Meet the Coppola Family: A Guide to the Legendary Brood From Sofia Coppola to Nicolas Cage
The Coppola family has long been Hollywood royalty — and their generation-spanning talent means that’s not likely to change soon.
The famous lineage began with Carmine Coppola, who was an orchestra conductor and Oscar-winning film composer. Carmine and his wife, Italia Pennino, shared three children: August Floyd Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola and Talia Shire.
All three siblings went on to welcome their own famous kids. August, who died in 2009, was the father of three children, including actor Nicolas Cage. Francis and wife Eleanor Neil welcomed Gian-Carlo, Roman and Sofia Coppola in 1963, 1965 and 1971, respectively. Shire and late husband Jack Schwartzman shared sons Jason and Robert Schwartzman.
Across the board, the brood has become one of the most decorated families in the film industry. Carmine and Italia’s descendants have received a total of 23 Academy Award nominations and have won a total of nine, including best picture, best director, best actor, best original screenplay, best adapted screenplay and best original score.
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Francis is widely hailed as one of the greatest film directors of all time. He’s helmed several Oscar-nominated films, including The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and more. While working on The Godfather, Francis enlisted the help of his parents to create the score for the film. He scored his first Academy Award in 1970 for best original screenplay for Patton. He also won several Oscars for The Godfather and The Godfather Part II.
Francis married Neil in 1963, and the pair share sons Gian-Carlo and Roman and daughter Sofia. Gian-Carlo died in a boating accident in 1986 at age 22.
Shire, an actress, is best known for her roles as Connie Corleone in The Godfather trilogy and Adrian Balboa in the Rocky franchise. Shire received Oscar nominations for her work in both projects.
Talia was married to composer David Shire from 1970 to 1980. They welcomed a son, screenwriter and producer Matthew Shire, in 1975, before their split. Talia moved on with Jack and expanded their family with sons Jason and Robert before Jack died of cancer in 1994 at age 61.
Francis’ daughter followed in her dad’s footsteps, becoming a prominent director and screenwriter. Before finding her passion behind the camera, Sofia had small roles in her father’s films, making her onscreen debut in The Godfather before appearing in The Outsiders, Peggy Sue Got Married and Rumble Fish.
In 1999, Sofia made her directorial debut with The Virgin Suicides. A few years later, Sofia helmed Lost in Translation, which earned her Oscar nominations for best director and best picture. She ultimately took home the award for best original screenplay. Sofia has also directed Marie Antoinette, The Bling Ring, Priscilla and more.
Sofia was previously married to director Spike Jonze from 1999 to 2003. She found love again with Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars. The couple welcomed daughters Romy and Cosima in 2006 and 2010, respectively.
