Frank Capra - Film Director, Timeline and Family
Frank Capra's Personal Details
Frank Capra was an Italian-American film director and producer who was the recipient of three Academy Awards for Best Director
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 18, 1897 |
| Died on | September 3, 1991 |
| Nationality | Italian, American |
| Famous | Republicans, Film & Theater Personalities, Directors, Film Director |
| Ideologies | Republicans |
| Spouses | Helen Howell (m. 1923; div. 1928), Lucille Warner (m. 1932; d. 1984) |
| Known as | Frank Russell Capra |
| Birth Place | Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy |
| Born Country | Italy |
| Height | 170 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Salvatore Capra |
| Mother | Rosaria |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy |
| Famous as | Film Director |
| Died at Age | 94 |
// Famous Film Director
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was a screenwriter and film director known for his movies like ‘The Clockwork Orange’ and ‘The Shining’. This biography of Stanley Kubrick provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Baz Luhrmann
Baz Luhrmann is an Australian writer, filmmaker, and producer. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Mel Brooks
Known as the king of farces and comic parodies, Mel Brooks is a famous American film director, comedian, actor, producer and composer. This biography provides detailed information on his childhood, life, career, works, achievements & timeline.
Frank Capra's photo
Who is Frank Capra?
Frank Capra was an Italian-American film director and producer who was the recipient of three Academy Awards for Best Director. One of the top most directors in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, he is credited to be the creative force behind some of the major multiple-Academy Award winning films like ‘It Happened One Night’, ‘You Can't Take It With You’, and ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.’ Born in Italy into a family of humble means, he emigrated to the United States with his family as a young child. He spent his childhood in poverty and had to take up odd jobs while still in school to add to the meager family income. He enrolled at the California Institute of Technology and worked throughout his college years. He struggled for the next few years as he could not find steady employment. Aimlessly wandering through life, he ventured into film-making by chance and found his calling. The budding film industry in the 1920s provided him ample opportunities to develop his skills. Starting with short reels, he was soon making feature films and saw phenomenal growth in his career as a director. Within years, he established himself as one of the foremost directors in Hollywood. Besides making films he was also active in various political and social issues within the film industry.
// Famous Republicans
Simon Bolivar
Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military leader who was instrumental in independence of several Latin American countries from the Spanish rule. This biography profiles his childhood, life, achievements and timeline.
Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Qabbani was a poet, and is one among the most honoured men in the Arab Literary world. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, career, profile and timeline.
William Ruto
William Ruto is a politician who hails from Kenya and is the first Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, Profile, career and timeline
Childhood & Early Life
He was born as Francesco Rosario Capra on May 18, 1897, in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy as the youngest of seven children of Salvatore Capra, and Rosaria "Serah" Nicolosi. His father was a fruit grower.
In 1903, he moved to the United States with his family. The family settled in an Italian community in Los Angeles, California, where his father worked as a fruit picker. Young Capra too started working at an early age to augment the family income.
His parents wanted him to find a job after high school but the boy was intent on going to college. He enrolled at the California Institute of Technology to study chemical engineering and graduated in the spring of 1918. He did odd jobs throughout his college years to fund his education.
Career
The World War I was going on at the time of his graduation and he was commissioned in the US Army as a second lieutenant. He became ill with Spanish flu during his military career and was medically discharged. His father had died by this time and the young man returned home to live with his mother.
He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1920, taking the name Frank Russell Capra. During this time he was unable to get any meaningful employment despite his college degree. For a few years he struggled with odd jobs before venturing into the film industry by chance.
After working with small studios making short, silent reels, Frank Capra received an offer to work with producer, Harry Cohn, at his new studio in Los Angeles. This job, where he worked as a property man, film cutter, title writer, and assistant director, proved to be a turning point in his career.
Capra left the studio to explore other opportunities but was rehired by Cohn in 1928 to help his studio—now named Columbia Pictures—to produce new, full-length feature films, to compete with the major studios.
The late 1920s was a dynamic time in Hollywood as the talkies were making an emergence, overshadowing the silent films. Capra, being technically qualified, adapted easily to the new sound technology while many others in the film industry were struggling to make the transition.
In 1929, he directed his first sound film, ‘The Younger Generation,’ a part-talkie drama film. Mostly silent, it had some talking sequences, as well as a synchronized music score and sound effects.
After making several films in his very first year with Columbia, Frank Capra began to rise in stature as a director during the 1930s. When the world was reeling under the Depression, he made comedies that provided escapist entertainment to the hard-hit audiences.
In 1934, he directed ‘It Happened One Night’ starring Claudette Colbert as a pampered socialite and Clark Gable as a roguish reporter. The film enjoyed great success and established the names of Capra, Columbia Pictures, and stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the movie industry.
After a series of highly successful films, he directed ‘Meet John Doe’ in 1941. The film, considered his most controversial, was said to have been was made to convey a "deliberate reaffirmation of American values." Released shortly before America became involved in World War II, it was a major hit.
During the World War II, he rejoined the US Army as a major even though he was not required to enlist as he was aged 44. During the war years he made a series of propaganda films commissioned by the United States government to justify towards American soldiers their involvement in the war.
After the war, he made his most memorable film: ‘It's a Wonderful Life’ (1946). Starring James Stewart, the film was nominated for five Academy Awards and is today considered one of the most inspirational American movies of all time.
Frank Capra directed several other movies in the following years but could not recapture the success he enjoyed during the pre-war years. He directed his final film ‘Rendezvous in Space’ in 1964.
He served as the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences four times and the president of the Directors Guild of America thrice.
Major Works
His film ‘It Happened One Night’ was a tremendous success upon its release and won all five of the Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay) for which it was nominated, becoming the first movie to do so.
Considered one of his most memorable pictures, ‘It's a Wonderful Life,’ though not a box office success upon its release, is one of the most popular American films today. Nominated for five Academy Awards, it is on No. 1 on AFI's list of the most inspirational American films of all time.
Awards & Achievements
Frank Capra was the winner of six Academy Awards, including three for the Best Director for ‘It Happened One Night’ (1934), ‘Mr. Deeds Goes to Town’ (1936), and ‘You Can't Take It With You’ (1938).
In 1957, Capra was awarded the George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film.
He received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 1982.
Personal Life and Legacy
Frank Capra’s first marriage was to actress, Helen Howell, in 1923. The short-lived union ended in 1929.
He married Lucille Warner in 1932 and had four children, of whom one died in infancy. They remained married till Lucille Warner’s death in 1984.
He suffered a series of strokes in 1985, at the age 88.
He died of a heart attack on September 3, 1991, at the age of 94.
// Famous Film & Theater Personalities
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.
Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.
Skai Jackson
Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.
Frank Capra's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Academy Awards(Oscars) | ||
| 1939 | Best Director | You Can't Take It with You (1938) |
| 1937 | Best Director | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) |
| 1935 | Best Director | It Happened One Night (1934) |
Golden Globe Awards | ||
| 1947 | Best Director | It's a Wonderful Life (1946) |
Frank Capra biography timelines
- // 18th May 1897He was born as Francesco Rosario Capra on May 18, 1897, in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy as the youngest of seven children of Salvatore Capra, and Rosaria "Serah" Nicolosi. His father was a fruit grower.
- // 1903In 1903, he moved to the United States with his family. The family settled in an Italian community in Los Angeles, California, where his father worked as a fruit picker. Young Capra too started working at an early age to augment the family income.
- // 1918His parents wanted him to find a job after high school but the boy was intent on going to college. He enrolled at the California Institute of Technology to study chemical engineering and graduated in the spring of 1918. He did odd jobs throughout his college years to fund his education.
- // 1920He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1920, taking the name Frank Russell Capra. During this time he was unable to get any meaningful employment despite his college degree. For a few years he struggled with odd jobs before venturing into the film industry by chance.
- // 1923 To 1929Frank Capra’s first marriage was to actress, Helen Howell, in 1923. The short-lived union ended in 1929.
- // 1928Capra left the studio to explore other opportunities but was rehired by Cohn in 1928 to help his studio—now named Columbia Pictures—to produce new, full-length feature films, to compete with the major studios.
- // 1929In 1929, he directed his first sound film, ‘The Younger Generation,’ a part-talkie drama film. Mostly silent, it had some talking sequences, as well as a synchronized music score and sound effects.
- // 1932 To 1984He married Lucille Warner in 1932 and had four children, of whom one died in infancy. They remained married till Lucille Warner’s death in 1984.
- // 1934In 1934, he directed ‘It Happened One Night’ starring Claudette Colbert as a pampered socialite and Clark Gable as a roguish reporter. The film enjoyed great success and established the names of Capra, Columbia Pictures, and stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the movie industry.
- // 1934Frank Capra was the winner of six Academy Awards, including three for the Best Director for ‘It Happened One Night’ (1934), ‘Mr. Deeds Goes to Town’ (1936), and ‘You Can't Take It With You’ (1938).
- // 1941After a series of highly successful films, he directed ‘Meet John Doe’ in 1941. The film, considered his most controversial, was said to have been was made to convey a "deliberate reaffirmation of American values." Released shortly before America became involved in World War II, it was a major hit.
- // 1946After the war, he made his most memorable film: ‘It's a Wonderful Life’ (1946). Starring James Stewart, the film was nominated for five Academy Awards and is today considered one of the most inspirational American movies of all time.
- // 1957In 1957, Capra was awarded the George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film.
- // 1964Frank Capra directed several other movies in the following years but could not recapture the success he enjoyed during the pre-war years. He directed his final film ‘Rendezvous in Space’ in 1964.
- // 1982He received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 1982.
- // 1985He suffered a series of strokes in 1985, at the age 88.
- // 3rd Sep 1991He died of a heart attack on September 3, 1991, at the age of 94.
// Famous Directors
Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner is an American actor, director and singer who is best known for his portrayal of rugged individuals with complex emotions. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Michel Qissi
Michel Qissi is a Moroccan-Belgian actor known for his role in the martial arts flick ‘Kickboxer.’ Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag is an American critical essayist, cultural analyst, novelist, political activist, filmmaker and playwright of international repute. Read on to find out more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline.
Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro Sr. is an American actor, show host, dancer and television director. This biography profiles his childhood, family, personal life, career etc.
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is a famous Hollywood director renowned for his movies such as ‘E.T.’, ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘War of the Worlds’. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren is a famous Swedish actor, film-maker, screenwriter and martial artist. This biography offers detailed information about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.
Frank Capra's FAQ
What is Frank Capra birthday?
Frank Capra was born at 1897-05-18
When was Frank Capra died?
Frank Capra was died at 1991-09-03
Where was Frank Capra died?
Frank Capra was died in La Quinta, California, United States
Which age was Frank Capra died?
Frank Capra was died at age 94
Where is Frank Capra's birth place?
Frank Capra was born in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy
What is Frank Capra nationalities?
Frank Capra's nationalities is Italian, American
What is Frank Capra ideologies?
Frank Capra's ideologies is Republicans
Who is Frank Capra spouses?
Frank Capra's spouses is Helen Howell (m. 1923; div. 1928), Lucille Warner (m. 1932; d. 1984)
How tall is Frank Capra?
Frank Capra's height is 170
Who is Frank Capra's father?
Frank Capra's father is Salvatore Capra
Who is Frank Capra's mother?
Frank Capra's mother is Rosaria
What is Frank Capra's sun sign?
Frank Capra is Taurus
How famous is Frank Capra?
Frank Capra is famouse as Film Director