Franco Zeffirelli is remembered for his films and operas
Zeffirelli is remembered for his 1967 adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, which starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. He found further success the following year with another of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet.
His later work turned to biblical stories, including the highly successful 1970s television series Jesus of Nazareth. As the 1970s came to a close, he made more contemporary films, including The Champ, starring Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway and Rick Schroder, and Endless Love with Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt. Endless Love also featured the screen debut of Tom Cruise in a minor role.
In 1990, he was praised for another Shakespearean work. His adaptation of Hamlet featured Mel Gibson, Helena Bonham Carter, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Ian Holm and Stephen Dillane.
His later films included Tea with Mussolini, which drew on elements of his own life. His final film, Callas Forever, traced the life of Italian opera diva Maria Callas, whom he had directed in several operas.
Zeffirelli was born out of wedlock and was often teased by relatives for his illegitimacy. His mother died when he was six years old, and he was raised by relatives and a group of older American and British women living in Rome. Known as the Scorpioni, this group later inspired one of his films.
The director was a strict Roman Catholic but was often criticised for his depictions of biblical characters. He also faced criticism from LGBTI advocates for his support of the church’s stance on homosexuality, despite being homosexual himself.
In interviews, the director said he preferred the term homosexual, arguing that the word gay was less elegant.
In 2006, he told a newspaper that although he had been sexually abused by a priest as a child, he did not believe it had caused him harm.
Zeffirelli publicly confirmed his sexuality in 1996 but rarely discussed his personal life. He later formally adopted two adult men with whom he had worked for many years.
The director was also accused on more than one occasion of inappropriate behaviour. Actor Bruce Robinson, who appeared in Romeo and Juliet, later alleged he had been the target of unwanted advances. Robinson later drew on this experience for the character Uncle Monty in Withnail and I. In 2018, actor Jonathan Schaech alleged that Zeffirelli sexually assaulted him during the filming of Sparrow in the early 1990s. Zeffirelli’s representatives denied the allegation.
Zeffirelli passed away on this day in 2019 at his home in Rome. He was 96 years old. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte led tributes, describing him as an ambassador of cinema, art and beauty.
In December 2022, actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, stars of Zeffirelli’s 1968 production of Romeo and Juliet, filed a lawsuit against Paramount over nude scenes filmed when they were teenagers. The lawsuit was dismissed.
Also on this day
Actor Simon Callow was born on this day in 1949. He’s best known for his role in the romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral where he played the exuberant Gareth – the life of any party.
Callow is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation appearing in films including Amadeus, Room With a View, Maurice, Postcards from the Edge, Howard’s End, Notting Hill and Jefferson in Paris.
He also had a successful acting career on stage in both dramas and musicals, been an acclaimed theatre director and a writer.
Neil Patrick Harris also celebrates his birthday today. His career kicked off in the 1980’s where as a child-actor he starred in the television show Doggie Howser MD. He’s also found success in the long running sit-com How I Met Your Mother, It’s a Sin, and many films. More recently he’s appeared in the series Uncoupled and completed a memorable guest spot in Doctor Who.
On this day in 1999 Boyzone singer Stephen Gately came out. He wed partner Andrew Cowles first in a Las Vegas commitment ceremony in 2003, and more formally in a 2006 civil partnership. He died unexpectedly in 2009 from an un-diagnosed congenital heart condition.
Denmark became the 11th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. They changed their laws on this day in 2012.
Prince William appeared on the cover of British queer magazine Attitude on this day in 2016. In an accompanying interview he speaks out against bullying.
In 2017 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic nominates Ana Brnabic as Prime Minister. She’s the first woman and first openly gay politician to occupy the role in the highly conservative country. Her appointment made her the second lesbian head of government, following Iceland’s Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir who was elected in 2008. She is also the fifth gay head of government overall.
Image: Wikipedia, published a Creative Commons Share Alike Unported License. OIP Staff, This post was first published in 2022 and has been updated.
