James Franco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Franco
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Franco in 2013
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James Edward Franco
April 19, 1978 Palo Alto, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1997–present |
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| Awards | Full list |
James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in many movies and TV shows. Some of his famous roles include the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007) where he played Harry Osborn, and the movie 127 Hours (2010). For 127 Hours, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
James Franco has also worked with actor Seth Rogen on several projects. These include Pineapple Express (2008) and The Disaster Artist (2017). He won a Golden Globe Award for his role in The Disaster Artist.
On TV, he was known for his part in the show Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000). He also played the main character in the TV movie James Dean (2001), which earned him a Golden Globe Award.
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Early Life and Education
James Edward Franco was born in Palo Alto, California, on April 19, 1978. His mother, Betsy Lou, writes children's books, and his father, Douglas Eugene Franco, ran a business. James grew up with his two younger brothers, Tom and Dave, who are also actors.
He was very good at math and even worked at Lockheed Martin for a while. He graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1996, where he enjoyed acting in plays.
Even though he thought about becoming a marine zoologist, James secretly wanted to be an actor. He started at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) but left after his first year. He wanted to start acting right away. He took acting lessons and worked at McDonald's at night to support himself. He even practiced different accents on customers!
Acting Career Highlights
James Franco started his acting journey by auditioning in Los Angeles. His first paid job was a TV commercial for Pizza Hut.
Early Roles and Big Breaks
His first major TV role was in the show Freaks and Geeks in 1999. Even though it didn't last long, it became a very popular show later on. James said it was one of the most fun jobs he ever had.
In 2001, he played the famous actor James Dean in a TV movie. To prepare, James Franco learned to smoke, bleached his hair, and rode a motorcycle. He even spent time with people who knew James Dean. He worked so hard that he cut off contact with his family and friends to stay in character. This role earned him a Golden Globe Award.
Becoming a Superhero's Friend
James Franco became famous worldwide in the 2002 superhero movie Spider-Man. He played Harry Osborn, the best friend of Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire). The movie was a huge success.
He returned as Harry Osborn in the sequels, Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). Spider-Man 3 is still his highest-earning movie to date.
Diverse Roles and Challenges
In 2008, James Franco starred in Milk with Sean Penn. He played Scott Smith, the boyfriend of Harvey Milk. Critics praised his performance.
One of his most challenging roles was in 127 Hours (2010), directed by Danny Boyle. James played Aron Ralston, a real-life mountain climber who had to cut off his own arm to survive. James spent five weeks filming in a small space, barely leaving the set. This role earned him many awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination.
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Fantasy, Comedy, and True Stories
In 2011, he starred in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a new movie in the Planet of the Apes series. He also played the wizard in Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), a prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He is set to appear in a sequel to Oz.
James Franco also appeared in the comedy This Is the End (2013), playing a funny version of himself during an apocalypse. In 2013, he played a gangster named "Alien" in Spring Breakers.
In 2014, he starred in the controversial comedy The Interview. In 2015, he appeared in I Am Michael, playing a gay activist who becomes a Christian pastor. He also played a man on the FBI's most wanted list in True Story.
In 2016, he starred in the TV series 11.22.63, based on a novel by Stephen King. He also directed and starred in The Disaster Artist (2016). In this film, he played Tommy Wiseau, the director of a movie often called one of the worst ever made. His performance was highly praised and won him another Golden Globe Award.
Other Creative Projects
James Franco is not just an actor; he's also a director, producer, and writer.
Directing and Art
He directed a documentary called Saturday Night, which showed what goes into making an episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL). He has also hosted SNL twice.
In 2010, he had an art exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He has also had art shows in New York City and Berlin. He started painting in high school and says he has been painting longer than acting.
Writing and Music
In 2010, James Franco published a collection of short stories called Palo Alto. The book is named after his hometown. He also released a poetry book in 2014.
He is also part of a band called Daddy, with Tim O'Keefe. They released their first single in 2012.
Teaching and Hosting
James Franco has taught film classes at universities like New York University, USC, and UCLA. He even helped his students get famous actors like Natalie Portman to appear in their films.
In 2011, he co-hosted the 83rd Academy Awards with Anne Hathaway.
Personal Life
Beliefs and Education
James Franco describes himself as Jewish. In 2015, he had an official bar mitzvah ceremony.
He went back to UCLA in 2006 to study English. He was allowed to take many classes while still acting. He earned his degree in 2008. After that, he went to several graduate schools at the same time in New York, studying writing and filmmaking. He also studied poetry.
Helping Others
James Franco volunteers at the Art of Elysium, a charity that helps children with serious medical conditions. He says this experience has been very important to him. In 2011, he was honored for his work with the charity.
He also supports 826 National, a non-profit program that helps students with writing. He believes schools should be more creative with their literature programs.
In 2013, he received the Ally Award at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival for supporting the LGBT community. He also helps raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS through his Broadway shows.
Filmography and Awards
Selected Works
- Franco, James. "A Star, a Soap and the Meaning of Art". The Wall Street Journal, December 4, 2009.
- Franco, James. "Just Before the Black". Esquire, March 24, 2010.
Discography
Albums
- 2011: Turn It Up EP – with Kalup Linzy
- 2012: MotorCity EP – with Tim O'Keefe, as "Daddy"
- 2016: Let Me Get What I Want – with Tim O'Keefe, as "Daddy"
Music on Other Albums
- 2013: "Hanging with Da Dopeboys" – from Spring Breakers: Music from the Motion Picture
- 2013: "I Love You" – from Romantic Loner
- 2015: "11/22/63"
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
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| 2014 | Of Mice and Men | Performer (George) | Longacre Theatre |
| 2014 | The Long Shift | Director | Rattlestick Theatre |
Images for kids
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Franco at the Spider-Man 3 premiere, April 2007
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Franco, preparing to ride in the Blue Angels No. 7, with Patrick Palma in a two-seat F/A-18B, in August 2006
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Franco signing an autograph
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Franco at the Austin Film Festival, October 23, 2011
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See also
In Spanish: James Franco para niños
