclination as Il barbone
- 2002 · The Last Gunfighter as The pistolero
- 2002 · Die achte Todsünde: Das Toskana-Karussell as Giuseppe Mantaldo
- 2002 · Ultimo stadio as Antonio
- 2002 · Fumata blanca as Cardenal Tura
- 1998 · The Versace Murder as Gianni Versace
- 1997 · The Medal as Ing. Ferrero
- 1992 · From Time to Time as Leonard De Vinci
- 1992 · Amelia Lópes O'Neill as Fernando
- 1988 · Race to Danger as Francis, il marinaio
- 1987 · Sweet Country as Paul
- 1979 · The Shark Hunter as Mike di Donato
- 1977 · Sahara Cross as Jean Ballard
- 1976 · Victory March as Captain Asciutto
- 1975 · Death Rite as Sadry
- 1975 · How to Kill a Judge as Giacomo Solaris
- 1968 · Sardinia Kidnapped as Gavino
- Future · Django Lives! as Django
- 2026 · Il Vecchio Terribile as Oste
- 2024 · Compagni d'arte as
- 2021 · Two Men Alone as Himself
- 2020 · Entree Des Artists as Henry's Grandfather
- 2016 · Along the River as Frank De Ville
- 2014 · Figli di Maam as
- 2012 · The Last Alchemist as Felix the Alchemist
- 2011 · Father as Enrico
- 2008 · Mein Herz in Chile as Carlos Sanchez
- 2007 · Two Families as Morandi
- 2006 · The Holy Family as Zachary
- 2006 · Giornata Nera as
- 2005 · Forever Blues as Luca
- 2005 · Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker as Self
- 2003 · The Uncrowned Heart as Bear's Trainer
- 2001 · In the Company of Compañeros as Self
- 2001 · Franco Nero: Back in the Saddle as Self
- 1995 · Jonathan of the Bears as Jonathan
- 1993 · Das Babylon Komplott as Chris Lang
- 1993 · Der Fall Lucona as Enzo Lombardi
- 1992 · Brothers and Sisters as Franco
- 1992 · Gold as Gabriele da Poppi
- 1991 · Touch and Die as Aquani
- 1989 · A Double Victory as Saverio Pallucca
- 1988 · Top Line as Ted Angelo
- 1988 · Run for Your Life as Commissario
- 1987 · The Girl as Johan (John) Berg
- 1986 · Un altare per la madre as -
- 1985 · Devil's Crude as Nick
- 1982 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Last Works as Self
- 1982 · Red Bells Part I: Mexico on Fire as John Reed
- 1982 · Red Bells as John Reed
- 1981 · Le rose di Danzica as Il generale Konrad Von Den Berg
- 1979 · Le rose di Danzica as General Konrad von Der Berg
- 1978 · The Pirate as Baydr Al Fay
- 1975 · Cry, Onion! as Onion Stark
- 1974 · The Last Four Days as Walter Audisio
- 1974 · Blood Brothers as Nicola Bellizzi
- 1973 · The Assassination of Matteotti as Giacomo Matteotti
- 1973 · Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears as Johnny Ears
- 1973 · Redneck as Mosquito
- 1972 · The Monk as Ambrosio
- 1971 · Vacation as Osiride
- 1970 · Dropout as Bruno
- 1967 · Man, Pride and Vengeance as José
- 1966 · Texas, Adios as Burt Sullivan
- 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)
- 1965 · The Tramplers as Charley Garvey
- 1965 · I Knew Her Well as Italo - The garage attendant
- 1965 · La Celestina P… R… as Fabrizio
- 1964 · Italian Engagement as
- 1963 · Un delitto as
- 1962 · Scorched Skin as
- Future · The Temptation Of Gracie as