Short Biography

Shire was born Talia Rose Coppola in Lake Success, New York, the daughter of Italia (née Pennino) and arranger/composer Carmine Coppola. Her name is in honor of her ancestral country (Italia). Shire is the sister of director and producer Francis Ford Coppola, the aunt of actor Nicolas Cage and director Sofia Coppola, and the niece of composer and conductor Anton Coppola. She was married to composer David Shire, with whom she had a son, Matthew Orlando Shire. She has two other sons, actors/musicians Jason Schwartzman and Robert Carmine, from her second marriage to the late producer Jack Schwartzman.

Shire first became famous for her role of Connie Corleone in The Godfather and its sequels. Later, she portrayed Adrian Pennino (named after Francesco Pennino, Shire`s grandfather), the plain-looking girlfriend (and later wife) of boxer Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) in the Rocky movies (before Adrian`s death). Shire appears in the final "Rocky" film, Rocky Balboa, in flashbacks from earlier films. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Godfather: Part II and for the Best Actress in a Leading Role for Rocky. She also appeared as the Geico caveman`s therapist in television ads.

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Carmine Coppola [Father]

Francis Ford Coppola [Brother]

Sofia Coppola (niece)

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