While very few details are available at the moment, international outlets are reporting that Spanish director Jess Franco passed away earlier today. According to El Pais, Franco's death was due to a stroke and the announcement was made this morning by Kike Mesa, the director of a 2007 documentary on Jess Franco's life.
Jesús Franco Manera, better known as "Jess" Franco, was born on May 12, 1930 in Madrid, Spain. He directed nearly 200 films over the years and is probably best known for his horror films in the 1960's and 1970's, including Count Dracula and The Bloody Judge with Christopher Lee, Vampyros Lesbos, The Awful Dr. Orloff, Oasis of the Zombies (in 1983), and many more.
Our thoughts are with Jess Franco's friends and family. As mentioned above, this information is all coming from secondary sources, so we'll be looking for an official statement from his family, and will update this story with any quotes from those that knew him.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industries, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror entertainment. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who work tirelessly to explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also been consulted as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering his insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, radio stations, film festivals, and fan conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industries, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror entertainment. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who work tirelessly to explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also been consulted as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering his insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, radio stations, film festivals, and fan conventions.
![[Comic-Con 2025] Interview: Michael Giacchino Talks Marvel’s WEREWOLF BY NIGHT: BLOOD MOON and Why He Loves Classic Monsters](https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Werewolf-1000-b-326x150.jpg)
![[Editorial] ANNIHILATION (2018): The Algorithm of Natural Selection Just Unfollowed You](https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Annihilation-1000-180x83.jpg)
