Sean Penn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sean Penn
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Penn in 2023
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| Born |
Sean Justin Penn
August 17, 1960 |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Leila George
(m. 2020; div. 2022) |
| Children | Dylan Penn Hopper Penn |
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| Awards | Full list |
Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an American actor and film director. He is known for playing strong and memorable roles in movies. He has won many important awards, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He also received an Honorary César award in 2015 for his work in film.
Penn started his movie career in the drama Taps (1981). He then appeared in popular films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Bad Boys (1983). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice. First, for playing a father dealing with a difficult situation in Mystic River (2003). Second, for playing the gay rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk (2008). He was also nominated for Oscars for his roles in Dead Man Walking (1995), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and I Am Sam (2001).
Beyond acting, Penn has directed several films. These include The Indian Runner (1991), The Crossing Guard (1995), The Pledge (2001), and Into the Wild (2007). He has also acted in plays on Broadway and in TV shows like The First (2018) and Gaslit (2022).
Sean Penn is also known for his work in politics and helping others. He has spoken out about different social issues. He helped people after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He has also shown support for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Contents
Early life and family
Sean Justin Penn was born on August 17, 1960, in Santa Monica, California. His father, Leo Penn, was an actor and director. His mother, Eileen Ryan, was also an actress. Sean has an older brother, Michael Penn, who is a musician. His younger brother, Chris Penn, who was also an actor, passed away in 2006.
Sean grew up in Malibu, California. He went to Malibu Park Junior High School and Santa Monica High School. When he was young, he started making short films with his friends. These friends included actors Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, who lived nearby.
Career highlights
Early acting and breakthrough roles (1974–1989)
Penn first appeared on TV in 1974 as an extra in an episode of Little House on the Prairie. His father, Leo, directed some episodes of the show. Sean started his movie career in the action-drama Taps (1981). In this film, he played a military high school cadet. That same year, he made his Broadway debut in the play Heartland.
A year later, he became well-known for his role as the surfer Jeff Spicoli in the comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). This character helped make the word "dude" very popular. Next, Penn played Mick O'Brien, a young person facing challenges, in the drama Bad Boys (1983). This role earned him good reviews and helped him become known as a serious actor. He returned to Broadway that year in the play Slab Boys.
Penn played a character based on a real person in the film The Falcon and the Snowman (1985). He also starred in the drama At Close Range (1986), which was well-received. In the early 1990s, he took a break from acting to focus on directing films.
Becoming a leading actor and director (1990–1999)
In 1990, Penn played Detective Terry Noonan in the crime film State of Grace. The next year, he directed his first movie, The Indian Runner (1991). This was a crime drama inspired by a song by Bruce Springsteen. He also directed music videos for artists like Shania Twain and Lyle Lovett.
After a short break from acting, he returned to star in the crime drama Carlito's Way (1993) with Al Pacino. His performance earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.
He also directed the thriller The Crossing Guard (1995), starring Jack Nicholson. That same year, he acted alongside Susan Sarandon in the drama Dead Man Walking (1995). In this film, he played a challenging role as a person on death row. Critics praised his performance, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1997, he acted in the romantic drama She's So Lovely with his then-wife Robin Wright Penn. He won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for this role. That year, he also appeared in the films U Turn and The Game.
In 1997, he starred in the drama Hurlyburly. His performance in this film earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival. He also had a main role in the World War II epic The Thin Red Line (1998). The next year, he played a jazz guitarist in the film Sweet and Lowdown (1999). For this role, he received his second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Acclaimed roles and directing (2000–2011)
In 2000, Penn acted in the dramas Before Night Falls and The Weight of Water. The following year, he appeared as a guest star on the TV show Friends. He played Eric, a man engaged to Phoebe Buffay's sister. That same year, he played a father with a mental disability in the family drama I am Sam (2001). This performance led to his third nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 2003, he starred in the Clint Eastwood-directed crime drama Mystic River. He played a father dealing with a difficult situation. Penn received wide praise for his performance. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor, the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. That same year, he acted in the psychological thriller 21 Grams.
In 2004, Penn played Samuel Bicke, a character based on a real person who tried to harm a president, in The Assassination of Richard Nixon. He also played Governor Willie Stark in All the King's Men (2006). During this time, he directed the mystery film The Pledge (2001). Penn also received praise for directing the biographical drama Into the Wild (2007).
In November 2008, Penn earned positive reviews for playing the real-life politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the film Milk. For this role, he won his second Academy Award for Best Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
In Fair Game (2010), Penn starred as Joseph C. Wilson. The film is based on a true story about a CIA agent whose identity was revealed. Penn also reunited with director Terrence Malick for the drama The Tree of Life (2011), which won a major award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. That same year, he starred in the comedy-drama This Must Be the Place (2011), playing a former rock star.
Recent work and television roles (2012–present)
In 2015, Penn starred in The Gunman, an action thriller. During this time, Penn directed the drama film The Last Face (2016) and the crime/drama film Flag Day (2021). In March 2018, Penn published his novel Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff.
In 2018, Penn took on his first main role in a TV series. He played Tom Hagerty, an astronaut chosen to be one of the first people to visit Mars, in the science fiction drama The First. The series received good reviews, but it was canceled after one season in January 2019. In 2020, Penn made a cameo appearance as himself in the TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 2021, Penn played Jack Holden in the comedy-drama Licorice Pizza. Penn returned to television in the political thriller series Gaslit (2022). He played John N. Mitchell alongside Julia Roberts. This role required special makeup to change his appearance. For his performance, he was nominated for an award.
In 2023, Penn directed his first documentary film, Superpower. This film is about the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. Penn also starred as a cab driver in the film Daddio (2023). In 2025, he appeared on the Netflix talk show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney.
Personal life
Relationships and family
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Sean Penn was engaged to actress Elizabeth McGovern. He also dated Demi Moore and Susan Sarandon.
Penn met singer Madonna in 1985. They married on August 16, 1985. They starred together in the film Shanghai Surprise (1986). Madonna dedicated her album True Blue (1986) to Penn. Their marriage ended in 1989.
In 1989, Penn started dating actress Robin Wright. Their first child, a daughter named Dylan Frances, was born in 1991. Their second child, a son named Hopper Jack, was born in 1993. Penn and Wright married in 1996. They filed for divorce several times before it was finalized in 2010.
From 2013 to 2015, Penn dated South African actress Charlize Theron. They filmed Penn's movie The Last Face (2016) while they were together.
In 2016, Penn began a relationship with Australian actress Leila George. They married in 2020. George filed for divorce in 2021, and it was finalized in 2022. In June 2023, Penn began a relationship with Olga Korotyayeva.
Community service and legal matters
In October 1985, Penn faced charges for an incident with journalists. In April 1987, he was arrested for an incident on a film set. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and served 33 days. In May 2010, he pleaded no contest to a charge related to an altercation with a photographer. He was sentenced to community service and anger management counseling.
In 2015, director Lee Daniels made a statement about Penn's past. Penn filed a lawsuit against Daniels, which he later dropped in 2016 after Daniels apologized.
Political views and activism
Sean Penn has often spoken out in support of various political and social causes. In December 2002, he visited Iraq to protest against the Bush administration's plans for military action. In June 2005, he visited Iran as a journalist.
Penn's strong opinions have sometimes been parodied, such as in the 2004 film Team America: World Police. In response to the film, Penn sent a letter to its creators.
In January 2006, Penn was a special guest at an "Out of Iraq Forum" in Sacramento, California. This event supported the movement against the Iraq War. In December 2006, he received an award for his commitment to free speech.
In October 2008, Penn visited Cuba and met with then Cuban president Raúl Castro. In 2021, Penn spoke out against "cancel culture," calling it "ludicrous."
Criticism of the George W. Bush administration
On October 18, 2002, Penn paid for an advertisement in The Washington Post. In it, he publicly asked then President George W. Bush to stop military actions in Iraq. The advertisement was an open letter criticizing the planned attack on Iraq and the War on terror.
Penn also criticized the Bush administration for limiting civil liberties. Penn visited Iraq briefly in December 2002. His former wife, Madonna, praised his actions.
Penn's criticism of the Bush administration led to his relationship with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. Chávez even read aloud an open letter Penn wrote to Bush in one of his televised speeches. In the letter, Penn condemned the Iraq War.
On April 19, 2007, Penn appeared on The Colbert Report and spoke about his criticisms of Bush. On December 7, 2007, Penn supported Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich in the 2008 US presidential election. He again criticized Bush's handling of the Iraq War.
Helping after natural disasters
In September 2005, Penn traveled to New Orleans to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was involved in rescuing people. He later wrote an article for HuffPost denying accusations that his involvement was just for publicity. Director Spike Lee interviewed Penn for his documentary about Hurricane Katrina.
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Penn started the J/P Haitian Relief Organization. This group managed a large tent camp for people who lost their homes. Penn admitted he had never visited Haiti before and did not speak French or Creole.
On January 31, 2012, because of his work in Haiti, Penn was named Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti by then Haitian president Michel Martelly. This was the first time a non-Haitian citizen held this position. In 2012, Penn also received the Peace Summit Award.
Views on gender and equality
On February 22, 2009, Penn won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film Milk. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about the importance of equal rights for everyone, including support for gay marriage. In 2022, Penn shared his thoughts on masculinity. He said he believes men in American culture have become "wildly feminised." He later clarified his views in an interview.
International involvement
Penn gained attention in Pakistan when he visited Karachi and Badin in 2012. He visited flood-affected villages and distributed aid to survivors. He also met with Pakistani humanitarian workers Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi.
Penn is also believed to have helped secure the release of American entrepreneur Jacob Ostreicher from a Bolivian prison in 2013.
Penn founded the nonprofit organization Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE). This group provided aid in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew. It also offered free COVID-19 tests in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2021, a complaint was filed against Penn and CORE. It claimed that Penn "impliedly threatened" employees who complained about working conditions.
In February 2012, during the Syrian civil war, Penn stood with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. Chávez supported the government of Syria. In March 2010, Penn called for the imprisonment of journalists who called Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez a dictator.
Penn and Chávez were friends. When Chávez passed away in 2013, Penn expressed his sadness. Penn's friendship with Chávez and his praise for Raúl Castro have been criticized by some who point out that Castro and Chávez had strong anti-LGBT stances, which clashed with Penn's support for LGBT groups.
On January 9, 2016, Rolling Stone reported that Penn and actress Kate del Castillo had secretly interviewed a fugitive. This was Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, a cartel boss. The interview was criticized by the White House. Mexican authorities also sought to question Penn about the interview.
In October 2020, Penn supported Armenia in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He also criticized Turkey's involvement in the conflict.
Ukraine
In 2022, Penn visited Ukraine to film a documentary about the Russian invasion. He attended press briefings in Kyiv and spoke with officials, journalists, and military personnel. On February 25, 2022, Penn said, "If we allow it [Ukraine] to fight alone, our soul as America is lost."
Penn praised the response from the Ukrainian government and its citizens. As Penn and his team left Ukraine, they walked for miles to the Polish border. Russia has placed sanctions on Penn because of his support for Ukraine.
In November 2022, Penn lent an Oscar statuette to President Zelenskyy. He said it was a symbolic gesture. Zelenskyy, in turn, awarded Penn the Ukrainian Order of Merit.
Falkland Islands
In February 2012, Penn met with the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He commented on the long-running dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands. He hoped that diplomats could find a solution, saying the world should not tolerate "ridiculous demonstrations of colonialism."
These comments were seen as support for Argentina's claim to the islands. They caused reactions in British media. Falklands War veteran Simon Weston criticized Penn's comments. British MP Patrick Mercer called Penn's statement "moronic."
Penn later said his comments were misunderstood by the British press. He clarified that his criticism of "colonialism" was about the deployment of Prince William as an air-sea rescue pilot. He felt this implied a "message of pre-emptive intimidation." Penn wrote in The Guardian that he did not suggest people living in the islands should be deported or absorbed into Argentine rule.
Acting credits and awards
Sean Penn has appeared in over 50 films. He has won many awards as an actor and director. He won two Academy Awards for Best Actor. These were for Mystic River in 2003 and Milk in 2008. He was nominated three more times in the same category for Dead Man Walking (1995), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and I Am Sam (2001). He also received a Directors Guild of America Award nomination for directing Into the Wild (2007). In 2015, Penn received the Honorary César for his lifetime achievements in film.
Published works
- Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff (Atria Books, 2018)
- Bob Honey Sings Jimmy Crack Corn (Rare Bird Books, 2019)
Images for kids
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Penn at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
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Penn in 2008
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Penn portraying Harvey Milk during filming of Milk in March 2008
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Penn with then-wife Robin Wright in September 2006
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Penn in Tehran in June 2005
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Penn at the anti-Iraq War rally in Washington, D.C., in January 2007
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Penn and President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner during Penn's visit to Argentina in February 2012
See also
In Spanish: Sean Penn para niños
