Rest in Peace

On a personal note, I remember Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli, who has died in Rome aged 96.

I met the Oscar nominee a number of times with New York socialite Mary Mead Carter, a good friend of the helmsman of the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, and the 1999 gem Tea with Mussolini, starring three great dames, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Joan Plowright.

Zeffirelli was also famed for directing operas – including Milan’s La Scala and the New York’s Met – and TV, and received an honorary British knighthood.

A charming and true genius.

Sightings: Singer Neil Young at the Hotel Californian… Former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman noshing at Lucky’s… Oscar winner Michael Keaton checking out the Nugget in Summerland