Eleanor Coppola, known for documenting the making of her husband Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic films, has passed away at the age of 87. She met Francis while working on his first film, “Dementia 13,” and the couple quickly started a family that included filmmakers Gian-Carlo, Roman, and Sofia. Eleanor believed that the family set an example of encouraging each other in their creative pursuits, leading the children to follow in their parents’ footsteps and pursue careers in the film industry.
Gian-Carlo tragically died at 22 in a boating accident, while Roman directed his own films and works closely with Wes Anderson. Sofia became an acclaimed filmmaker in her own right, dedicating one of her films to her mother. Eleanor often documented the chaos behind the scenes of Francis’ films, with her work coming to light in the famous making-of film “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse,” which chronicled the troubled production of “Apocalypse Now” in 1979.
In her book “Notes: On the Making of ‘Apocalypse Now,'” Eleanor shared some of her inner turmoil during the filming process, including feeling isolated and dealing with Francis’ extramarital affair. Despite the challenges, she continued to seek out creative outlets for herself, documenting more of her family’s film projects and writing a memoir in 2008. At the age of 80, Eleanor made her narrative debut in “Paris Can Wait” and followed up with “Love Is Love Is Love” in 2020 after her husband encouraged her to direct the films.
Eleanor’s unexpected life took her in extraordinary directions beyond her wildest imaginings, as she embraced new challenges and creative opportunities throughout her career. She passed away just as Francis is preparing his self-financed epic, “Metropolis,” for the Cannes Film Festival premiere next month. Eleanor is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, and brother, leaving behind a legacy of creativity and resilience that will continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers.
