Franco Zeffirelli, KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party. He is principally known for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, although his 1967 version of The Taming of the Shrew remains the best-known film adaptation of that play as well. His miniseries Jesus of Nazareth won acclaim and is still shown on Easter weekend in many countries. He received an honorary knighthood from the British government in 2004 when he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was awarded the Premio Colosseo in 2009 by the city of Rome. 

February 12th, 1923 in Florence as Gianfranco Corsi  /  Died:   Jun 15th, 2019