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Francis Ford Coppola Biography

Birth Name:Francis Ford Coppola

Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Writer, Assistant director, Actor, Soundtrack, Sound department, Editor, Stunts, Script department

Fast Facts

Known as one of the 'Golden Age' directors that included Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, among others that gained prominence in the 1970s for contemporary and ground-breaking filmmaking
One of few directors to win subsequent Academy Awards in subsequent years after having won five Oscars in four years between the years of 1971 and 1975
Born in Detroit, but later moved to New York City after his father was named principal flutist for the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1941
Quote: "Basically, both the Mafia and America feel that they are benevolent organizations․ Both the Mafia and America have their hands stained with blood from what it is necessary to do to protect their power and interests․"
Quote: "I just feel that at a certain point you have to go back to the beginning again․ The best thing for me at this point in my life is to become a student again and make movies with the eyes I had when I was enthusiastic about it in the first place․"
States that reading "A Streetcar Name Desire" after contracting polio and being bedridden as a child inspired jump started his fascination with theater and acting
Accredited with directing and writing the first feature film sequel, "The Godfather Part II", to win an Oscar for best picture
Began experimenting in the wine business after purchasing a functioning winery in the late 1970s
His wife arranged for him to meet actress Jane Powell for his 40th birthday after admitting to having a childhood crush on the actress, so much so that he took all of her posters out of his room when he found out she married another man
Reportedly began working on a fourth "Godfather" film in the late 1990s, but refused to continue the project following the death of author and friend, Mario Puzo

Awards

1967Palme d'Or-: nominated
1967WGA Award (Screen)-Best Written American Comedy: nominated
1969Golden Seashell-: winner
1971Oscar-Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced: winner
1971WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: winner
1972KCFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1972NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
1972Grand Remi Award-Best of Show - Feature Film: winner
1973Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1973Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: winner
1973DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
1973Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
1973Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
1973Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
1973NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1973NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
1973WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium: winner
1974Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1974Palme d'Or-: winner
1974Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention-: winner
1974KCFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1974NBR Award-Best Director: winner
1974NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1974NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Picture: winner
1975Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material: winner
1975Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Director: winner
1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: nominated
1975DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1975DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
1975Edgar-Best Motion Picture: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1975NSFC Award-Best Director: winner
1975WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1975WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium: winner
1979FIPRESCI Prize-Competition: winner
1979Palme d'Or-: winner
1980Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1980Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1980Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1980BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: winner
1980Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
1980César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
1980David-Best Foreign Director (Migliore Regista Straniero): winner
1980DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1980Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
1980Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: winner
1980Grammy-Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: nominated
1980WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1981David-Best Foreign Producer (Migliore Produttore Straniero): winner
1983Golden Prize-: nominated
1984Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1984OCIC Award-: winner
1984FIPRESCI Prize-: winner
1985Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1987Golden Prize-: nominated
1988ACE-Directing a Theatrical or Dramatic Special: nominated
1988Audience Award-Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): winner
1991Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1991Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1991Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1991DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1992Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
1993Saturn Award-Best Director: winner
1993Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation: nominated
1994Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries: nominated
1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries: nominated
1998USC Scripter Award-: nominated
2001Video Premiere Award-Best DVD Audio Commentary: nominated
2001Video Premiere Award-Best Audio Commentary: nominated
2002Cinema Brazil Grand Prize-Best Foreign-Language Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): nominated
2009Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
2009C.I.C.A.E. Award-: nominated
2009SACD Prize-Directors' Fortnight: nominated
2012Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
2014Silver Medallion Award-: winner
2021Cinema Brazil Grand Prize-Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): nominated
2024Palme d'Or-: nominated
2024MMCG Award-Award for Film Excellence: nominated
2025Razzie Award-Worst Picture: nominated
2025Razzie Award-Worst Director: winner
2025Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated