Zeffirelli, Franco (1923-2019), was an Italian film, theater, and opera director and designer. Once quoted as saying that he adored “fun, fantasy, and women,” Zeffirelli was famous for his lavish sets, extravagant imagery, and frank sensuality. Zeffirelli adapted several opera and literary texts for motion pictures. He is probably best known for his film version of Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet (1968), which became controversial for its nude love scene and the casting of two teen-agers in the title roles. Zeffirelli’s first feature film was Taming of the Shrew (1967), starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Later films included Endless Love (1981), Otello (1986), Jane Eyre (1996), and Tea with Mussolini (1999). Zeffirelli’s 1977 television miniseries Jesus of Nazareth is often shown at Easter time.
Born Gianfranco Corsi on Feb. 12, 1923, in Florence, Italy, Zeffirelli studied architecture at the University of Florence. He worked briefly as an actor before he began designing sets and costumes for plays and opera productions in 1945. He began his career as a stage director in the early 1950’s. During that time, he was also an assistant to the noted Italian film director Luchino Visconti. Zeffirelli began his movie career as an assistant director for the film version of the opera La Boheme in 1965. He died on June 15, 2019.
