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Francis Ford Coppola Biography
Birth Name:
Francis Ford Coppola
Birth Place:
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Profession
Director, producer, writer
Fast Facts
- Was bedridden for almost a year as a child after contracting polio, during which time he created short films and puppet shows
- Worked as an assistant to low-budget director Roger Corman while in graduate school, serving as a writer, editor and dialogue director, among other roles
- Directed a soft-core Western called Tonight for Sure in 1962
- Befriended George Lucas while in film school and helped arrange financing for Lucas' first feature (1971's THX-1138); also produced Lucas' breakthrough film American Graffiti (1973)
- Nearly went bankrupt after putting up $16 million of his own money to make Apocalypse Now (1979)
- Like the Hustons (Walter, John and Anjelica), there are three generations of Oscar winners in his family: his daughter Sofia Coppola, his father Carmine Coppola and nephew Nicolas Cage
- Owns a vineyard called the Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery in California's Napa Valley
Awards
- 1998Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries: nominated
- 1997Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries: nominated
- 1991Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
- 1991Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
- 1990Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
- 1990Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
- 1990Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 1985Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
- 1980Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
- 1980César Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
- 1980BAFTA Film Awards-The Anthony Asquith Award: nominated
- 1980BAFTA Film Awards-Best Direction: winner
- 1980Writers Guild Awards-Original Drama: nominated
- 1979Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 1979Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
- 1979Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
- 1979Cannes Film Festival-Palme d'Or: winner
- 1979Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): nominated
- 1975BAFTA Film Awards-Best Screenplay: nominated
- 1975Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
- 1975BAFTA Film Awards-Best Direction: nominated
- 1975Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
- 1974National Society of Film Critics-Best Director: winner
- 1974National Board of Review-Best Director: winner
- 1974Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): winner
- 1974Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): nominated
- 1974Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: winner
- 1974Cannes Film Festival-International Grand Prix: winner
- 1974Cannes Film Festival-Grand Prix: winner
- 1974Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: winner
- 1974Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: winner
- 1973Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
- 1973Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
- 1973Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
- 1973Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
- 1973Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
- 1972Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): winner
- 1972Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): winner
- 1972Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: winner
- 1972Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: winner
- 1972Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 1972Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 1971Writers Guild Awards-Original Drama: winner
- 1970Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): winner
- 1967Writers Guild Awards-Comedy: nominated
Relationships
- August Coppola -- Brother