James Franco performs in the televised movie "James Dean." (Photo Courtesy of TNT)
Gallery of James Franco
2011
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, USA
Anne Hathaway and James Franco perform onstage during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
Gallery of James Franco
2013
828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, USA
James Franco promotes his new book "A California Childhood" at Strand Bookstore on August 9, 2013, in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano)
Gallery of James Franco
2013
Lungomare Guglielmo Marconi, 30126 Lido VE, Italy
James Franco attends 'Child of God' Premiere during the 70th Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 31, 2013, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole)
Gallery of James Franco
2013
Los Angeles, California, USA
James Franco arrives at the LACMA 2013 Art + Film Gala on November 2, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of James Franco
2014
323 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014, USA
James Franco attends the "Kink" New York Premiere at IFC Center on August 22, 2014, in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker)
Gallery of James Franco
2015
Park City, Utah, USA
James Franco from "True Story" poseS for a portrait at the Village at the Lift Presented by McDonald's McCafe during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Larry Busacca)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
Austin, Texas, USA
James Franco poses for a portrait during the "The Disaster Artist" Premiere 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals on March 12, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA
Franco attends Cinespia's screening of 'North by Northwest' held at Hollywood Forever on May 27, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kelly Lee Barrett)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, USA
James Franco attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 9th Annual Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 11, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
James Franco attends the 'Disaster Artist' panel during Vulture Festival LA Presented by AT&T at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 18, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
New York, NY 10011, USA
James Franco attends the Coach and Friends of the High Line Summer Party at High Line on June 6, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
299 South St, New York, NY 10002, USA
James Franco poses backstage for Coach Spring 2018 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Basketball City - Pier 36 - South Street on September 12, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Lars Niki)
Gallery of James Franco
2017
247 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
James Franco attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Career Retrospective with James Franco at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Screening Room on November 29, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
8221 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046, USA
James Franco (L) and Emilia Clarke attend W Magazine's Celebration of its 'Best Performances' Portfolio and the Golden Globes with Audi, Dior, and Dom Perignon at Chateau Marmont on January 4, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Donato Sardella)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
Beverly Hills, California, USA
James Franco poses for a portrait at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party on January 6, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Fury)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
James Franco is seen at LAX on January 08, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Niceguy)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
110 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA
James Franco (L) and Dave Franco attend the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 9, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
665 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
James Franco attends the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 21, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk
Gallery of James Franco
2018
665 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
Willem Dafoe (L) and James Franco attend the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 21, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA
James Franco attends Brooks Brothers Host Annual Holiday Celebration in Los Angeles to Benefit St. Jude at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on December 09, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
James Franco (L) and Dave Franco take a selfie at The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by George Pimentel)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
Beverly Hills, California, USA
James Franco poses for a portrait at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party on January 6, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Fury)
Gallery of James Franco
2018
240 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036, USA
James Franco attends the Broadway Opening Night Performance of 'Straight White Men' at the Hayes Theatre on July 23, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride)
Achievements
2013
6838 Hollywood Boulevard, CA, USA
On March 8, 2013, Franco received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard.
Membership
Awards
Hollywood Film Festival Award
2008
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
James Franco poses with his Breakthrough Actor Award backstage during the Hollywood Film Festival's Gala Ceremony held at Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 27, 2008, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner)
Independent Spirit Award
2009
200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
James Franco poses in the press room at Film Independent's 2009 Independent Spirit Awards held at the Santa Monica Pier on February 21, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix)
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award
2011
1317 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
James Franco backstage at the Outstanding Performance Of The Year Award Tribute to James Franco at the Arlington Theater on January 29, 2011, in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp)
Venice Film Festival Award
2014
Venice, Italy
James Franco holds his Jaeger Le Coultre Glory To The Filmmaker Award on stage with at the 'Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory To The Filmmaker 2014 Award' Honors James Franco Award Ceremony during The 71st Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2014, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto)
San Sebastián International Film Festival Award
2017
Zurriola Hiribidea, 1, 20002 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
James Franco receives the Best Film Award for the 'The Disaster Artist' film during 65th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal on September 30, 2017, in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez)
Hollywood Film Award
2017
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
James Franco speaks onstage during the 21st Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 5, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk)
Gotham Independent Film Award
2017
53 Wall St, New York, NY 10005, USA
James Franco poses with the Best Actor award at The 2017 IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards co-sponsored by FIJI Water at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder)
Golden Globe Award
2018
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
James Franco (L) poses with Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy award for 'The Disaster Artist', with actor Dave Franco in the press room at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian)
James Franco poses with his Breakthrough Actor Award backstage during the Hollywood Film Festival's Gala Ceremony held at Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 27, 2008, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner)
200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
James Franco poses in the press room at Film Independent's 2009 Independent Spirit Awards held at the Santa Monica Pier on February 21, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix)
James Franco backstage at the Outstanding Performance Of The Year Award Tribute to James Franco at the Arlington Theater on January 29, 2011, in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp)
Anne Hathaway and James Franco perform onstage during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
James Franco attends 'Child of God' Premiere during the 70th Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 31, 2013, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole)
James Franco holds his Jaeger Le Coultre Glory To The Filmmaker Award on stage with at the 'Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory To The Filmmaker 2014 Award' Honors James Franco Award Ceremony during The 71st Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2014, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto)
James Franco from "True Story" poseS for a portrait at the Village at the Lift Presented by McDonald's McCafe during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Larry Busacca)
Zurriola Hiribidea, 1, 20002 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
James Franco receives the Best Film Award for the 'The Disaster Artist' film during 65th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal on September 30, 2017, in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez)
James Franco speaks onstage during the 21st Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 5, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk)
James Franco poses with the Best Actor award at The 2017 IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards co-sponsored by FIJI Water at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder)
James Franco poses for a portrait during the "The Disaster Artist" Premiere 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals on March 12, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer)
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA
Franco attends Cinespia's screening of 'North by Northwest' held at Hollywood Forever on May 27, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kelly Lee Barrett)
James Franco attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 9th Annual Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 11, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
James Franco attends the 'Disaster Artist' panel during Vulture Festival LA Presented by AT&T at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 18, 2017, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay)
James Franco poses backstage for Coach Spring 2018 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Basketball City - Pier 36 - South Street on September 12, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Lars Niki)
James Franco attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Career Retrospective with James Franco at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Screening Room on November 29, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval)
James Franco (L) poses with Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy award for 'The Disaster Artist', with actor Dave Franco in the press room at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian)
James Franco (L) and Emilia Clarke attend W Magazine's Celebration of its 'Best Performances' Portfolio and the Golden Globes with Audi, Dior, and Dom Perignon at Chateau Marmont on January 4, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Donato Sardella)
James Franco (L) and Dave Franco attend the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 9, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur)
James Franco attends the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 21, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk
Willem Dafoe (L) and James Franco attend the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 21, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris)
James Franco attends Brooks Brothers Host Annual Holiday Celebration in Los Angeles to Benefit St. Jude at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on December 09, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown)
James Franco (L) and Dave Franco take a selfie at The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by George Pimentel)
James Franco attends the Broadway Opening Night Performance of 'Straight White Men' at the Hayes Theatre on July 23, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride)
1933 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007, United States
Emma Roberts attends Entertainment Weekly's Popfest at The Reef on October 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/WireImage)
colleague: Jessica Chastain
2017
Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, 1 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Jessica Chastain attends the "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)" screening and Opening Gala during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2017, in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ki Price)
colleague: Evan Peters
2019
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Evan Peters attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)
(A fiercely vivid collection of stories about troubled Cal...)
A fiercely vivid collection of stories about troubled California teenagers and misfits - violent and harrowing, from the astonishingly talented actor and artist James Franco.
(There is a vision of power at the center of James Franco'...)
There is a vision of power at the center of James Franco's first chapbook of poems, Strongest of the Litter. Power here is both generative and frightening, self-consuming and bracing. It is the artist's power of self-making.
(Drawing from his experience in film and television work, ...)
Drawing from his experience in film and television work, Franco has produced a visually exciting and thought-provoking body of video works, multimedia installations, and large-scale sculptures.
(An actor treads the line between reality and fiction ever...)
An actor treads the line between reality and fiction every time he plays a part, and for James Franco, that exploration isn’t limited to the screen - he’s also a visual artist with several exhibitions under his belt as well as the author of the widely praised story collection Palo Alto.
(The actors in James Franco’s brilliant debut novel includ...)
The actors in James Franco’s brilliant debut novel include a McDonald’s drive-thru operator who spends his shift trying on accents; an ex-child star recalling a massive beachside bacchanal; hospital volunteers and Midwestern transplants; a vampire flick starlet who discovers a cryptic book written by a famous actor gone AWOL; and the ghost of River Phoenix.
(Directing Herbert White is the debut poetry collection by...)
Directing Herbert White is the debut poetry collection by the actor, director, and writer James Franco I'm a nocturnal creature, And I'm here to cheat time.
(A loyal knight unites the fractious English against the o...)
A loyal knight unites the fractious English against the oppressive Irish, but is deeply conflicted after the woman he loves is compelled to marry his beloved King.
(A romantic teen comedy about the lengths that people will...)
A romantic teen comedy about the lengths that people will go to in order to land their ideal partner - only to discover that reality doesn't live up to the fantasy.
(Leon and Bobby are brothers who, with their friends, are ...)
Leon and Bobby are brothers who, with their friends, are determined to maintain the way of life in their neighborhood. They are The Deuces, trying to keep things the way they are.
(Vincent has had a long and distinguished career in the po...)
Vincent has had a long and distinguished career in the police force but he is still suffering from the pain of the break-up with his wife and son, Joey.
(Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gives up his crime-fighting ...)
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gives up his crime-fighting identity of Spider-Man in a desperate attempt to return to ordinary life and keep the love of MJ (Kirsten Dunst). But a ruthless, terrifying new villain, the multi-tentacled Doc Ock, forces Peter to swing back into action to save everything he holds dear.
(Officer Edward Malus stops a station wagon to return a gi...)
Officer Edward Malus stops a station wagon to return a girl's lost doll. Moments later, a truck slams into the station wagon, igniting a fiery wreck with the mother and child trapped.
(The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young America...)
The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots.
(In Tommy O'Haver's heartbreaking and hard-hitting film, A...)
In Tommy O'Haver's heartbreaking and hard-hitting film, An American Crime, Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener portrays Gertrude Baniszewski, the seemingly ordinary housewife who imprisons and tortures a beautiful teenager, played by Academy Award nominee Ellen Page, in the basement of her house.
(New York City is in the throes of Spider-mania, and Peter...)
New York City is in the throes of Spider-mania, and Peter Parker finally has the girl of his dreams. But just when it seems like things can't get any better, Spider-Man must fight the most terrifying trio of villains he's ever encountered - the deadly Sandman, the New Goblin, and Venom - plus the enemy he discovers within himself.
(Desperate to solve the mystery behind their son's disappe...)
Desperate to solve the mystery behind their son's disappearance, his father, also a war Veteran, and mother seek the help of seasoned police detective to uncover his true fate.
(Silas Parker marries his parole officer's niece Camille, ...)
Silas Parker marries his parole officer's niece Camille, believing that he can use the romantic honeymoon to flee to Canada. On the way to the border, a reckless truck driver runs them off the road. At first, the new bride seems relatively unscathed, but as her body begins to decay, Silas discovers that maybe she didn't survive the accident after all.
(A new comedy from the creative genius of Judd Apatow (40-...)
A new comedy from the creative genius of Judd Apatow (40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Talladega Nights) follows a pair of druggie losers as they reach the top of the hit-list when one witness a mob murder and drags his buddy into a crazy flight from mobsters bent on silencing both of them permanently.
(Two strangers meet at an inn, each planning to deal with ...)
Two strangers meet at an inn, each planning to deal with troubling circumstances in their lives. Sparks fly and a relationship begins that may open up new possibilities for both.
(James Franco stars as the young Allen Ginsberg - poet, co...)
James Franco stars as the young Allen Ginsberg - poet, counter-culture adventurer and chronicler of the Beat Generation. In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg recounts the road trips, love affairs and search for personal liberation that led to the most timeless and electrifying work of his career, the poem Howl.
(Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is a modern woman on a quest ...)
Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is a modern woman on a quest to marvel at and travel the world while rediscovering and reconnecting with her true inner self in Eat Pray Love.
(Britt Reid is a slacker by day, party animal by night... ...)
Britt Reid is a slacker by day, party animal by night... until he finds a serious career that's seriously cool: crime-fighting action hero. As the Green Hornet, he teams up with gadget wiz and martial arts master Kato to take down LA's underworld.
(Get high and mighty with Danny McBride, James Franco and ...)
Get high and mighty with Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman in Your Highness, the epic and hilarious action-comedy from the director of Pineapple Express.
(From Focus World and director/star James Franco, the stor...)
From Focus World and director/star James Franco, the story of Hart Crane, a defining voice in 20th Century American poetry, who lived with as much passion as he did turmoil, from his early life to his journeys across the world.
(Born in a research lab, raised by a suburban couple, and ...)
Born in a research lab, raised by a suburban couple, and banished to an animal rescue ranch after he attacks a neighbor, a super-intelligent "alpha male" chimp leads fellow apes in a rebellion.
(Director James Franco chronicles the final hours in the l...)
Director James Franco chronicles the final hours in the life of actor Sal Mineo, one-time teen heartthrob, gay icon, and the Academy Award-nominated star.
(A gritty and defiantly voyeuristic look at the life of a ...)
A gritty and defiantly voyeuristic look at the life of a youth who never loses her innocence, even as she gyrates for the camera, Cherry captures a rare point of view, urging us to consider the delicate tension between body and self by focusing on society's most sought after objects of desire.
(A former soap star (James Franco) appears to have a narra...)
A former soap star (James Franco) appears to have a narrator stuck in his head. As he moves in with his best friend (Catherine Keener) and works to restart his creative career, he tries to figure out who is really calling the shots.
(Inspired by actual events, "The Iceman" follows contract ...)
Inspired by actual events, "The Iceman" follows contract killer Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) from his early days in the mob until his arrest for the murder of more than a hundred men. Appearing to be living the American dream as a devoted husband and father, in reality Kuklinski was a ruthless hitman.
(Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund ...)
Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While partying, drinking, and taking drugs, they are arrested, only to be bailed out by a drug and arms dealer.
(Martine Jamison is a NY theatre director beginning rehear...)
Martine Jamison is a NY theatre director beginning rehearsals for a new play starring her boyfriend Raymond opposite a young beauty. An unknown newcomer develops a peculiar fascination with Martine. As rehearsals continue, Martine has periods of disorientation that quickly deteriorate into vivid hallucinations as she becomes convinced someone is trying to poison her.
(James Franco, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, and Zach Braf...)
James Franco, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, and Zach Braff star in this tale of an artist struggling to reconcile his past. Based on the life of Pulitzer Prize-winner C.K. Williams.
(Based on the classic novel by William Faulkner and starri...)
Based on the classic novel by William Faulkner and starring James Franco, "As I Lay Dying" is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her family's quest to honor her last wish to be buried in the nearby town of Jefferson.
(An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and ...)
An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and self-destruction that centers around a shy young girl (Emma Roberts) on the cusp of an illicit relationship with her soccer coach (James Franco).
(First parentless, then homeless, poor Lester Ballard neve...)
First parentless, then homeless, poor Lester Ballard never had much of a chance. Now, as a violent, anti-social adult, he has even less of one. Simultaneously shunned and pursued, Lester retreats to a cave and descends into his own dark fantasies.
(Film winds its way through three cities and three tales. ...)
Film winds its way through three cities and three tales. The various stories, situated in Paris, Rome, and New York, are, at first glance, all separate, but Haggis effortlessly makes connections among them as the film unwinds, concentrating on three men and their romantic entanglements.
(Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Boswor...)
Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Bosworth star in this action-packed thriller about how far one man will go to protect his family from a psychotic local drug lord.
(Years after walking away from her past as a teenage priva...)
Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown, an ex-boyfriend with baggage, and an unraveling murder mystery.
(A young couple falls into debt while renovating a home in...)
A young couple falls into debt while renovating a home in London. When they discover $400, 000 cash stashed in the apartment below, the couple thinks all of their problems are solved...but that's when very bad things start happening to good people.
(Set in Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century, "The ...)
Set in Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century, "The Sound and the Fury" portrays the decline and fall of the Compsons, a once proud, aristocratic Southern family.
(James Franco and Jonah Hill star in this taut thriller ab...)
James Franco and Jonah Hill star in this taut thriller about a man accused of murdering his entire family and the disgraced newspaper reporter he claims to be - until he's caught.
(Featuring a powerful performance by Academy Award-nominee...)
Featuring a powerful performance by Academy Award-nominee James Franco, "Yosemite" is an award-winning drama that intertwines stories of three 5th grade friends living in the suburban paradise of Palo Alto in 1985. Things begin to unravel when talk of a mountain lion in the area threatens their seemingly perfect community.
(A gay-rights advocate (James Franco) shocks his boyfriend...)
A gay-rights advocate (James Franco) shocks his boyfriend (Zachary Quinto), friends and family when he publicly renounces his homosexuality and marries a woman (Emma Roberts) in this controversial true story.
(Nicole Kidman plays explorer, diplomat and "female Lawren...)
Nicole Kidman plays explorer, diplomat and "female Lawrence of Arabia" Gertrude Bell in the Werner Herzog-directed true story of a woman who defied all convention.
(A detective opens up a fifteen-year-old missing persons c...)
A detective opens up a fifteen-year-old missing persons case and begins to suspect that the boy it belongs to was murdered - and that a local rancher was involved.
(Based on short stories from Robert Boswell's collection, ...)
Based on short stories from Robert Boswell's collection, seven vignettes explore the difference between fantasy and reality, memory and history, and the joy and agony of the human condition.
(Nothing is what it seems in this riveting thriller, where...)
Nothing is what it seems in this riveting thriller, where a troubled writer is thrown into a passionate affair and forced to confront the secrets of his past while investigating a scandalous high-profile murder.
(In this coming-of-age drama set in the suburban milieu of...)
In this coming-of-age drama set in the suburban milieu of Palo Alto, California, an alienated teenage boy finds solace in his fantasies of military combat while trying to find his place in the world. Meanwhile, a dedicated teacher tries to reach out ot him.
(After being assaulted, Brad Land (Ben Schnetzer) starts c...)
After being assaulted, Brad Land (Ben Schnetzer) starts college ready to move on. His brother, Brett (Nick Jonas), is in a frat that Brad wants to join. Brett has concerns. While pledging, each new humiliating event threatens to destroy their relationship.
(Christian Slater & James Franco star in this sexy, ripped...)
Christian Slater & James Franco star in this sexy, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller about a deliciously dark tale of murder in the gay adult film world.
(Set in California apple country in the 1930s, 900 migrato...)
Set in California apple country in the 1930s, 900 migratory workers rise up and join forces to protest unfair wages and working conditions. As the labor strike wears on and conflict grows between the apple pickers and the local growers' association, what begins as a fight for their rights turns into an all-out battle for survival in this star-studded re-telling of John Steinbeck's beloved novel.
(An overprotective dad (Bryan Cranston) visits his daughte...)
An overprotective dad (Bryan Cranston) visits his daughter at Stanford where he meets his biggest nightmare: her eccentric Silicon Valley billionaire boyfriend (James Franco).
(Subjected to bizarre and increasingly violent pseudo-scie...)
Subjected to bizarre and increasingly violent pseudo-scientific experiments in personality modification, brainwashing and mind control, Isabel Porter must escape the clutches of the Rosewood Institute and exact her revenge, or else be forever lost.
(In this pulse-pounding thriller, a defiant reality-show h...)
In this pulse-pounding thriller, a defiant reality-show host and a greedy network exec launch a terrifying new program that exploits the on-camera deaths of its players-on live TV.
(The true-story of aspiring filmmaker and infamous Hollywo...)
The true-story of aspiring filmmaker and infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau (James Franco); a celebration of friendship and dreams pursued against insurmountable odds. Based on the best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy's cult-classic disasterpiece The Room.
(In a dusty town at the edge of the world, the men of a sm...)
In a dusty town at the edge of the world, the men of a small community begin to vanish, one by one. Theories about their whereabouts swirl through the ether as their wives and teenaged children wait for their return.
(Two estranged sisters are forced to rob a bank in order t...)
Two estranged sisters are forced to rob a bank in order to save their brother. The heist begins smoothly, but mayhem ensues when the defiant bank manager sends them to a basement-level vault - home to something truly evil.
(A recently released ex-con and his adopted younger brothe...)
A recently released ex-con and his adopted younger brother are forced to go on the run. Chased by a vengeful criminal, the feds and a cadre of otherworldly soldiers, their only protection is a found weapon of mysterious ancestry.
(A funny and authentic portrait of high school life with a...)
A funny and authentic portrait of high school life with all of its horrors and triumphs, Freaks And Geeks resonate with anybody who has ever felt like they don’t quite fit in.
(Loren strikes up a friendship with rock superstar Eddie D...)
Loren strikes up a friendship with rock superstar Eddie Duran that eventually buds into something more - even with the conniving Chloe scheming around. Will true love win out over career changes, continuous setbacks and all the deception?
(Angie Tribeca (Rashida Jones) is a lone-wolf detective wh...)
Angie Tribeca (Rashida Jones) is a lone-wolf detective who is none too happy when partnered with J Geils (Hayes MacArthur). Together, they work together to investigate the most serious cases, from the murder of a ventriloquist to a rash of baker suicides.
(On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, Pre...)
On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy was killed, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? James Franco stars in this epic time-travel thriller from J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Prods. based upon the bestselling novel by Stephen King. 11.22.63 delves into the darkness of the American dream.
(James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal star in Season 1 of th...)
James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal star in Season 1 of this gritty drama series from David Simon and George Pelecanos ('The Wire, ' 'Treme') that traces the evolution of the porn industry in NYC's Times Square in the 1970s.
James Franco is an American actor and filmmaker. He developed a keen interest in learning and enrolled in various institutions concentrating mainly on creative writing. However, his mainstay remained acting. He debuted in NBC’s television series Freaks and Geeks which became a cult classic. His debut film was Never Been Kissed, but he catapulted to fame with his role in Spider-Man as Harry Osborn.
Background
Ethnicity:
James Franco's father was of half Portuguese/Madeiran and half Swedish descent. James’s mother is Jewish (of Russian Jewish, German Jewish, Polish Jewish, and Lithuanian Jewish descent).
James Franco was born on April 19, 1978, in Palo Alto, California, the United States. His mother, Betsy Lou (née Verne), is a writer and occasional actress, and his father, Douglas Eugene "Doug" Franco, ran a Silicon Valley business. James Franco’s parents, both painters, met at Stanford, where they studied art.
He grew up in California with his two younger brothers, Tom and Dave, who are also actors.
As a teenager, he was arrested for offenses like underage drinking, graffiti, and selling stolen designer fragrances from department stores to classmates. All these activities and events resulted in his briefly becoming a ward of the state.
Education
Franco attended Palo Alto High School, where he became known for his rebellious ways. "In my first two years of high school, I got into a lot of trouble with the police for minor things: graffiti, stealing, crashing cars. It was teen angst. I was uncomfortable in my own skin. I was shy. I changed my ways just in time to get good grades."
After graduating from high school in 1996, Franco briefly attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied English and drama. He dropped out during his freshman year, however, to pursue a career as an actor.
Franco re-enrolled at UCLA as a creative writing major in 2006, taking an accelerated course load while continuing to act. He completed his degree two years later, graduating with a GPA of 3.5/4.
Moving to New York City in 2008, Franco enrolled at Columbia University. While working toward a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing there, he also attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for filmmaking, took courses in fiction writing at Brooklyn College and studied poetry at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina.
In 2010, Franco was accepted at Yale University, pursuing a Ph.D. in English. That same year, the actor earned his Master of Fine Arts from Columbia. In 2011, he completed his master's degree in filmmaking at NYU.
In April 2011, while still enrolled at Yale, Franco was accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design's literature and creative writing program. A year later, he was accepted into the University of Houston's creative writing program, though it was announced soon after that he wouldn't be attending the Texas school.
Working the late shift at McDonald's to make ends meet, Franco appeared in his first major role at the age of 19, as Brian on the crime drama series Pacific Blue (1997). While working at the establishment, he would practice accents on customers, an experience he remembered nostalgically in a 2015 Washington Post editorial titled "McDonald's was there for me when no one else was".
After 15 months of intensive study with noted drama coach Robert Carnegie at the North Hollywood acting school/theater Playhouse West, in 1999, Franco landed his breakthrough role: as heartthrob/bad boy Daniel Desario on the critically acclaimed but 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, Franco made his film debut in the Drew Barrymore vehicle Never Been Kissed (1999). The following year, he starred in the romantic comedy Whatever It Takes (2000).
But it was Franco's standout title performance in 2001's TNT cable biopic James Dean that made critics stand up and take notice of the young actor. His portrayal of the iconic actor earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in 2002. Franco later said that he prepared for the role by picking up smoking - two packs of cigarettes a day.
Also in 2002, James Franco appeared alongside Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand in the crime drama City by the Sea, and starred as a male prostitute turned soldier in the Nicolas Cage film Sonny. Turning to more commercial fare that same year, he took on the role of Harry Osborne, son of the villainous Green Goblin, in Spider-Man (2002). The actor would return to play the 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 a film about a writer who lives with a talking gorilla entitled The Ape (2005). He worked with Merriwether Williams, a former Nickelodeon writer, and executive, on the project.
Franco went on to garner acclaim in 2006 for his performance as aviator Blaine Rawlings in the World War I film Flyboys. In order to play the part, Franco had to obtain a pilot's license. That same year, Franco starred alongside Sophia Myles in the titillating romance/drama Tristan + Isolde - cementing his sex symbol status in Hollywood (and breaking the hearts of young women everywhere).
Franco returned to the romantic drama genre two years later with a role in Nights in Rodanthe (2008), starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, before playing Scott Smith in the award-winning Milk (2008) alongside acclaimed actor Sean Penn (Harvey Milk). In 2010, Franco starred as legendary Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in the critically acclaimed biopic Howl. That same year, the actor scored his greatest critical honor to date: an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, for his performance in the adventure drama 127 Hours (2010). The film tells the true story of a mountain climber's near-death experience in Utah after a fallen boulder crashes his arm and traps him in a canyon.
Later film roles include the comedy Date Night (2010) alongside Tina Fey, the drama Eat Pray Love (2011) alongside Julia Roberts, the comedy Your Highness (2011) alongside Natalie Portman and funny man Danny McBride, the sci-fi drama Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and the Harmony Korine-directed crime drama Spring Breakers (2012), also starring Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez. In 2014 the actor began doing voiceover work for The Little Prince, an animated film adaption of the 1943 book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and also featuring narrations by Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard.
Franco has continued to gain fame in recent years for his roles on the small screen, as well, with credits including the popular soap opera General Hospital (2009-2012) and comedian Mindy Kaling's The Mindy Project (2013).
More recently, Franco attracted a lot of attention for The Interview. In the movie, Franco plays a TV talk show host who lands an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He and his producer, played by Seth Rogen, are asked by the CIA to kill Kim Jong-un during their visit to North Korea.
Months before the film's scheduled 2014 release, North Korea vigorously objected to the film. One of the country's officials even threatened action against the United States over the movie. A group of hackers known as the Guardians of Peace also opposed the film's release. They broke into the systems of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the company behind The Interview. The group leaked confidential company emails as well as other unreleased Sony films. They also threatened movie theater companies that were planning to show The Interview. The FBI later linked the cyber assault on Sony to the North Korean government.
After the cyber attack and other threats, Sony decided to cancel its plans to release The Interview. Days later, the company announced the film would be available for online rental and be released to limited indie theaters on Christmas Day. In a statement, Sony's Chairman Michael Lynton said, “I want to thank our talent on The Interview and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month. While we hope this is only the first step of the film’s release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech.”
Franco continued signing on for projects that ranged off the beaten path, including I Am Michael (2015), about a gay activist who becomes a Christian pastor. In 2017, he took on the dual role of twin brothers in HBO's The Deuce, about the legalization and rise of the porn industry in New York City in the 1970s. He also directed and starred alongside his brother Dave in that year's The Disaster Artist, for which he was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
The same night he was awarded his Golden Globe, a new controversy began brewing when actress Ally Sheedy fired off a few cryptic tweets, one of which read: "James Franco just won. Please never ask me why I left the film/tv business." Another actress, Violet Paley, also took to Twitter to accuse Franco of forcing her into a sexual act and inviting her 17-year-old friend to his hotel room.
On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Franco insisted he had done nothing improper. "I pride myself on taking responsibility for things that I have done," he told Colbert. "I have to do that to maintain my well being. The things that I heard that were on Twitter are not accurate. But I completely support people coming out and being able to have a voice because they didn’t have a voice for so long. So I don’t want to shut them down in any way."
However, a January 11, 2018, report in the Los Angeles Times aired the grievances of five women who accused the actor of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior. Four of the women, who were students in acting classes taught by Franco, described situations in which they were asked to take off their clothing or participate in uncomfortable sex scenes. Through his attorney, Michael Plonsker, Franco disputed all of the allegations.
Two weeks later, after Vanity Fair unveiled its annual Hollywood Issue, it was revealed that Franco had been photographed and interviewed for the publication, but did not appear alongside the other movie stars on the cover. A Vanity Fair spokesperson confirmed the last-minute digital removal of the actor from the cover spread, saying, "We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him."
Despite the bad press, in February 2018 it was confirmed that Franco would return for Season 2 of The Deuce. Previously, co-creator David Simon had supported the actor in a statement to Variety. Noting he could only attest to his experience with Franco on The Deuce, Simon wrote, "I've checked with all my fellow producers and other personnel. We have no complainant or complaint or any awareness of any incident of concern involving Mr. Franco. ... In our experience, he was entirely professional as an actor, director, and producer."
Styling himself as a latter-day Renaissance man, Franco was also a visual artist and a painter; he characterized his guest appearance (2009–12) as an artist named Franco on the daytime soap opera General Hospital as performance art. In 2005 he directed his first of numerous films, The Ape and Fool’s Gold. He also co-wrote and appeared in both movies, as he would for many of his directorial efforts. He later helmed the Hart Crane biopic The Broken Tower (2011) and adaptations (2013, 2014) of William Faulkner’s novels As I Lay Dying (1930) and The Sound and the Fury (1929). Franco also adapted (2013) Cormac McCarthy’s novel Child of God (1974). In 2016 he directed the drama In Dubious Battle, which was based on a John Steinbeck novel (1936) about striking farmworkers. His later directorial efforts included The Pretenders (2018).
Franco wrote short fiction, some of which was published in Palo Alto: Stories (2010); he also appeared in a 2013 film adaptation. The novelistic Actors Anonymous (2013) spliced autobiographical episodes with imaginings of the lives of struggling actors in Hollywood. Stories from A California Childhood (2013) - a pastiche of childhood experiences, photographs, artwork, and fictionalized memories - were adapted as the film Yosemite (2015), in which he also appeared. His poetry collection Straight James/Gay James (2016) toys with his sexually ambiguous public persona.
(A spin-off of the ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital.)
2007
Religion
Franco’s upbringing was largely non-religious. It has been described as “academic, liberal and largely secular.” But Judaism runs deep in Franco, though only on his mother’s side. His grandmother was, at one time, a member of the National Council of Jewish Women, an oft-described feminist organization dedicated to social justice for Jews and women.
However, Franco seems to regret his secular upbringing, saying: "I do feel like I missed out on the Jewish experience. My Jewish friends tell me not to worry… but I like the idea of religion as a source of community."
Regarding his own spiritual views, Franco is vague and expresses a sort of agnosticism, but a light agnosticism, one that probably believes in God in some form or another. Really, he’s just unsure. He said when asked if he is a believer: "In God? I don’t know. Yes. To a certain extent. It’s a complicated question."
In 2015, he had an official Bar Mitzvah ceremony, presided over by a rabbi.
Politics
James Franco supported Hillary Clinton during the 2012 presidential election. He described Clinton as “the most interesting woman in the world."
Views
When Franco was at a point in his life where he wanted to give back but was unsure how he asked his Spider-Man co-star Kirsten Dunst for advice. Franco was adviced to volunteer at the charity Art of Elysium in Los Angeles, helping kids with serious medical conditions. In January 2011, he was honored for his work at the hospital, receiving the Spirit of Elysium accolade. He said the experience helped save his life.
On March 31, 2011, the actor took part in "An Evening with James Franco", a Washington D.C. dinner benefit for 826DC, a non-profit foundation created to help neighborhood students reach their goals, as well as provide after-school literature programs and workshops that encourage them to improve their writing skills. Franco became involved with Dave Eggers' 826 National after Eggers asked him to do a conceptual idea for the program, and he directed a documentary for them and has since been a supporter of them. At the event, he spoke about how he thought schools needed to be more original with their literature programs. "Writing can do things that video cannot", he added. In April 2011, Franco autographed a T-shirt that would be auctioned off through the Yoshiki Foundation, with the proceeds being donated for Japanese tsunami relief. On June 14, he was honored by amfAR, the foundation for AIDS research, at the Museum of Modern Art. Franco received the Piaget Award of Inspiration for his humanitarian work and contributions to men's style.
In April 2013, Franco received the Ally Award at the 15th annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The award was presented to him in recognition of his unwavering support of the LGBT community.
In April 2014, Franco presented at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet Competition with Leighton Meester and Chris O'Dowd, after raising donations at his Broadway show Of Mice and Men. In June 2014, Franco performed in the BC/EFA benefit Broadway Bares.
Quotations:
"Acting is an art form and you want to take roles that are challenged and it's more of a challenge I think to play dark characters. Not that I want to always play those, but it is a challenge and challenges are rewarding and fun."
"There's this public persona that's 'James Franco' that's half my creation but half of it isn't. Half of it's what other people write about me or how they perceive me. [His art is] a way of using... an image that other people have created and re-presenting it."
"I'm gay in my art and straight in my life."
Personality
For his role in the TNT biopic "James Dean," Franco started smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. He was not a smoker previously and has since quit. Franco cut off communication with his friends and family to capture Dean's loneliness. Franco even cut off communication with his girlfriend at the time
To prepare for his role as a drug addict in "City by the Sea," Franco reportedly lived on the streets for several days, he also shadowed a male prostitute to prepare for his role in "Sonny," directed by Nicolas Cage. In order to take the lead role as an aviator in the World War I movie "Flyboys," Franco had to obtain a pilot's license.
Franco's mother says that when he was four years old, she had to explain death to him after a family friend passed away. He began crying and said, "But I don't want to die! I have so much to do!"
High Times magazine named him Stoner of the Year after starring in "Pineapple Express," even though he's said he no longer smokes marijuana. He revealed that his first time getting high was before an eighth-grade dance.
Sometimes he refers to himself in the third person. "He's turned his celebrity into a form of performance art," "127 Hours" director Danny Boyle told The Telegraph. "While we were shooting the film, he would sometimes ask me, 'What do you want him to do?' I would say, What do you mean? He would say, 'What do you want from him in this scene?' You mean your character? 'No, no. Franco. What do you want from Franco?' He was talking about himself in the third person. I said, Well, I think he should be more emotional. And he said, 'Oh, I can get him to do that.' And then he'd do the scene and he'd be amazing. He turned on this extraordinary performance. He really does hold himself like a tool, to be used by the director for the benefit of the story."
During a Newsweek panel about acting, Franco revealed he made a sex tape. When asked how he handles kissing scenes, he explained: "Anybody who has made a home sex tape knows what feels best doesn’t always look best. I remember when I was 19 doing that, and then watching it back and thinking, 'Oh, that looks horrible.' So you have a lot of respect for those actors in pornography, because they are really not just doing it, they’re really selling it! It’s the same thing with a kiss. It’s not just the kiss that feels best, it’s an image. Something different is happening if it’s a good kiss."
Interests
writing, painting
Politicians
Hillary Clinton
Writers
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, The Long Home by William Gay, Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson, The Sellout by Paul Beatty, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz, Paulina & Fran by Rachel B. Glaser, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver, In the Western Night: Collected Poems by Frank Bidart, Donkey Gospel by Tony Hoagland
Artists
Andy Warhol
Sport & Clubs
surfing
Music & Bands
R.E.M., Xylos, Superhumanoids, Tan Vampires, Miniature Tigers
Connections
Due to his support for the LGBT community, and his portrayal of gay characters in his projects, Franco's sexuality has been a subject of discussion in media sources, relentlessly questioning if he himself is gay. In response to questions regarding his sexuality, he insists he finds plenty more dimensions to the characters than their bedroom proclivities. "Or, you know what," he quipped, "maybe I'm just gay." In a March 2015 interview with Four Two Nine magazine, Franco again opened up about his sexuality, commenting that it is not whom you have sex with that defines your sexuality, but instead how you act. "In the twenties and thirties, they used to define homosexuality by how you acted and not by whom you slept with. Sailors would fuck guys all the time, but as long as they behaved in masculine ways, they weren't considered gay." He added, "Well, I like to think that I'm gay in my art and straight in my life."
After meeting on the set of Whatever It Takes in 1999, Franco dated co-star Marla Sokoloff for five years. He was later in a relationship with actress Ahna O'Reilly until 2011. He confirmed their separation in an interview for Playboy magazine's August 2011 issue, saying that his interest in education got between them.