Franco Cristaldi was born on October 3, 1924 in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. He was a producer and writer, known for Cinema Paradiso (1988), Der Name der Rose (1986) and Diebe haben's schwer (1958). He was married to Zeudi Araya Cristaldi, Claudia Cardinale and Carla Simonetti. He died on July 1, 1992 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.