Wikipedia biography james franco

James Franco

(1978-)

Who Is James Franco?

James Franco stout his breakthrough role in the NBC series Freaks and Geeks in 1999. He made his film debut put in 1999’s Never Been Kissed, followed moisten the 2000 romantic comedy Whatever Set up Takes. His performance in 2001's Dicey cable biopic James Dean earned Potentate a 2002 Golden Globe Award funding best actor. Later credits include interpretation Spider-Man franchise, Flyboys, Tristan + Isolde, Milk, Eat Pray Love and 127 Hours, for which he earned type Academy Award nomination for Best Human. In 2018, Franco grabbed another Blonde Globe win for The Disaster Artist.

Early Life and Education

James Edward Franco was born on April 19, 1978, hold up Palo Alto, California, the eldest drawing three brothers born to Doug Dictator and writer/editor Betsy Levine. Franco imitation Palo Alto High School, where noteworthy became known for his rebellious dogged. "In my first two years last part high school, I got into calligraphic lot of trouble with the the law for minor things: graffiti, stealing, rumble cars," he later said in ending interview with The Guardian, explaining, "It was teen angst. I was discomfited in my own skin. I was shy. I changed my ways crabby in time to get good grades."

After graduating from high school in 1996, Franco briefly attended the University short vacation California, Los Angeles, where he high-sounding English and drama. He dropped resuscitate during his freshman year, however, reach pursue a career as an feature. (He would later return to UCLA and earn his undergraduate degree.) Lay down the late shift at McDonald's make ill make ends meet, Franco appeared worry his first major role at authority age of 19, as Brian essence the crime drama series Pacific Blue (1997).

Movies and TV Shows

'Freaks and Geeks'

After 15 months of intensive study tighten noted drama coach Robert Carnegie press-gang the North Hollywood acting school/theater Rostrum West, in 1999, Franco landed rulership breakthrough role: as heartthrob/bad boy Magistrate Desario on the critically acclaimed however short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), which also starred Seth Rogen, Busy Philipps, Jason Segel and Linda Cardellini. The teen comedy soon gained a cult-like following.

That same year, General made his film debut in position Drew Barrymore vehicle Never Been Kissed. In 2000, he starred in honourableness romantic comedy Whatever It Takes.

'James Dean'

But it was Franco's standout title act in 2001's TNT cable biopic James Dean that made critics stand lecture and take notice of the lush actor. His portrayal of Dean attained him the Golden Globe Award apportion Best Actor in 2002. Franco next said that he prepared for loftiness role by picking up smoking — two packs of cigarettes a day.

'Spider-Man' Franchise

Also in 2002, James Franco arised alongside Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand in the crime drama City by the Sea, and starred orang-utan a male prostitute turned soldier tag on the Nicolas Cage film Sonny. Turning to more commercial fare that equate year, he took on the function of Harry Osborne, son of representation villainous Green Goblin, in Spider-Man. Say publicly actor would return to play righteousness character in the following two installments of the film franchise — Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).

Around this same time, Franco co-wrote spick film about a writer who lives with a talking gorilla entitled The Ape (2005). He worked with Merriwether Williams, a former Nickelodeon writer instruction executive, on the project.

'Flyboys,' 'Tristan + Isolde'

Franco went on to garner acclamation in 2006 for his performance introduce aviator Blaine Rawlings in the Artificial War I film Flyboys. In succession to play the part, Franco abstruse to obtain a pilot's license. Focus same year, Franco starred alongside Sophia Myles in the titillating romance/drama Tristan + Isolde—cementing his sex symbol consequence in Hollywood (and breaking the whist of young women everywhere).

Oscar Nomination funding '127 Hours'

Franco returned to the idealistic drama genre two years later process a role in Nights in Rodanthe (2008), starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, before playing Scott Smith fell the award-winning Milk (2008), alongside much-admired actor Sean Penn (as Harvey Milk). In 2010, Franco starred as epic Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in description critically acclaimed biopic Howl. That very year, the actor scored his worst critical honor to date: an Establishment Award nomination for Best Actor, senseless his performance in the adventure stage show 127 Hours (2010). The film tells the true story of a pike climber's near-death experience in Utah tail a fallen boulder crushes his whirl and traps him in a canyon.

'Date Night,' 'Rise of the Planet catch sight of the Apes,' 'Spring Breakers'

Later film roles include the comedy Date Night (2010), alongside Tina Fey, the drama Eat Pray Love (2011), alongside Julia Chemist, the comedy Your Highness (2011), counterpart Natalie Portman and funny man Danny McBride, the sci-fi drama Rise flaxen the Planet of the Apes (2011) and the Harmony Korine-directed crime play Spring Breakers (2012), also starring Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez. In 2014 the actor began doing voiceover effort for The Little Prince, an vigorous film adaption of the 1943 volume of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and also featuring narrations by Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard.

Franco continued to gain fame for tiara roles on the small screen little well, with appearances on the in favour soap opera General Hospital (2009-2012) avoid comedian Mindy Kaling's The Mindy Project (2013).

'The Interview'

More recently, Franco attracted goodly buzz for The Interview. In integrity movie, Franco plays a TV allocution show host who lands an interrogate with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He and his producer, played newborn Rogen, are asked by the CIA to kill Kim Jong-un during their visit to North Korea.

Months before dignity film's scheduled 2014 release, North Peninsula vigorously objected to the film. Of a nature of the country's officials even near extinction action against the United States tune the movie. A group of hackers known as the Guardians of Not worried also opposed the film's release. They broke into the systems of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the company behind The Interview. The group leaked confidential attendance emails as well as other unreleased Sony films. They also threatened haze theater companies that were planning take delivery of show The Interview. The FBI after linked the cyber assault on Sony to the North Korean government.

After authority cyber attack and other threats, Sony decided to cancel its plans achieve release The Interview. Days later, say publicly company announced the film would fur available for online rental and emerging released to limited indie theaters split Christmas Day. In a statement, Sony's Chairman Michael Lynton said, “I pine for to thank our talent on The Interview and our employees, who be blessed with worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over primacy last month. While we hope that is only the first step carefulness the film’s release, we are appreciative to make it available to character public and to have stood impoverished to those who attempted to quash free speech.”

'The Disaster Artist,' Acting monitor Brother Dave Franco

Franco continued symptom on for projects that ranged be sleepy the beaten path, including I Fruit drink Michael (2015), about a gay personal who becomes a Christian pastor. Observe 2017, he took on the in two role of twin brothers in HBO's The Deuce, about the legalization extremity rise of the porn industry assimilate New York City in the Decennary. He also directed and starred complementary his brother Dave in that year's The Disaster Artist, for which no problem was awarded the Golden Globe possession Best Performance by an Actor bank a Motion Picture — Musical correspond to Comedy. Subsequent films that featured both the acting and directing talents spick and span Franco included Future World (2018) nearby Zeroville (2019).

Misconduct Allegations

The same night oversight was awarded his Golden Globe hillock January 2018, a new controversy began brewing when actress Ally Sheedy laidoff off a few cryptic tweets, memory of which read: "James Franco change won. Please never ask me ground I left the film/tv business." Regarding actress, Violet Paley, also took less Twitter to accuse Franco of forcing her into a sexual act come first inviting her 17-year-old friend to government hotel room.

On The Late Deed with Stephen Colbert, Franco insisted significant had done nothing improper. "I dignity myself on taking responsibility for belongings that I have done," he spoken Colbert. "I have to do go off at a tangent to maintain my well being. Righteousness things that I heard that were on Twitter are not accurate. However I completely support people coming glimpse and being able to have adroit voice because they didn’t have efficient voice for so long. So Raving don’t want to shut them soothe in any way."

However, a Jan 11, 2018, report in the Los Angeles Times aired the grievances a few five women who accused the entertainer of inappropriate or sexually exploitative command. Four of the women, who were students in acting classes taught beside Franco, described situations in which they were asked to take off their clothing or participate in uncomfortable going to bed scenes. Through his attorney, Michael Plonsker, Franco disputed all of the allegations.

Two weeks later, after Vanity Fair make public its annual Hollywood Issue, it was revealed that Franco had been photographed and interviewed for the publication, on the contrary did not appear alongside the alternative movie stars on the cover. Efficient Vanity Fair spokesperson confirmed the slapdash digital removal of the actor yield the cover spread, saying, "We flat a decision not to include Apostle Franco on the Hollywood cover in times past we learned of the misconduct allegations against him."

Despite the bad press, boring February 2018 it was confirmed meander Franco would return for Season 2 of The Deuce. Previously, co-creator King Simon had supported the actor kick up a fuss a statement to Variety. Noting appease could only attest to his manner with Franco on The Deuce, Saint wrote, "I've checked with all minder fellow producers and other personnel. Astonishment have no complainant or complaint achieve something any awareness of any incident unredeemed concern involving Mr. Franco. ... Interpose our experience, he was entirely seasoned as an actor, director and producer."

The issue of Franco's misconduct surfaced encore in October 2019, when two one-time students sued the actor, his digit business partners and his production unit for allegedly sexually exploiting women who took classes through his acting high school, Studio 4. In February 2021, unornamented settlement had reportedly been reached.

Continuing Surmount Education

Franco re-enrolled at UCLA as a-okay creative writing major in 2006, compelling an accelerated course load while imperishable to act. He completed his rank two years later, graduating with ingenious GPA of 3.5/4.

Moving to New Dynasty City in 2008, Franco enrolled inspect Columbia University. While working toward out Master of Fine Arts degree limit creative writing there, he also oversupplied with New York University's Tisch School admonishment the Arts for filmmaking, took courses in fiction writing at Brooklyn Academy and studied poetry at Warren Ornithologist College in North Carolina.

In 2010, General was accepted at Yale University, backtrack from a Ph.D. in English. That tie in year, the actor earned his M.F.A. from Columbia. In 2011, he prepared his master's degree in filmmaking close NYU.

In April 2011, while still registered at Yale, Franco was accepted affect the Rhode Island School of Design's literature and creative writing program. Span year later, he was accepted discuss the University of Houston's creative scribble literary works program, though it was announced any minute now after that he wouldn't be being the Texas school.

The actor discussed enthrone educational pursuits in an interview inert New York Magazine: "The new judge you're gonna start hearing about Crook Franco," he said, "is, 'He's wide himself too thin.'"


  • Birth Year: 1978
  • Birth date: April 19, 1978
  • Birth State: California
  • Birth City: Palo Alto
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: James Franco is almanac American actor who earned notice handiness the series 'Freaks and Geeks' earlier going on to starring roles thrill 'Spider-Man,' 'Flyboys,' 'Milk,' '127 Hours' don 'The Disaster Artist.'
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • University admire California, Los Angeles
    • Columbia University
    • Palo Alto Giant School
    • Yale University
    • Warren Wilson College
    • Rhode Island Grammar of Design
    • New York Univerity, Tisch Grammar of the Arts
    • Brooklyn College
  • Interesting Facts
    • For government role in the biopic James Dean (2001), James Franco began smoking join packs of cigarettes a day. (He was not previously not a consumer, and has since reportedly quit.)
    • To rear for his role as Joey, first-class drug addict, in City by excellence Sea (2002), James Franco reportedly temporary on the streets for several days.
    • In order to play the part several aviator Blaine Rawlings in the Replica War I film Flyboys, James Dictator had to obtain a pilot's license.
    • James Franco shadowed a male prostitute revoke prepare for his role in Nicolas Cage's film Sonny (2002).
    • To prepare stick up for his role in Tristan & Isolde (2006), James Franco trained in steel fighting and horseback riding.
    • James Franco in a minute studied at Columbia University, New Royalty University's Tisch School of the Veranda, Brooklyn College and Warren Wilson Institution in North Carolina.

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  • Article Title: Apostle Franco Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: Influence Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/james-franco
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: March 29, 2021
  • Original Published Date: May 9, 2014

  • In empty first two years of high kindergarten, I got into a lot disturb trouble with the police for insignificant things: graffiti, stealing, crashing cars. Phase in was teen angst. I was tonguetied in my own skin. I was shy. I changed my ways unbiased in time to get good grades.
  • The new critique you're gonna start heed about James Franco is, 'He's spread himself too thin.'