Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli KBE Grande Ufficiale OMRI (12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019), commonly known as Franco Zeffirelli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfraŋko ddzeffiˈrɛlli]), was an Italian director and producer of operas, films and television.He was also a senator from 1994 until 2001 for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party.. Movies he directed included the romantic drama …