“First of all, the visuals attracted me in opera,”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.npr.org
- #corroborated

Figure timeline
Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli 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.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
entertainment · Italian filmmaker (1923–2019) · theatre director · film director · screenwriter · politician · film producer · actor · librettist · television producer · director · opera director · also Franco Zeffirelli, Gianfranco Corsi, Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli, Zeffirelli
Born 12 February 1923 · Died 15 June 2019 · Q53040
20 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
3 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
“First of all, the visuals attracted me in opera,”
Died 2019-06-15.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The American actor Johnathon Schaech alleged that Zeffirelli sexually assaulted him during the filming of Sparrow (Storia di una capinera, 1993)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
That he had not suffered any harm when sexually abused by a priest as a child
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2004).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Received the Crystal Globe award for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In 1996, Zeffirelli came out as gay, but thereafter preferred to be discreet about his personal life.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Was awarded an honorary degree for services to the arts by the University of Kent at a graduation ceremony held in Canterbury Cathedral
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career landmark: member of the Senate of the Italian Republic (1996–2001).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Zeffirelli came out as gay, but thereafter preferred to be discreet about his personal life
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1995).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career landmark: member of the Senate of the Italian Republic (1994–1996).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“you have to give the audience a big thing to look at.”
Awarded David di Donatello for Best Director for Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded David di Donatello for Best Director for Romeo and Juliet (1969).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded Nastro d'Argento for the director of the best film for Romeo and Juliet (1969).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Awarded National Board of Review Award for Best Director for Romeo and Juliet (1968).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Directed his attention toward theatre instead
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
And, following his father's advice, entered the University of Florence to study art and architecture
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born 1923-02-12.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Connections