Francis Ford Coppola, born on April 7, 1939, is an iconic American film director, producer, and screenwriter recognized as one of the leading figures in the New Hollywood film movement. Considered among the greatest directors of all time, his creative genius and mastery in film-making earned him five Academy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Palmes d'Or, and a BAFTA Award. After achieving success with The Rain People (1969) and **Patton (1970), Coppola soared to fame with The Godfather (1972) that revolutionized the gangster genre, receiving strong commercial and critical reception.

His creative accomplishments continued with The Godfather Part II (1974), The Conversation (1974), and the war epic Apocalypse Now (1979). Coppola's other notable films include The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, Peggy Sue Got Married, The Godfather Part III, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and The Rainmaker. Apart from films, many of Coppola's relatives have established their careers in the film industry; his sister Talia Shire, daughter Sofia, son Roman, and nephews Jason Schwartzman and Nicolas Cage.