Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli famed for directing operas, films and television has died in Rome at the age of 96.The Academy Award Nominee and recipient of an honorary British knighthood passed away peacefully at noon today in his home, his son Luciano said. Involved in around 20 films and more than 30 plays and operas, the two-time Oscar nominee is most famed for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet alongside other films including Tea with Mussolini (1999) and Jesus of Nazareth (1977). Franco Zeffirelli, famed for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, has died at the age of 96, his son has said A headshot of famous director Zeffirelli. He was an academy award nominee and also received an honorary British knighthood Zeffirelli pictured on the terrace of his home in Postiano, Italy, in September 2001. He died at his home in Rome, said his son Luciano, in a 'peaceful way'Announcing the death, Luciano said: 'He had suffered for a while, but he left in a peaceful way.'The Mayor of Florence, his birthplace, Dario Nardella, paid tribute to the director saying 'I never wanted this day to come'.'Franco Zeffirelli departed this morning. One of the greatest men in the world of culture', he said on Twitter.'We join in the grief of his loved ones. Goodbye, dear Master, Florence will never forget you.' Zeffirelli delighted audiences around the world with his romantic vision and often extravagant productions, most famously captured in his cinematic rendering of Romeo and Juliet. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli famed for his 1968... Da Vinci mystery to be solved after 212 years: DNA from lock... Share this article Share Showing great flexibility, he produced classics for the world's most famous opera houses, from Milan's venerable La Scala to the Metropolitan in New York, and plays for London and Italian stages.The illegitimate son of a merchant, he grew up in Florence among English expatriates, after his mother died when he was six years old.Initially training as an architect, his studies were interrupted when the Second World War broke out. A picture from his version of Romeo and Juliet which cemented his reputation The Italian film, stage and opera director pictured working in his studio in Rome, Italy (1965) Actors boy at the end of a performance of L'Elsir d'Amore in East Sussex (1961) Zeffirelli directed the performanceZeffirelli joined the Italian partisans, twice escaping death by firing squad, before becoming an interpreter for the British army after the allied invasion of Italy.Returning to architecture, it was Laurence Olivier's 1944 film Henry V that inspired him to move into theatre.Gaining a role as assistant director on 1948 movie La Terra Trema, he then worked for several directors before moving into design and trying his hand at directing.In 1967 his first film, The Taming of the Shrew, was released starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as its main actors. The fil
Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli dies at the age of 96
Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli famed for directing operas, films and television has died in Rome at the age of 96.The Academy Award Nominee and recipient of an honorary British knighthood passed away peacefully at noon today in his home, his son Luciano said. Involved in around 20 films and more than 30 plays and operas, the two-time Oscar nominee is most famed for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet alongside other films including Tea with Mussolini (1999) and Jesus of Nazareth (1977). Franco Zeffirelli, famed for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, has died at the age of 96, his son has said A headshot of famous director Zeffirelli. He was an academy award nominee and also received an honorary British knighthood Zeffirelli pictured on the terrace of his home in Postiano, Italy, in September 2001. He died at his home in Rome, said his son Luciano, in a 'peaceful way'Announcing the death, Luciano said: 'He had suffered for a while, but he left in a peaceful way.'The Mayor of Florence, his birthplace, Dario Nardella, paid tribute to the director saying 'I never wanted this day to come'.'Franco Zeffirelli departed this morning. One of the greatest men in the world of culture', he said on Twitter.'We join in the grief of his loved ones. Goodbye, dear Master, Florence will never forget you.' Zeffirelli delighted audiences around the world with his romantic vision and often extravagant productions, most famously captured in his cinematic rendering of Romeo and Juliet. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli famed for his 1968... Da Vinci mystery to be solved after 212 years: DNA from lock... Share this article Share Showing great flexibility, he produced classics for the world's most famous opera houses, from Milan's venerable La Scala to the Metropolitan in New York, and plays for London and Italian stages.The illegitimate son of a merchant, he grew up in Florence among English expatriates, after his mother died when he was six years old.Initially training as an architect, his studies were interrupted when the Second World War broke out. A picture from his version of Romeo and Juliet which cemented his reputation The Italian film, stage and opera director pictured working in his studio in Rome, Italy (1965) Actors boy at the end of a performance of L'Elsir d'Amore in East Sussex (1961) Zeffirelli directed the performanceZeffirelli joined the Italian partisans, twice escaping death by firing squad, before becoming an interpreter for the British army after the allied invasion of Italy.Returning to architecture, it was Laurence Olivier's 1944 film Henry V that inspired him to move into theatre.Gaining a role as assistant director on 1948 movie La Terra Trema, he then worked for several directors before moving into design and trying his hand at directing.In 1967 his first film, The Taming of the Shrew, was released starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as its main actors. The fil
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