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Writer, Director
Date of birth
7th April 1939
Place of birth Detroit, Michigan, USA
Year of debut 1963
Place of birth Detroit, Michigan, USA
Year of debut 1963
First feature film
Dementia 13
Awards
- Academy Awards won5
- Academy Awards nominated14
- BAFTA Awards won1
- BAFTA Awards nominated4
- Golden Globe Awards won4
- Golden Globe Awards nominated15
Biography
Francis Ford Coppola is the son of a music composer and actress. He grew up in Queens, New York. He studied drama at Hofstra University and filmmaking at UCLA. After graduating, he trained with the filmmaker Roger Corman. In the sixties, he began writing screenplays like Is Paris Burning? and directing movies such as Finian's Rainbow. In 1972 he earned critical accolades for The Godfather. He has since written, directed and produced movies including Apocalypse Now and Youth Without Youth.
Read more factsDid you know?
- In 1998, Francis Ford Coppola received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild Of America.
- He owns a vineyard in California and three resorts in Central America.
- In the sixties, he lost a lot of money after investing in Scopitone, a forerunner of music video. It was a juke box that played short movies.
- He mortgaged his possessions and property to make Apocalypse Now. He lost 100 pounds during the stressful shoot.
- He married Eleanor Neil in 1963. Their son, Roman, and daughter, Sofia, are both directors. Their son Gian-Carlo died in a boating accident in 1986.
Awards
Academy Awards won5
- 1974 Best Picture - The Godfather Part II
- 1974 Directing - The Godfather: Part II
- 1974 Writing (Screenplay Adapted From Other Material) - The Godfather Part II
- 1972 Writing (Screenplay - based on material from another medium) - The Godfather
- 1970 Writing (Story and Screenplay - based on factual material or material not previously published or produced) - Patton
Academy Awards nominated14
- 1990 Best Picture - The Godfather Part III
- 1990 Directing - The Godfather Part III
- 1979 Best Picture - Apocalypse Now
- 1979 Directing - Apocalypse Now
- 1979 Writing (Screenplay Based On Material From Other Material) - Apocalypse Now
- 1974 Best Picture - The Conversation
- 1974 Best Picture - The Godfather Part II
- 1974 Directing - The Godfather: Part II
- 1974 Writing (Original Screenplay) - The Conversation
- 1974 Writing (Screenplay Adapted From Other Material) - The Godfather Part II
- 1973 Best Picture - American Graffiti
- 1972 Directing - The Godfather
- 1972 Writing (Screenplay - based on material from another medium) - The Godfather
- 1970 Writing (Story and Screenplay - based on factual material or material not previously published or produced) - Patton
BAFTA Awards won1
- 1979 Direction - Apocalypse Now
BAFTA Awards nominated4
- 1979 Anthony Asquith Award - Apocalypse Now
- 1979 Direction - Apocalypse Now
- 1974 Direction - The Conversation
- 1974 Screenplay - The Conversation
Golden Globe Awards won4
- 1980 Best Director - Motion Picture - Apocalypse Now
- 1974 Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - American Graffiti
- 1973 Best Director - Motion Picture - The Godfather
- 1973 Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - The Godfather
Golden Globe Awards nominated15
- 1991 Best Director - Motion Picture - The Godfather Part III
- 1991 Best Motion Picture - Drama - The Godfather Part III
- 1991 Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - The Godfather Part III
- 1985 Best Director -Motion Picture - The Cotton Club
- 1980 Best Director - Motion Picture - Apocalypse Now
- 1980 Best Motion Picture - Drama - Apocalypse Now
- 1975 Best Director - Motion Picture - The Godfather Part II
- 1975 Best Director - Motion Picture - The Conversation
- 1975 Best Motion Picture - Drama - The Godfather Part II
- 1975 Best Motion Picture - Drama - The Conversation
- 1975 Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - The Godfather Part II
- 1975 Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - The Conversation
- 1974 Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - American Graffiti
- 1973 Best Director - Motion Picture - The Godfather
- 1973 Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - The Godfather