Directing · Madrid, Spain · Born May 12, 1930
Jesús "Jess" Franco was a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor. His career took off in 1961 with his cult classic The Awful Dr. Orloff, which received wide distribution in the United States and England. Though he had some American box office success with Necronomicon, his first women-in-prison film Ninety-Nine Women, and his two Christopher Lee films, The Bloody Judge and Count Dracula, he never achieved wide commercial success. Franco moved from Spain to France in 1970 so that he could make more violent and sexual films, and it was at this point that his career began to go downhill commercially, as he turned to low-budget filmmaking with a heavier accent on adult-oriented films. Although he produced a few well-received, low budget horror films in the early 70's, many people in the industry considered him a porn director due to the huge number of X-rated adult films he began churning out. Franco returned to low-budget horror in a brief comeback period from 1980-1983, but after 1983, his career took a second downturn. With the exception of Faceless and Killer Barbies, his films after 1984 are quite disliked and obscure due to their incredibly low budgets. Franco has nevertheless retained a large cult following through the years with his sexually-charged horror films, some of which are regarded as masterpieces by his avid followers.
MovieExorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada “S”
2024
as Self - Archive footage
MovieInferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieWild Session
2019
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
MovieDrácula Barcelona
2017
as Himself
MovieSoledad Miranda, Flower in the Desert
2015
as Himself (archive footage)
MovieQueridos monstruos
2014
as Self
MovieCall Me Jess Redux
2014
as Himself
MovieClawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
2014
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Falks Frauen
2014
as (archive footage)
MovieRevenge of the Alligator Ladies
2013
as Himself
MovieLa última película de Jess Franco
2013
as Self
MovieThe Rhythm of Jess
2013
as Self
MovieAl Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies
2013
as The Director
Los profundos sueños de Jennifer
2013
as Voz
MovieTío Jess
2012
as Self
MovieLa cripta de las condenadas
2012
MovieDebris Documentar
2012
as Himself
Macumba sexual: Voodoo Jess
2010
as Self
MoviePor la gracia de Luis
2009
as Himself
MovieIdoru
2009
TVMartes de Carnaval
2009
as Don Manolito
Take-Away Spirit
2009
as J.W. Radek
MovieCoffins of Light
2009
as himself
MovieEllos robaron la picha de Hitler
2008
as Padre del Dr. Weissman
MovieJesús Franco, manera de vivir
2007
as Himself
Beloved Count
2007
as Self
MovieAngel of Death 2: The Prison Island Massacre
2007
as Pete
Bloody Jess
2007
as Self
MovieBan the Sadist Videos!
2005
as Self
MovieThe Well
2005
MovieJesús in Furs
2005
as Himself
Jess' Women
2005
as self
See you later Cowabunga: La maldición del cenachero diabólico!
2004
On the Threshold to Another World
2003
as Himself
MovieDeath Karate in Torremolinos
2003
as Miyagi
MovieRed Venice
2003
as Jess Franco
Perversion Stories
2002
as Self
Antena Criminal: Making a Jess Franco Movie
2002
as Himself
MovieJourney into Perversion
2001
as Himself
MovieOrson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote
2000
as Self
MovieCall Him Jess
2000
as Himself
TVEurotika!
1999
as Self
MovieVampire Blues
1999
as The Merchant
MovieDr. Wong's Virtual Hell
1999
as Dr. James Wong
TVEurotrash
1993
MovieEl abuelo, la condesa y Escarlata la traviesa
1992
MovieEsmeralda Bay
1989
as Boat Captain
MovieFlesh-Eating Mothers
1988
as Policeman
MovieEsa cosa con plumas
1988
MovieGirl with the Red Lips
1986
as Professor Karame
MovieTrip to Bangkok, Coffin Included
1985
as Rose Hotel's recepcionist (uncredited)
MovieJudoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong
1985
as Dr. Wong
MovieA Crack for Two
1984
as Tom
MovieLilian, the Perverted Virgin
1984
as Bernardo
MovieThe Sinister Doctor Orloff
1984
as Manolo
MovieNight Has a Thousand Desires
1984
as Psychiatrist (uncredited)
MovieLonely Road
1984
as Doctor Callman
MovieBahia Blanca
1984
as The Miseries (uncredited)
MovieMacumba Sexual
1983
as Recepcionist
MovieThe Night Of Open Sex
1983
as Count
MovieBlack Boots, Leather Whip
1983
as Matón en cementerio de coches (voice) (uncredited)
MovieEn busca del dragón dorado
1983
as Blind Old Man
MovieThe Blues of Pop Street
1983
as Sam Chesterfield
MovieBlood on My Shoes
1983
as Abductor
The Bizarre World of Jess Franco
1983
as Self
MovieJailhouse Wardress
1981
as Uncle Jess
MovieSadomania
1981
as Lucas
MovieBloody Moon
1981
as Doctor (uncredited)
MovieSex Is Crazy
1981
as Film Director
MovieWhite Cannibal Queen
1980
as Mr. Martin
MovieWhat a Honeymoon
1980
as Dying Man (uncredited)
MovieJustine and the Whip
1979
as Strange Guy
MovieThe Sadist of Notre Dame
1979
as Mathis Vogel
MovieSlaves
1977
as Radeck's Assistant
MovieKiss Me Killer
1977
as Marcel
MovieGreta, the Mad Butcher
1977
as Dr. Milton Arcos (as Jess Franco)
MovieShining Sex
1976
as Dr. Seward
MovieWhite Skin Black Thighs
1976
as Graf Anastasio
MovieThe Troublemakers
1976
MovieLadies House of Pleasure
1976
MovieBarbed Wire Dolls
1976
as Maria's Father (uncredited)
MovieMidnight Party
1976
as Janos Radeck
MovieDowntown
1975
as Al Pereira
MovieExorcism
1975
as Mathis Vogel, aka Laforgue
MovieThe Hot Nights of Linda
1975
as Dr. Roberts (as Jess Franck)
MovieFemale Vampire
1975
as Dr. Roberts
MovieWomen Behind Bars
1975
as Bill
MovieSexorcismes
1975
as Mathis Vogel
MovieLorna, the Exorcist
1974
as Doctor (uncredited)
MovieCelestine
1974
as Sleeping Man
MovieNight of the Skull
1974
as Andy
MovieDolls for Sale
1973
MovieA Virgin Among the Living Dead
1973
as Basilio
MovieThe Other Side of the Mirror
1973
as Roger (uncredited)
MovieSinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac
1973
as Inspecteur Hernandez
MovieThe Erotic Rites of Frankenstein
1973
as Morpho
MovieEugenie de Sade
1973
as Attila Tanner
MovieThe Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff
1973
as Lord Comfort (uncredited)
MovieThe Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse
1972
as Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub
MovieDaughter of Dracula
1972
as Cyril Jefferson
MovieThe Corpse Packs His Bags
1972
as Gonzales
MovieRobinson and His Tempestuous Slaves
1972
as Director
MovieVampir Cuadecuc
1972
as Self
MovieShe Killed in Ecstasy
1971
as Dr. Donen
MovieX312 - Flight to Hell
1971
as Man at John Somers'
MovieVampyros Lesbos
1971
as Memmet
MovieThe Devil Came from Akasava
1971
as Tino Celli
MovieCount Dracula
1970
as Van Helsing's servant (uncredited)
MovieEugenie
1970
as Man in Red Ritual Scene (uncredited)
MovieYour Caresses
1969
MovieVenus in Furs
1969
as Jazz Musician (uncredited)
MovieThe Castle of Fu Manchu
1969
as Insp. Ahmet
MovieMarquis de Sade: Justine
1969
MovieKiss Me Monster
1969
as Abilene's Contact Man (uncredited)
MovieTwo Undercover Angels
1969
as Napoleon Bolivard
MovieThe Girl from Rio
1969
as Guitar Player
Movie99 Women
1969
as Official (uncredited)
MovieThe Blood of Fu Manchu
1968
MovieSuccubus
1968
as Writer
MovieResidence for Spies
1968
as Casino Piano Player (uncredited)
MovieLucky, the Inscrutable
1967
as Ciego / Zoltan / Guitarrista
MovieThe Diabolical Dr. Z
1966
as Inspector Tanner
MovieAttack of the Robots
1966
as Piano Player
MovieDr. Orloff's Monster
1965
as Piano Player
MovieStrange Voyage
1964
as Don Venancio
MovieDeath Whistles the Blues
1964
as Saxofonista en Club de Nueva Orleans (uncredited)
MovieThe Awful Dr. Orlof
1962
as Pianist (uncredited)
MovieAnna Said Yes
1958
as Pianista (uncredited)
MovieAround the World in 80 Days
1956
as Extra (uncredited)
El misterio del castillo rojo
