Francis Ford Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is an Italian-American film director, producer and screenwriter. Away from show business, Coppola is also a vintner, magazine publisher and hotelier. He is a graduate of Hofstra University where he studied theatre. He earned an M.F.A. in film directing from the UCLA Film School. He is primarily known for directing the Godfather films, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now. He is immediately recognisable by his luxuriant beard.

Trivia:

Caught polio when he was a child. During his quarantine, he practiced puppetry.

Some sources say he is the uncle of Alan Coppola, but Alan’s name does not appear on any family tree authorized by the Coppola family.

Like Martin Scorsese, Coppola was a sickly youth, a case of polio which allowed him time to indulge in puppet theater and home movies.

Brother of Talia Shire.

Father of Sofia Coppola, Roman Coppola and Gian-Carlo Coppola.

Son of composer Carmine Coppola and Italia Coppola.

Received an M.F.A. in Film Production from the University of California in Los Angeles (1967).

Since 1978, owner and operator of a Rutherford, California vineyard making Rubicon wine.

Coppola began his winery enterprise by buying portion of historic Inglenook estate in 1975. His success in field is explored in book “A Sense of Place” by Steven Kolpan, 1999.

Brother-in-law of Bill Neil.

Was in the early stages of developing a script for a fourth Godfather film with Mario Puzo which was to tell the story of the early lives of Sonny, Fredo and Michael. After Puzo’s death in July of 1999, Coppola abandoned the project, stating that he couldn’t do it without his friend.

As of May 2002, the number of Coppola-family members appearing in or contributing to filmmaking stands at thirteen, spread over three generations.

Francis Ford Coppola has been in competition with Bob Fosse on several occasions. In 1972, Coppola was nominated for the Best Director Oscar (The Godfather (1972)), but lost to Fosse (Cabaret (1972)). In 1974, Fosse was nominated for Best Director (Lenny (1974)) but lost to Coppola (The Godfather: Part II (1974)). In 1979, both were nominated as directors (Apocalypse Now (1979) and All That Jazz (1979)), but both lost. When Fosse won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival (Coppola won the previous year), he tied with Akira Kurosawa, whose movie was produced by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola.

Grandfather of Gia Coppola. Great-uncle of Weston Coppola Cage.

Has released his own line of specialty foods.

As a child, his bedroom was covered with pictures of his favourite film star, Jane Powell. When he discovered she’d married Geary Anthony Steffen, Jr., he tore them all down.

His wife arranged for him to meet Jane Powell as a 40th birthday present.

Out of all his peers who rose to fame and power in the 1970s “Golden Age” era, he is perhaps the only filmmaker still married to his first wife.

Made a commercial for Suntory whiskey with legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa in the 1970s, an event which later influenced a salient plot point in his daughter Sofia’s movie, Lost in Translation (2003).

Was voted the 21st Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. “World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945- 1985″. Pages 227-234. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

George Lucas said that he based the “Han Solo” character from the Star Wars trilogy on Coppola.

Serves as the Honorary Ambassador of the Central American nation of Belize in San Francisco, California, USA. On their official roster of worldwide honorary consulates found on their official website, he is referred to as “His Excellency Ambassador Francis Ford Coppola,” although he is not a Belizean citizen.

In 1971 and 1973, George C. Scott and Marlon Brando refused their respective Best Actor awards for Patton (1970) and The Godfather (1972) – both written by Coppola.

Four of his relatives have been involved in the Star Wars films of his friend George Lucas. His brother-in-law, Bill Neil, worked at Industrial Light and Magic during the production of the original trilogy. His daughter, Sophia, and son, Roman, played a handmaiden and Naboo guard, respectively, in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). His nephew, Christopher Neil, who worked as a dialogue coach for both Francis (on Jack (1996) and The Rainmaker (1997) and Sophia (on The Virgin Suicides (1999)), did the same job on Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)–a job for which Coppola recommended him. In addition, his late older son was named Gian-Carlo. In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), there is a Naboo vehicle called the Gian Speeder.

Directed 12 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Geraldine Page, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Michael V. Gazzo, Lee Strasberg, Talia Shire, Kathleen Turner, Andy Garcia and Martin Landau. Brando and De Niro won their Oscar for their performances as Vito Corleone.

In 1975, he accepted the Oscar for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” on behalf of Robert De Niro, who wasn’t present at the awards ceremony. De Niro won for his performance in Coppola’s The Godfather: Part II (1974).

The only person to direct a sibling in an Oscar-nominated performance (his sister Talia Shire was nominated as “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for The Godfather: Part II (1974))

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996

He is among an elite group of seven directors who have won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (Original/Adapted) for the same film. In 1975 he won all three for The Godfather: Part II (1974). The others are Leo McCarey, Billy Wilder, James L. Brooks, Peter Jackson and Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (the brothers co-produced, co-directed and co-wrote No Country for Old Men (2007) with each other).

Co-owns the Rubicon restaurant in San Francisco with Robert De Niro and fellow Bay area resident Robin Williams.

Was involved in both movies that his father and his daughter won Oscars: He was the director of The Godfather: Part II (1974)which won his father an Oscar for “Best Music, Original Dramatic Score” and he was the executive producer of Lost in Translation (2003) which won his daughter the Oscar for “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen”.

There are three generations of Oscar winners in the Coppola family: Francis, his father Carmine Coppola, his nephew Nicolas Cage and his daughter Sofia Coppola. They are the second family to do so, the first family is the Hustons – Anjelica Huston, John Huston and Walter Huston.

Since the mid-90s (and possibly even earlier), he has been writing and re- writing an original screenplay entitled “Megalopolis”. Described as “one man’s quest to build utopia set in modern-day New York,” the project has been delayed due to Coppola’s constant tinkering with the script and the fact that the director is attempting to finance it himself. Several A-list actors have had their names attached to it and a great excess of second-unit footage (shot in 24p HD) has been captured by Coppola and the film’s cinematographer, Ron Fricke of Baraka (1992) fame.

Currently owns 2 resorts in Belize and 1 in Guatemala. They are the Blancaneaux Lodge in the Pine Ridge Region, Turtle Inn in Placencia and La Lancha near Tikal in Guatemala.

He, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg presented Martin Scorsese with his first ever Oscar for Best Director for The Departed (2006). All four directors were part of the “New Hollywood” movement in the 60s and 70s.

Brother of August Coppola.

Was named after his grandfather Francesco Pennino.

Uncle of Nicolas Cage, Christopher Coppola, Marc Coppola, Robert Schwartzman, Jason Schwartzman, ‘John Schwartzman (I)’, Matthew Shire and Stephanie Schwartzman.

Briefly attended the New York Military Academy where Troy Donahue was his classmate. They later worked together on The Godfather: Part II (1974).

His middle name was given to him to honor Henry Ford. Francis was born at the “Henry Ford” Hospital in Detroit; Francis’s father participated in a music show that Henry Ford really liked and they, in fact, met. So the middle name Ford was to honor Henry Ford himself. (Source: Francis Ford Coppola, “Inside the Actor’s Studio”).

As a hold-over from his days directing theater when he was young, he always engages his cast in a lengthy rehearsal period before filming. Occasionally, he finds film actors that are not used to this will bristle against the process.

In 1986 his 22-year-old son, Gian-Carlo, died in a boating accident.

Favorite movies from his own personal filmography: The Rain People (1969), The Conversation (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), Rumble Fish (1983) and Youth Without Youth (2007).

Is a big fan of actress Diane Lane and has cast her in no less than 4 films, The Outsiders (1983), Rumble Fish (1983), The Cotton Club (1984) and Jack (1996).

Won five Oscars in four years – one in 1971 for Patton (1970), one in 1973 for The Godfather (1972), and three in 1975 for The Godfather: Part II (1974).

Has an IQ of 117.

Eugene Allen “Gene” Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is an American actor and novelist.

Hackman has made 80 films. He came to fame in 1967 when his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde earned him his first Oscar nomination. His major roles include police detective Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, surveillance expert Harry Caul in The Conversation, basketball coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers, the heroic Reverend Scott in The Poseidon Adventure, federal agent Rupert Anderson in Mississippi Burning, sadistic sheriff Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven, arch-villain Lex Luthor in Superman (plus two of its sequels), Edward “Brill” Lyle in Enemy of the State, patriarch Royal Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums, submarine captain Frank Ramsey in Crimson Tide, professional thief Joe Moore in Heist and Admiral Leslie McMahon Reigart in Behind Enemy Lines.

Trivia:

Was the first choice to play Mike Brady on “The Brady Bunch” (1969).

He was the sixth choice to play Popeye Doyle in The French Connection (1971).

He lied about his age to join the Marines at 16 but left as soon as his initial 3 year tour was complete.

While at the Pasadena Playhouse, Hackman and a classmate were voted “Least likely to succeed”. The classmate was Dustin Hoffman.

Was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Was also offered the chance to direct The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Turned down the part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor (2001), which went to Jon Voight.

Jailed as a teen (c. 1946) for stealing candy & soda pop from a convenience store.

One of the most sustaining actors of all time, he still averaged two films a year in his 70s, having starred in six in 2001 alone. This all changed however in 2004, when he last acted in Welcome to Mooseport (2004). He has not appeared in anything since.

Has stated that his performance in Scarecrow (1973) is his personal favorite.

Often says he wants to quit acting in films, but that every time he has time off away from the set, he starts to miss it and wants to start another film.

Revealed on “Inside the Actors Studio” (1994) that two of the most important factors in deciding on which films he will work on are the script and the money.

2001: Was involved in a road-rage incident when two young men attacked him for hitting their car in Hollywood.

Father of Christopher Hackman. He also has 2 daughters named Leslie Hackman and Elizabeth Hackman.

Brother of Richard Hackman.

Has appeared in three films adapted from novels by John Grisham: The Firm (1993), The Chamber (1996) and Runaway Jury (2003).

Was in the Marine Corps. Toured in China. Based his role in The Conversation (1974) on one of his uncles and a fellow Marine he had known well. He characterized the Marine as someone “who probably became a serial killer.”.

Dustin Hoffman came to New York after finishing his training at the Pasadena Playhouse. The two of them roomed together in New York at Hackman’s one-bedroom apartment on 2nd Ave. & 26th St. Hoffman slept on the kitchen floor. Originally, Hackman had offered to let him stay a few nights, but Hoffman would not leave. Hackman had to take him out to look for his own apartment.

As roommates, Dustin Hoffman and Hackman would often go to the apartment rooftop and play the drums. Hoffman played the bongo drums while Hackman played the conga drums. They did it out of their love for Marlon Brando, who they had heard played music in clubs. They wanted to be like Brando and were big fans of his.

Dustin Hoffman asked for the part of Rankin Fitch in Runaway Jury (2003), which had gone to Hackman. Hoffman admits to asking, “Can’t you get rid of Gene and give me the part?”.

Runaway Jury (2003) was the first time he and former roommate Dustin Hoffman performed on the screen together.

Met actor Dustin Hoffman in the first month at Pasadena Playhouse. Had several classes with him.

Was admitted into the famed Pasadena Playhouse on the G.I. Bill. He failed out of it after 3 months and moved to New York to continue being a stage actor. Received 1 of the lowest grades the school had ever given (1.3 out of 10). He headed to New York with the intention of proving them wrong.

Was the subject of the song “Gene Hackman” by ‘Hoodoo Gurus’.

Turned down the lead roles in Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).

7/7/04: Appeared on “Larry King Live” (1985). Larry King was surprised to find out that Hackman had no movies lined up, and Hackman replied by saying that he thinks it is the end of his career.

Says watching his own films makes him terribly nervous.

Reportedly turned down the role of Randall Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975).

Reportedly turned down one of the lead roles in Network (1976).

After he played Little Bill in Unforgiven (1992), Hackman vowed not to appear in any more violent films. After he had been in violent films dating back to Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and The French Connection (1971) (in a role refused by Peter Boyle for the same reasons), he said he was fed up with them.

Along with Margot Kidder, Hackman was appalled at the way Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind, the producers of the first three Superman films and 1984′s Supergirl (1984) film, had treated director Richard Donner, who had directed the first Superman (1978) and most of the second Superman film back-to-back before he was fired by the Salkinds over creative differences. Hackman, who said he only did the first two movies because of Donner’s persuasion, was so angry with the Salkinds that he vehemently refused to reprise the role of Lex Luthor in Superman III (1983), while Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane, only appeared in a cameo role. Hackman was later persuaded to reprise the Luthor role in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).

Enjoys painting and writing fiction.

Lives in New Mexico.

As a young man, Hackman attended a showing of the movie A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and was impressed by the performance of Marlon Brando due to his naturalism and the fact that he didn’t look like what a movie star typically looked like in the 1950s. After exiting the theater, he told his father that he wanted to be an actor.

Even though he is no longer a cigarette smoker, he played the role of a chain-smoker in Heartbreakers (2001). He was using a special kind of cigarettes that only gives heavy smoke without actually smoking.

Turned down the lead role of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) because he was in a troubled marriage and could not spend 16 weeks outside of Los Angeles on location shooting.

In a 2004 Vanity Fair story on him, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert Duvall, Hackman said one of the worst memories of being a struggling actor, was working as a doorman in New York City. He recalled having seen former Marine officers pass him by when opening the door for them, of which one had said “Hackman, you’re a sorry son of a bitch.”

While a struggling actor in New York City, he worked as a soda jerk in a pharmacy and as a furniture mover.

After flunking out of the Pasadena Playhouse and moving to New York City with fellow drop-out Dustin Hoffman, Hackman worked at the Howard Johnson’s restaurant in Times Square as a doorman. One day, a Pasadena Playhouse acting teacher whom Hackman hated walked by him, stopped, and told him that he had been right, that Hackman would never amount to anything.

In Robert Osborne’s “Academy Awards 1972 Oscar Annual”, Hackman is quoted as saying Errol Flynn was his boyhood idol.

1990: Underwent successful angioplasty surgery after nearly suffering a severe heart attack.

Was voted “Least Likely to Succeed” in college.

Is one of only a few actors to win an Oscar for a supporting role after winning an Oscar for a leading role. (Others to do so are Jack Nicholson, Maggie Smith and Helen Hayes).

In the Superman movies, he didn’t like the idea of going bald for his role as Lex Luthor. He was allowed to wear wigs instead, and was convinced to wear a bald cap in only a few scenes.

Has played three fictional Presidents: he plays President Alan Richmand in Absolute Power (1997). His Superman (1978) character, Lex Luthor, became President of the United States in the year 2000, in the DC Comics. He also played President Monroe “Eagle” Cole in Welcome to Mooseport (2004).

Hackman replaced George Segal in the role of Kibby in the notorious flop Lucky Lady (1975). Possibly anticipating that the film would be a turkey, Segal bailed out of the production and Hackman was brought in at the last-minute. The desperate producers paid Hackman — riding high from the huge box office success of The Poseidon Adventure (1972), a reported $1.2 million for his role, $500,000 more than Segal’s going-rate. Hackman knew co-star Burt Reynolds from starring in the first episode of Burt’s short-lived 1966 TV series “Hawk” (1966).

His performance as Harry Caul in The Conversation (1974) is ranked #37 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Hackman has said that the failure of Scarecrow (1973) turned him off of art films due to the disappointment of working hard on a film that was critically acclaimed, but that tanked at the box office and failed to garner any awards. After this flop, Hackman mainly concentrated on acting for money, turning down such films as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and Network (1976) for roles in films like March or Die (1977) and Lucky Lady (1975) that offered him fatter paychecks.

Appeared on Richard Nixon’s infamous “List of Enemies” during the 1972 presidential election, the only time Hackman was publicly involved in politics. During an interview on “Larry King Live” (1985) in July 2004, Hackman stated that although he is a Democrat, he liked President Ronald Reagan, who had died the previous year.

Before he decided to become an actor, he worked numerous jobs including announcing at small radio and TV stations.

Studied journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois.

Raised in Danville, Illinois.

Is a Dallas Cowboys fan.

In contrast with his on-screen image of tough guy and reactionary, in real life Hackman is said to be an extremely gentle, shy person who holds very progressive political views.

Turned down the role of Sheriff Teasle in First Blood (1982).

Friends with Kris Kristofferson since Cisco Pike (1972).