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 is known for playing Harry Osborn in the Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007). He has also starred in movies like Milk (2008), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013).
Franco often works with actor Seth Rogen. They have appeared in many movies together, including Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), and The Disaster Artist (2017). For The Disaster Artist, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. His role in the movie 127 Hours (2010) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
On television, Franco first became known for his role in the comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000). He also played the main character in the TV movie James Dean (2001), which won him a Golden Globe Award. He later starred in the TV series 11.22.63 (2016) and The Deuce (2017–2019).
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Early life
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, ran a business in Silicon Valley. He grew up with his two younger brothers, Tom and Dave, who are also actors.
Franco was very good at math in school and even had an internship at the company Lockheed Martin. He graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1996, where he discovered his love for acting in school plays.
Although he was interested in studying ocean animals, Franco secretly wanted to be an actor. He went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to study English. However, he left after his first year to follow his dream of acting. His parents did not support this decision at first, so he took a job at McDonald's to pay for his acting lessons. He later said that he practiced different accents on customers while working there.
Acting career
Early Roles and Breakthrough
After training for 15 months, Franco started auditioning for roles. His first paid job was in a TV commercial for Pizza Hut. In 1999, he got his first major role in the TV show Freaks and Geeks. The show was not a big hit at first but later became a cult classic, meaning it gained a very loyal group of fans over time.
His first movie was Never Been Kissed. He then starred in the 2001 TV movie James Dean, playing the famous actor James Dean. To prepare for the role, Franco studied Dean's life and movies very carefully. His performance was praised by critics, and he won a Golden Globe Award.
Worldwide Fame with Spider-Man
Franco became famous around the world when he played Harry Osborn in the superhero movie Spider-Man (2002). His character was the best friend of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and the son of the villain Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe). The movie was a huge success, earning over $822 million worldwide.
He returned as Harry Osborn in the sequels, Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). Spider-Man 2 was also a big hit with both critics and audiences. Spider-Man 3 earned over $891 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the series.
During this time, Franco also appeared in other films. He played a soldier in The Great Raid (2005) and the hero Tristan in Tristan & Isolde (2006). For the movie Flyboys (2006), he even earned his private pilot license.
Comedy, Drama, and Awards
In 2008, Franco starred in the comedy Pineapple Express with his friend Seth Rogen. His funny performance earned him another Golden Globe nomination. That same year, he had a serious role in the movie Milk, where he played Scott Smith, the boyfriend of politician Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). For this role, he won an Independent Spirit Award.
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One of his most famous roles came in 2010 with the film 127 Hours. He played Aron Ralston, a real-life mountain climber who got his arm trapped under a rock and had to make a difficult choice to survive. The movie was a success, and Franco's performance was highly praised. He was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Recent Work
Franco continued to star in major films. In 2011, he was in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. In 2013, he played the title character in Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful, a prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. That same year, he appeared as a funny version of himself in the comedy This Is the End.
In 2014, he acted on Broadway for the first time in a play based on John Steinbeck's book Of Mice and Men.
In 2017, he directed and starred in The Disaster Artist. The movie is about the making of the film The Room, which is often called one of the worst movies ever made. Franco played the director and star, Tommy Wiseau. His performance was loved by critics, and he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
Other Projects
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Besides acting, Franco is also involved in many other creative projects. He has directed several films and documentaries. One of his documentaries, Saturday Night, shows what goes on behind the scenes of the TV show Saturday Night Live.
He is also a writer. In 2010, he published a collection of short stories called Palo Alto, named after his hometown. The book received mixed reviews from critics.
Franco is a painter and has been painting since he was in high school. His artwork has been shown in galleries in Los Angeles and Berlin. He has also taught film and writing classes at universities like NYU, USC, and UCLA.
Personal life
Education
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Even after becoming a famous actor, Franco decided to go back to school. In 2006, he re-enrolled at UCLA and earned his English degree in 2008. He was known for taking a very large number of classes each semester.
After graduating from UCLA, he moved to New York City to study at several schools at once. He attended Columbia University for writing, New York University for filmmaking, and Brooklyn College for fiction writing. He earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from Columbia in 2010. He also began studying for a Ph.D. in English at Yale University.
Charity Work
Franco volunteers for the charity the Art of Elysium, which helps children with serious medical conditions. In 2011, the organization honored him with the Spirit of Elysium award for his work.
He also supports 826 National, a non-profit organization that helps students with their writing skills. In 2013, he received the Ally Award at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival for his support of the LGBT community.
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.
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Character | Venue |
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| 2014 | Of Mice and Men | Performer | George | Longacre Theatre |
| 2014 | The Long Shift | Director | Rattlestick Theatre |
See also
In Spanish: James Franco para niños
