Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has confirmed that he underwent a scheduled heart procedure in Rome, following reports of his hospitalization. The 86-year-old director shared the news personally through an Instagram post on Tuesday evening, reassuring fans that he is in good condition.
“Da Dada (what my kids call me) is fine,” Coppola wrote to his nearly 500,000 followers. “Taking an opportunity while in Rome to do the update of my 30-year-old afib procedure with its inventor, a great Italian doctor — Dr. Andrea Natale! I am well!”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Coppola was treated by renowned cardiologist Dr. Andrea Natale, who has cared for him for over three decades. A source close to the situation said he is now resting comfortably.
Atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as afib, is a condition involving irregular heart rhythm. The American Heart Association notes that treatment options include medication, electrical cardioversion, or surgical intervention to restore normal rhythm.
The procedure followed the conclusion of Coppola’s six-city U.S. tour promoting his latest film, Megalopolis, in partnership with Live Nation. The final stop took place Friday night at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, where the director hosted a screening and Q&A session.
During the event, Coppola shared personal reflections with the audience, speaking candidly about aging and the loss of his wife Eleanor in 2024. “I’m 85,” he said at the time. “I lost my wife a year ago, around this time. But my attitude for death is that I always lived my life so that when I was at the moment approaching death, I wouldn’t say, ‘Oh, I wish I had done this and I wish I had done that.’ Instead, I say to myself, ‘I got to do this.’”
Following the tour, Coppola returned to Italy, where he had spent time earlier this summer scouting locations in Calabria for an upcoming film. He told local media that the new project would focus on the beauty of the region rather than its mafia-related reputation.
As of Tuesday night, Coppola remains in Rome and is recovering well.
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