James Franco

American actor

Also known as: James Edward Franco

Written by Richard Pallardy

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 19, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

In full:: James Edward Franco

Born:: April 19, 1978, Palo Alto, California, U.S. (age 46)

Awards And Honors:: Golden Globe Award (2018); Golden Globe Award (2002); Golden Globe Award (2018): Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy; Golden Globe Award (2002): Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Notable Works:: “In Dubious Battle”; “The Ape”; “The Disaster Artist”

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Arctic Dogs" (2019); "The Deuce" (2017–2019); "Zeroville" (2019); "Pretenders" (2018); "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" (2018); "Kin" (2018); "Future World" (2018); "Mississippi Requiem" (2018); "Saturday Night Live: Cut For Time" (2014–2017); "The Mad Whale" (2017); "The Disaster Artist" (2017); "The Vault" (2017); "Blood Heist" (2017); "Don't Come Back from the Moon" (2017); "The Show" (2017); "Actors Anonymous" (2017); "The Institute" (2017); "The Labyrinth" (2017); "Why Him?" (2016); "In Dubious Battle" (2016); "Angie Tribeca" (2016); "Burn Country" (2016); "King Cobra" (2016); "11.22.63" (2016); "Sausage Party" (2016); "Goat" (2016); "The Night Before" (2015); "Memoria" (2015); "Black Dog, Red Dog" (2015); "The Little Prince" (2015); "Deadbeat" (2015); "The Adderall Diaries" (2015); "The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards" (2015); "Wild Horses" (2015); "Every Thing Will Be Fine" (2015); "Queen of the Desert" (2015); "I Am Michael" (2015); "Yosemite" (2015); "True Story" (2015); "Don Quixote" (2015); "I Think You're Totally Wrong: A Quarrel" (2014); "The Interview" (2014); "National Theater Live: Of Mice and Men" (2014); "The Sound and the Fury" (2014); "Good People" (2014); "National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men" (2014); "Homefront" (2013); "Playtime" (2013); "The Mindy Project" (2013); "Third Person" (2013); "Child of God" (2013); "Palo Alto" (2013); "This Is the End" (2013); "As I Lay Dying" (2013); "Oz the Great and Powerful" (2013); "Lovelace" (2013); "Interior. Leather Bar." (2013); "The Color of Time" (2012); "Hollywood Heights" (2012); "The Letter" (2012); "Spring Breakers" (2012); "The Iceman" (2012); "Maladies" (2012); "FCU: Fact Checkers Unit" (2012); "About Cherry" (2012); "General Hospital" (2009–2012); "Sal" (2011); "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011); "The Broken Tower" (2011); "Your Highness" (2011); "127 Hours" (2010); "Eat Pray Love" (2010); "William Vincent" (2010); "Date Night" (2010); "Howl" (2010); "30 Rock" (2010); "Milk" (2008); "Pineapple Express" (2008); "Camille" (2008); "In the Valley of Elah" (2007); "Good Time Max" (2007); "Spider-Man 3" (2007); "Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee" (2007); "Interview" (2007); "An American Crime" (2007); "The Dead Girl" (2006); "Flyboys" (2006); "The Wicker Man" (2006); "Annapolis" (2006); "Tristan & Isolde" (2006); "Fool's Gold" (2005); "The Great Raid" (2005); "The Ape" (2005); "Spider-Man 2" (2004); "The Company" (2003); "City by the Sea" (2002); "Sonny" (2002); "Mother Ghost" (2002); "You Always Stalk the Ones You Love" (2002); "Blind Spot" (2002); "Deuces Wild" (2002); "Spider-Man" (2002); "The X Files" (2001); "If Tomorrow Comes" (2000); "Freaks and Geeks" (1999–2000); "Whatever It Takes" (2000); "To Serve and Protect" (1999); "Profiler" (1999); "Never Been Kissed" (1999); "Pacific Blue" (1997)

James Franco (born April 19, 1978, Palo Alto, California, U.S.) is an American actor, director, and writer whose rakish charm and chiseled good looks augmented an ability to bring sincerity and gravitas to characters ranging from addled drug dealers to comic book villains. The eldest of three children, Franco was raised in Palo Alto, California, by his mother, a children’s book author, and his father, a businessman. A strong student, Franco nonetheless dropped out of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), after his first year in order to pursue acting. While taking classes at Playhouse West in Los Angeles, ...(100 of 1050 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.