Director Francis Ford Coppola is just one of literally thousands of Italian Americans in Hollywood, be they actors, actresses, directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers and so on.
On this Bravo And Brava Italian Americans in Hollywood podcast episode No. 21, hosted by film enthusiasts Daley Giacopella and Sadie Bruni, we celebrate the contribution of all of the Coppolas, from Francis Ford Coppola, to Sofia Coppola and Nicolas Cage (Coppola). So many members of one family have left an indelible mark on Hollywood and the American entertainment industry.
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Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola – https://amzn.to/3AGZG4L
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Trilogy – https://amzn.to/3OdvfGr
Sofia Coppola Archive – https://amzn.to/3CGdpJu
The Cinema of Sofia Coppola: Fashion, Culture, Celebrity – https://amzn.to/3CxIvmE
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Francis Ford Coppola, one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, comes from a deeply creative family. His parents, Carmine Coppola and Italia Pennino, were accomplished in their own right—Carmine was a composer, and Italia had a background in acting. His grandparents, Francesco Pennino and Maria Zasa, emigrated from Italy, enriching the family with strong Italian heritage.
Francis married Eleanor Neil, a filmmaker and artist, until her passing in 2024. They had three children: Sofia, an Oscar-winning director; Roman, a writer-director; and Gian-Carlo, who tragically died in 1986. His siblings also left a mark: sister Talia Shire is an acclaimed actress, known for *Rocky* and “The Godfather”, while his brother, August Coppola, was a literature professor and advocate for the arts.
The next generation of Coppolas continues the legacy. His nephews include Nicolas Cage, an Oscar-winning actor; Jason Schwartzman, a talented actor and musician; and Robert Schwartzman, a filmmaker and musician. Other nephews include Matthew Shire, Kal-El Cage, and Christopher Coppola, who all contribute creatively.
Francis’s grandchildren—Gian-Carla Coppola, Romy Mars, and Cosima Mars—are part of this lineage of talent. The family tree also extends to his uncle Anton Coppola, a celebrated conductor, and cousin Susan Coppola, emphasizing a dynasty of artistic brilliance.
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Check out all of our previous podcasts in the Playlists below:
ACTORS PLAYLIST
EPS. 1 AL PACINO – https://youtu.be/lZ1s-yBnKzs
EPS. 3 FRANK SINATRA – https://youtu.be/vHIm9QPPuB0
EPS. 5 LOU COSTELLO – https://youtu.be/OfJfOC__4sg
EPS. 7 NICOLAS CAGE – https://youtu.be/8ClFGj_LJ9w
EPS. 9 MARK RUFFALO – https://youtu.be/nP1ddiavx68
EPS. 13 JAMES GANDOLFINI – https://youtu.be/_SEErNzRG3w
EPS. 15 LEONARDO DICAPRIO – https://youtu.be/No66zww6LSk
EPS. 19 DENNIS FARINA – https://youtu.be/IpngRMFTrDw
ACTRESSES PLAYLIST
EPS. 2 MARISA TOMEI – https://youtu.be/TkjiA2h5xSw
EPS. 4 LIZA MINNELLI – https://youtu.be/nyLakrCavYE
EPS. 6 LORRAINE BRACCO – https://youtu.be/EUZpa-NzLMg
EPS. 8 ANNE BANCROFT – https://youtu.be/YLxH7EuyXow
Eps. 10 DREA DE MATTEO – https://youtu.be/c02F97iXEBw
EPS. 14 BERNADETTE PETERS – https://youtu.be/dZgboxAwxO0
EPS. 16 SUSAN SARANDON – https://youtu.be/8rKt1DABako
EPS. 18 VALERIE BERTINELLI – https://youtu.be/UGeEckptTyA
EPS. 20 ALYSSA MILANO – https://youtu.be/98CcYjWmwJk
DIRECTORS PLAYLIST
Eps. 11 QUANTIN TARANTINO – https://youtu.be/Mayp6nNNGe8
Eps. 12 SOFIA COPPOLA – https://youtu.be/UKl_dVMhRyE
Eps. 17 BRIAN DE PALMA – https://youtu.be/DzC-hBQ5JIc
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