Emmy award winning director, Eleanor Coppola dies aged 87

Emmy award-winning director Eleanor Coppola, has passed away at the age of 87.

Coppola died on April 12, 2024, at her home in Rutherford, California, surrounded by family. The cause of death was not disclosed, as confirmed by her family in a statement.

Born and raised in Orange County, California, Eleanor crossed paths with Francis while working as an assistant art director on his debut film, “Dementia 13,” in 1963.

Their whirlwind romance led to marriage, and they started a family together. Their children Gian-Carlo, Roman, and Sofia would all eventually follow in their parents’ footsteps, pursuing careers in the film industry.

Tragically, Gian-Carlo passed away at the age of 22 in a boating accident in 1986. Despite this heartbreaking loss, the family remained close-knit, with Roman and Sofia making significant strides in their own filmmaking endeavors.

Eleanor’s contributions to the cinematic world extended beyond her role as a supportive wife and mother. She chronicled the tumultuous production of “Apocalypse Now” in her book “Notes: On the Making of ‘Apocalypse Now,’” offering a glimpse into her experiences and challenges while navigating life with a prominent filmmaker.

Throughout her life, Eleanor continued to explore her creative passions. She documented her husband’s films and contributed to her children’s projects while also venturing into narrative filmmaking later in life with movies like “Paris Can Wait” and “Love Is Love Is Love.”

Eleanor passed away just as Francis was finishing up his long-planned, independently funded epic “Metropolis,” which will have its Cannes Film Festival premiere in May, 2024.

Eleanor is survived by her husband Francis, her children Roman and Sofia, their spouses and children, her granddaughter Gia, her brother William Neil, and his wife Lisa.

Eleanor recently completed her third memoir, the family said. In the manuscript she wrote:

“I appreciate how my unexpected life has stretched and pulled me in so many extraordinary ways and taken me in a multitude of directions beyond my wildest imaginings.”