Julia
Lazar
Franco
Julia Lazar Franco was an Austrian-born artist, singer and cook who helped run the Firehouse Art Collective in Berkeley, California. She is best known as the first wife of artist Tom Franco, the older brother of actors James and Dave Franco. Born on November 7, 1957, she would have turned 69 today. She died of liver disease on August 25, 2014, less than a month after marrying Tom in a hospital ceremony.
| Date of Birth | November 7, 1957 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | August 25, 2014 |
| Aged | 56 |
| Nationality | Austrian-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Occupation | Singer, Composer |
| Spouse | Tom Franco (married 2014) |
| Father | Imre Lazar |
| Mother | Marika Nagy |
| Cause of Death | Chronic illness (kidney failure, liver cancer/cirrhosis, hepatitis C) |
Julia Lazar Franco Biography
Julia Lazar was born on November 7, 1957, in Vienna, Austria. Her zodiac sign was Scorpio. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna before building her life in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Before she met Tom Franco, Julia was married to musician Richard Schönherz. She was a mother and, by 2014, a grandmother. Her friend Jonathan Shensa described her that way in an August 2014 appeal for help with her medical care.
Career and the Firehouse Art Collective
Julia’s best-known work was at the Firehouse Art Collective, a studio and gallery space in an old fire station in North Berkeley. The collective started in 2004 with ten artists. Tom Franco took over as director in 2010, and the group’s own history credits Julia with supporting him in that role.
She went on to serve as the collective’s co-executive director. In a 2011 Berkeleyside video about the Firehouse Bazaar, Tom explained that Julia brought in the food side of the space and her skill at setting up rooms for events. The Firehouse hosted monthly art shows, and Julia often handled the cooking and hosting.
Julia also ran her own food and events project called 23Monkeytree. Through it, she brewed and shared kombucha, posted recipes and promoted art nights. In January 2013, she co-hosted the “Art Attack” event at Yerba Buena in San Francisco, which she promoted on her 23Monkeytree blog.
Marriage to Tom Franco
Julia and Tom Franco worked side by side at the Firehouse for years before they married. Tom, born in Palo Alto in 1980, is an artist and sculptor who studied at UC Santa Cruz. He is the oldest of the three Franco brothers.
The couple married on July 28, 2014, in a private ceremony at the hospital where Julia was being treated. She died four weeks later. Tom later married Iris Torres in 2021.
Illness and Death
Julia died on August 25, 2014, in San Francisco, at the age of 56. She had chronic hepatitis C, which led to end-stage liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
In early August 2014, her friend Jonathan Shensa posted an appeal titled “Help Save The Life of Bay Area Artist Julia Lazar-Franco.” He wrote that she urgently needed a liver transplant and asked readers to help with the cost. She died before a transplant could take place.
Julia Lazar Franco Net Worth
Julia’s wealth came from her art, food and events work rather than film or TV fame. She earned her living through the Firehouse Art Collective, and her 23Monkeytree kombucha and events project. The value of her estate has never been made public, and her medical bills in 2014 were large enough that friends raised money for her care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Julia Lazar Franco die?
She died of liver failure on August 25, 2014. She had chronic hepatitis C, end-stage liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, and she was waiting for a liver transplant.
How old was Julia Lazar Franco when she died?
She was 56. She was born on November 7, 1957, and would have turned 69 on November 7, 2026.
When did Tom Franco marry Julia Lazar?
They married on July 28, 2014, in a private hospital ceremony, four weeks before she died.
Did Julia Lazar Franco have children?
Yes. She was a mother and a grandmother. Her children were from before her marriage to Tom Franco.
Is Tom Franco related to James Franco?
Yes. Tom Franco is the older brother of actors James Franco and Dave Franco.
More Musicians, Singers, and Rappers
More American Celebrities
More Austrian Celebrities
More Scorpio Celebrities
Related Articles
Jan Dance Biography, Career, Marriage, Son, Net Worth
Julian Lerner Biography, Age, Career, Net Worth
Daniel Depp Biography, Career, Wife, Parents, Siblings, Books, Net worth
Tweaky Dave Biography, Age, Death, Grave, Story, Book, Twin Sister
Melanie Olmstead Biography, Death, Lesbian, Husband, Net worth