| James Franco |
Franco at the Spider-Man 3 premiere, April 2007 |
| Born |
James Edward Franco
April 19, 1978 (1978-04-19) (age 31)
Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Occupation |
Actor, director, screenwriter, producer, artist |
| Years active |
1999–present |
James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, and artist. He began acting during the late 1990s, appearing on the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks and starring in several teen films. In 2001 he played the title role in Mark Rydell's television biographical film James Dean, which earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
Franco achieved international fame as a result of his portrayal of Harry Osborn in the Spider-Man trilogy. Since then, his films have included the war film The Great Raid (2005), the 2006 romantic drama Tristan & Isolde, and Justin Lin's drama Annapolis (2006). In 2008, Franco starred in the comedy stoner film Pineapple Express and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. He played a prominent role in the 2008 biographical film Milk.
Early life
Franco was born April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California, the son of Betsy (née Verne), a poet, author and editor, and Doug Franco.1 His maternal grandmother, Mitzi Levine Verne, runs the Verne Art Gallery, a prominent art gallery in Cleveland, Ohio.2 Franco's father is of Portuguese and Swedish descent3 and Franco's mother is Jewish, a descendant of immigrants from Russia.4 Franco grew up in California with his two younger brothers, Tom and Dave,5 and graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1996, where he was elected by his senior class as the student with the "best smile".1 He then enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an English major.6 He dropped out after his freshman year and chose to pursue a professional career as an actor, taking acting lessons with Robert Carnegie at Playhouse West.1
Career
Early work
After fifteen months of training, he began auditioning in Los Angeles, California, and got his first break in 1999, after he was cast in a leading role on the short-lived but well-reviewed television series Freaks and Geeks.7 Franco has since described the series as "one of the most fun" work experiences that he has had.8 In another interview, Franco said: "When we were doing Freaks and Geeks, I didn’t quite understand how movies and TV worked, and I would improvise even if the camera wasn’t on me ... So I was improvising a little bit back then, but not in a productive way."9
His first major film was the romantic comedy Whatever It Takes (2000), where he co-starred with his then-girlfriend, Marla Sokoloff.1011 He was subsequently cast as the title role in director Mark Rydell's 2001 TV biopic James Dean.1213 Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Franco could have walked through the role and done a passable Dean, but instead gets under the skin of this insecure, rootless young man."14 He was distinguished with a Golden Globe Award,15 as well as being nominated for an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.1617
Spider-Man and after
In the 2002 superhero film Spider-Man, the most successful film of his career to date, Franco played Harry Osborn, the son of the villainous Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and best friend of the title character (Tobey Maguire).18 Originally, Franco was considered for the lead role of Spider-Man/Peter Parker in the film,19 though the lead went to Tobey Maguire. Todd McCarthy of Variety noted that there are "good moments" between Maguire and Franco in the film.20 Spider-Man was a commercial and critical success.21 The movie grossed $114 million during its opening weekend in North America and went on to earn $822 million worldwide.22 In this same year, Franco was cast in the drama City by the Sea (2002).123 The following year he co-starred alongside Neve Campbell in Robert Altman's The Company (2003).24
The success of the first Spider-Man film led Franco to reprise the role in the 2004 sequel, Spider-Man 2.25 The movie was well received by critics,26 and it proved to be a big financial success, setting a new opening weekend box office record for North America.27 With revenue of $783 million worldwide, it became the second highest grossing film in 2004.22 The following year he appeared in the 2005 war film The Great Raid, in which he portrayed Robert Prince, a captain in the United States Army's elite Sixth Ranger Battalion, to plan the rescue of prisoners of war from the Cabanatuan prison camp in the Phillipines during World War II.2829
In 2006, Franco co-starred with Tyrese Gibson in Annapolis30 and played legendary hero Tristan in Tristan & Isolde, a dramatization of the Tristan and Iseult story also starring English actress Sophia Myles.31 He then trained with the stunt team "The Blue Angels" and received a pilot's license in preparation for his role in Flyboys,32 which was released in September 2006; the same month, Franco appeared briefly in The Wicker Man, a horror film starring Nicolas Cage, who directed him in Sonny.33 Also in 2006, he made a cameo appearance in the romantic comedy The Holiday.1334
In 2007 he again played Harry Osborn in Spider-Man 3.35 In contrast to the previous two films' positive reviews,2126 Spider-Man 3 was met with a mixed reception by critics.36 Nonetheless, with a total worldwide gross of $891 million, it stands as the most successful film in the series, and Franco's highest grossing film to the end of 2008.22 In this same year, Franco made a cameo appearance in the comedy Knocked Up.37
He starred in the film Pineapple Express (2008), a comedy co-starring and co-written by Seth Rogen and produced by Judd Apatow, both of whom worked with Franco on Freaks and Geeks.838 In the New York Times review of the film, critic Manohla Dargis wrote: "He’s delightful as Saul, loosey-goosey and goofy yet irrepressibly sexy, despite that greasy curtain of hair and a crash pad with a zero WAF (Woman Acceptance Factor). It’s an unshowy, generous performance and it greatly humanizes a movie that, as it shifts genre gears and cranks up the noise, becomes disappointingly sober and self-serious."39 Franco's performance in the film earned him a Golden Globe nomination in the category for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy15 and also a MTV Movie Award nomination in the category for Best Comedic Performance. In 2008 he also appeared in two films by American artist Carter exhibited at the Yvon Lambert gallery in Paris.40 On September 20, 2008, James hosted Saturday Night Live.41
Franco starred opposite Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, and Emile Hirsch in Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk bio-pic Milk (2008).42 In the film, he played Scott Smith, a lover of Harvey Milk (Penn). Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, in review of the film, wrote: "Franco is a nice match for him [Penn] as the lover who finally has enough of political life."43 For his performance in the film, Franco won the 2008 Independent Spirit Award in the category for Best Supporting Actor.44
In October 2009, it was confirmed that Franco will be joining the cast of the daytime soap opera, General Hospital. He will play Franco45 who comes to Port Charles with some unfinished business with mob enforcer Jason Morgan (Steve Burton).46
Franco will also make an appearance on the situation comedy show 30 Rock. He will play himself and will carry on a fake romance with Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), a scheme concocted by their respective agents.47
Personal life
In 2008, Franco received his undergraduate degree in English from UCLA.48 For his degree, Franco prepared his departmental honors thesis under the supervision of novelist Mona Simpson.49 Subsequently, Franco moved to New York to attend graduate school at Columbia University's MFA Writing Program and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he studied filmmaking.50515253
Art—painting in particular—is a talent Franco developed during his high school years while attending the rigorous California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA).1 Franco has said that painting was the "outlet" he needed in high school, and that he "has actually been painting longer than he has been acting."54 His paintings were displayed publicly for the first time at the Glü Gallery in Los Angeles, California from January 7, 2006 through February 11, 2006.155 Franco can also be seen painting in a scene in Spider-Man 3.56
Since April 2006, Franco has been in a relationship with actress Ahna O'Reilly.5758 In 2008, Franco was named as the new face of Gucci's men fragrance line.5059
He was selected as the commencement speaker, the youngest, at his alma mater UCLA, on Friday, June 12, 2009. On June 3, 2009, a press release announced Franco's cancellation as UCLA's commencement speaker due to a scheduling conflict, making it the second year in a row that the commencement speaker had canceled the appearance. Bill Clinton canceled the year before.60 On July 8, 2009, Franco released a satirical video on prominent comedy website Funny or Die mocking his last-minute cancellation.61
Filmography
References
- ^ a b c d e f "James Franco Biography". Yahoo!. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800352352/bio. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "Case Western Reserve University". Admission Case. http://admission.case.edu/admissions/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=249&strBack=/admissions/news/news_archive.asp. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "LatinoReview.com". Franco Talks Annapolis!. http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=217. Retrieved May 9, 2006.
- ^ Rhone, Paysha (2009-02-14). "Spidey foe meets his match in Harvard's Hasty Pudding crew". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2009/02/14/spidey_foe_meets_his_match_in_harvard_hasty_pudding_crew/. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
- ^ Van Sant, Gus. "James Franco". Interview: p. 1. http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/james-franco/. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ Posner, Michael (August 5, 2008). "Top of the food chain". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080805.wpineapple05/BNStory/Entertainment/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080805.wpineapple05. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "Shout! Factory — Freaks And Geeks". Shout Factory. http://www.shoutfactory.com/browse/31/freaks_and_geeks.aspx. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ a b "United Press International". Franco to reunite with Freaks pals. United Press International. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060923-111422-3997r. Retrieved September 23, 2006.
- ^ Van Sant, Gus. "James Franco". Interview: p. 4. http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/james-franco/4/. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (March 31, 2000). "What It Takes Review". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,64610,00.html. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Scott, A.O. (March 24, 2000). "Whatever It Takes Review". New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C06E5DA143DF937A15750C0A9669C8B63. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Carter, Kelly (July 27, 2001). "James Franco: The next James Dean". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2001-07-27-james-franco.htm. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ a b Lee, Chris (August 6, 2008). "James Franco plays against type in 'Pineapple Express'". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/06/entertainment/et-franco7. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (August 3, 2001). "James Dean TV Review". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,255462,00.html. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
- ^ a b "HFPA — Awards Search". Golden Globes. http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29141. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "8th Annual SAG Awards Nominee — Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. http://www.sagawards.org/8_award_nom. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "2002 Emmys". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/emmys/print.ballot.html. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Travers, Peter (May 23, 2002). "Spider-Man Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947695/review/5947696/spiderman. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
- ^ "Mike Clark review". USA Today. May 3, 2002. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2002/2002-05-03-spider-man.htm#more. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (April 19, 2002). "Spider-Man Review". Variety. http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=review&reviewid=VE1117917507&categoryid=31&cs=1. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ a b "Spider-Man (2002): Reviews". Metacritic. May 3, 2002. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/spiderman. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ a b c "James Franco Movie Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=jamesfranco.htm. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ Winfield, Monica (January 10, 2003). "BBC Films — City by the Sea Review". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/films/2003/01/10/city_by_the_sea_2002_review_monica_winfield.shtml. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Mitchell, Elvis (December 25, 2003). "The Company Review". New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B06E4D61531F936A15751C1A9659C8B63. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Turan, Kenneth (June 29, 2004). "Turan reviews Spider-Man 2". Los Angeles Times. http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-turan29jun29,2,5508627.story?coll=cl-mreview. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
- ^ a b "Spider-Man 2 (2004): Reviews". Metacritic. June 30, 2004. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/spiderman2/. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
- ^ "Spider-Man 2 (2004)". Box Office Mojo. June 30, 2004. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=spiderman2.htm. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (August 12, 2005). "The Great Raid Review". Chicago Sun-Times. Roger Ebert.com. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050811/REVIEWS/50803001/1023. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ Otto, Jeff (August 11, 2005). "IGN: The Great Raid Review". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/641/641289p1.html. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (January 27, 2006). "Annapolis Review". Chicago Sun-Times. Roger Ebert.com. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060126/REVIEWS/60125001. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Leydon, Joe (January 12, 2006). "Tristan and Isolde Review". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117929236.html?categoryid=31&cs=1. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ "ContactMusic". Franco takes off with Stunt Squad. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/franco%20takes%20off%20with%20stunt%20squad_1009048. Retrieved September 23, 2006.
- ^ The Wicker Man. [DVD]. Warner Bros.. 2006.
- ^ "Lohan's Rehab Blamed on Her Obsession With Little-Known Spider-Man Actor". Us Magazine. January 19, 2007. http://www.usmagazine.com/linsday_lohan_and_james_franco. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Travers, Peter (May 3, 2007). "Spider-Man 3 Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/9387668/review/14362908/spiderman_3. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
- ^ "Spider-Man 3 (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. May 4, 2007. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/spiderman3. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
- ^ "James Franco". The Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/entertainment/james-franco-PECLB001786.topic. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- ^ Travers, Peter (August 7, 2008). "Pineapple Express Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/15138038/review/21896158/pineapple_express. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (August 6, 2008). "'Pineapple Express' - Stoners Who Put the Bud in Buddies". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/movies/06pine.html. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
- ^ Freydkin, Donna (April 7, 2009). "Franco takes 'Erased James Franco' to art". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-04-07-james-franco_N.htm. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- ^ Boedeker, Hal (September 21, 2008). ""Saturday Night Live" with James Franco improves in week two, but still far from its peak". The Orlando Sentinel. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/09/saturday-nigh-1.html. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
- ^ Freydkin, Donna (August 3, 2008). "'Pineaple' star Franco digs deep, plays stoner and serious". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-08-03-james-franco_N.htm. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Turan, Kenneth (November 26, 2008). "Review: 'Milk'". Los Angeles Times. http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/la-et-milk26-2008nov26,0,1941714.story. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ^ Smith, Neil (February 22, 2009). "Rourke steals Spirit award show". BBC News (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7904366.stm. Retrieved February 23, 2009. "Other acting awards went to Melissa Leo and Penelope Cruz, both of whom are also up for Oscars, and to James Franco for his supporting role in Milk."
- ^ a b "James Franco to General Hospital". Soaps.com. November 5, 2009. http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/news/5579/. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ Bryant, Adam (October 1, 2009). "James Franco to Appear on General Hospital". TV Guide. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Franco-General-Hospital-1010386.aspx. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
- ^ Stanhope, Kate (November 3, 2009). "James Franco to Guest-Star on 30 Rock". TV Guide. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Franco-30-Rock-1011547.aspx. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ Black, Rosemary (August 27, 2008). "Brad Pitt explores other options". Daily News (New York): p. 2. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/27/2008-08-27_brad_pitt_explores_other_options.html?page=1. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
- ^ Schmelzer, Randi. The Smart Set. 20. UCLA Magazine. pp. 57.
- ^ a b Kamp, David (December 2008). "Franco cum Laude". Vanity Fair. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/12/franco200812. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ Evans, Sean; Shallon Lester (August 6, 2008). "Side Dish: Write on, James Franco". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/06/2008-08-06_side_dish_write_on_james_franco.html. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
- ^ Froelich, Paula; Bill Hoffmann (September 10, 2008). "No Ogling!". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/seven/09102008/gossip/pagesix/no_ogling__128375.htm. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
- ^ "Academia: James Franco To Sexify Morningside Heights". Gawker.com. http://gawker.com/374070/james-franco-to-sexify-morningside-heights. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
- ^ "Lindzi.com Your Connection to the Stars". James Franco. http://www.lindzi.com/interviews/james.htm. Retrieved February 1, 2007.
- ^ Oldenburg, Ann (August 14, 2002). "Celebrities pour passion into artwork". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-08-14-celebs-painting_x.htm. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
- ^ Spider-Man 3. [DVD]. Sony Pictures. 2007.
- ^ Dinh, Mai; Janet Murphy. "James Franco Biography". People. http://www.people.com/people/james_franco/biography. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- ^ Freydkin, Donna (August 3, 2008). "'Pineapple' star Franco digs deep, plays stoner and serious". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-08-03-james-franco_N.htm. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- ^ Pearlman, Cindy (November 30, 2008). "James Franco a big man in 'Milk' -- and on campus". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/pearlman/1304423,SHO-Sunday-franco30.article. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ Schaefer, Samantha (June 3, 2009). "Franco cancels as commencement keynote". Daily Bruin. http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/stories/2009/jun/3/franco-cancels-commencement-keynote/. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
- ^ "James-Franco's-Rejected-UCLA-Commencement-Speech". Funny or Die. July 8, 2009. http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ab25302c8e/james-franco-s-rejected-ucla-commencement-speech/. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (November 6, 2009). "Exclusive first look of James Franco on 'General Hospital'". Entertainment Weekly. http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/11/06/exclusive-first-look-of-james-franco-on-general-hospital/. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ McNary, Dave (March 24, 2009). "Jon Hamm joins the cast of 'Howl'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001591.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
- ^ Kit, Borys (May 30, 2009). "Natalie Portman signs on for comedy "Your Highness"". The Hollywood Reporter (Reuters). http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSTRE54T0L320090530. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
External links
| Persondata |
| NAME |
Franco, James |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
|
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
Film actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
April 19, 1978 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
Palo Alto, California |
| DATE OF DEATH |
|
| PLACE OF DEATH |
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