Mario Lanfranchi

• Name — Mario Lanfranchi • Born — 30 June 1927 • Birthplace — Parma, Italy • Died — 3 January 2022 • Place of death — Langhirano, Italy • Spouse — Anna Moffo (1957–1974 div.) • Occupation — Film and theatre director, screenwriter and television producer • Years Active — 1952–2021 • Known for — La traviata (1968) Death Sentence (1968)

Lanfranchi was born in Parma. After receiving a degree at the Drama Academy (Accademia dei Filodrammatici) of Milan in the early 1950s, he was hired by Sergio Pugliese at RAI, at the onset of Italian television. He was the first to bring opera to the small screen, in 1956, with Madama Butterfly, by Giacomo Puccini, which introduced to a wide public Anna Moffo, at that time an unknown American soprano, who became his wife for 17 years. In 1967 he began his career as a film director with the western movie Death Sentence. He lived in a 16th-century villa in Santa Maria del Piano outside Parma (Villa Lanfranchi). Lanfranchi died in Langhirano, near Parma, on 3 January 2022, at the age of 94.

• Illustration — Mario Lanfranchi with one of his greyhounds El Tara in 2003 Lanfranchi was a well-known owner of greyhounds, owning the prefix 'El'. He owned several significant greyhounds including the UK open race win record holder El Tenor.

Mario Lanfranchi is recorded with the occupation film director. Recorded as actor, screenwriter, film producer, television producer and director.