Gian-Carlo Coppola
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| Gian-Carlo Coppola | |
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| Born | September 17, 1963 Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Died | May 26, 1986, aged 22 Virginia, Virginia, USA |
| Spouse(s) | Jacqui De La Fontaine |
Gian-Carlo Coppola (17 September 1963 - 26 May 1986) was the son of famed film director Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor Coppola. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1963 as the eldest Coppola sibling, he was older brother to Roman and Sofia.
Like his brother and sister, Gian-Carlo - known to his family and friends as Gio - often featured in his father's movies as background characters (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now Redux and Rumble Fish), later acting as associate producer for Rumble Fish and The Outsiders. He appeared with his brother Roman as the two sons of Robert Duvall's Tom Hagen character, and they can be seen during the streetfight and Don Vito Corleone's funeral right behind Duvall and Al Pacino.
Before he could realize his potential as a filmmaker, Coppola was decapitated in a speedboating accident in May 1986 at the age of 22 in Irvington, Virginia. Griffin O'Neal, who was driving the boat while using drugs, was later charged with manslaughter over the tragedy. He was ultimately fined $200 and sentenced to 18 months probation in 1987.
At the time of his death, Coppola's wife, Jacqui de la Fontaine, was only two months pregnant with their only daughter, Gia Coppola, who was born on 1 January 1987.
