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Francis Ford Coppola

7 April 1939 – present

Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter associated with the New Hollywood movement. He directed The Godfather and its sequels, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, and co-founded the studio American Zoetrope in San Francisco. He has received multiple Academy Awards and two Palme d'Or prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Life events

Born in Detroit, Michigan
7 April 1939

Born to the flautist and composer Carmine Coppola and Italia Pennino; the family soon moved to New York.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Contracted polio as a child
c. 1949

Confined to bed during his recovery, he spent long periods with puppets and home film equipment.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Graduated from Hofstra University
1960

Earned a degree in theatre arts, where he directed and produced student stage productions.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Married Eleanor Neil
1963

Married the artist and documentary filmmaker Eleanor Neil; they had three children, Gian-Carlo, Roman and Sofia.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Co-founded American Zoetrope in San Francisco
1969

Established the independent studio with George Lucas as an alternative to the Hollywood system.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Patton
1971

Shared the award with Edmund H. North for the screenplay of the 1970 war film.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Released The Godfather
1972

His adaptation of the Mario Puzo novel became a commercial success and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Released The Godfather Part II
1974

The sequel won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Apocalypse Now shared the Palme d'Or at Cannes
1979

The Vietnam War film, shot over a protracted production in the Philippines, shared the festival's top prize with The Tin Drum.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Released the self-financed film Megalopolis
2024

Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival after he funded the production himself.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓