The Florence native had reportedly died peacefully at home, according to his son Luciano who told Italian media “had suffered for a while, but he left in a peaceful way”. According to Italian media they reported Franco died after a long illness which had grown worse in recent months. The two-time Oscar nominee also served in the Italian senate for two terms as a member of Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party. His film career had spanned over six decades.
The film director wowed audiences worldwide with his romantic productions – most notably his 1968 cinematic version of Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet.
It was viewed by generations of school students studying the Shakespearean drama.
He directed more than two dozen films, working with stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier, Alec Guinness, Faye Dunaway, and Jon Voight.
He directed the 1967 film The Taming of the Shrew and had a television miniseries Jesus of Nazareth in 1977.
While Franco was most popularly known for his films, his name was also synonymous with theatre and opera.
Showing great flexibility, he produced classics for the world’s most famous opera houses, from Milan’s venerable La Scala to the Metropolitan in New York, and plays for London and Italian stages.
He made it his mission to make culture available to the masses seeking inspiration from Shakespeare.
Speaking candidly about his role in film, theatre and opera, he told the Associated Press in 2006 that he does not see himself as a film director.
He told the publication: “I am not a film director. I am a director who uses different instruments to express his dreams and his stories – to make people dream.”
The mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella took to Twitter to pay tribute to the film director after uploading a picture of the two together.
In view of is 62,400 followers, he wrote: “I never wanted this day to come. Franco #Zeffirelli has left this morning. One of the greatest men of world culture.
“We join the pain of his loved ones. Goodbye dear Master, Florence will never forget you.”
Franco was born on the outskirts of Florence Italy in 1923 and was the illegitimate son of a merchant.
His mother gave him the surname Zeffiretti – meaning “little breezes” – which was misspelled on his birth certificate.
In 1994 Zeffirelli became a member of the Italian senate, representing Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party.
He was made a Knight of the British Empire in 2004.