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James Franco Biography

Birth Name:
James Edward Franco
Birth Place:
Palo Alto, California, United States
Profession
Actor, director, writer

Fast Facts

  • Voted as the student with the "best smile" in high school
  • Started taking acting classes at UCLA to help overcome his shyness
  • Once worked at McDonald's, where he faked various accents while conversing with female customers
  • Learned to ride a motorcycle and play congas for his Golden Globe-winning performance in a made-for-TV biography of James Dean
  • Considered for the title role in Spider-Man, but instead won the part of Peter Parker's pal, Harry Osborn
  • Wrote and directed four independent films and one short subject in the mid-to-late 2000s
  • Returned to college as an adult, graduating from the University of California at age 30 in 2008
  • Appeared as himself on TV's 30 Rock in 2010, plunging into a faux romance with the character Jenna Maroney
  • Is an artist whose work has been featured in gallery exhibits

Awards

  • 2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2018Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: nominated
  • 2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2017Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2017San Sebastián International Film Festival-Golden Shell for Best Film: winner
  • 2013Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2013L.A. Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2011Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Program: nominated
  • 2011Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2011Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: winner
  • 2011BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actor: nominated
  • 2010Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2010Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2009Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
  • 2009Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2009Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Male: winner
  • 2008Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2008Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2002Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor in a Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2002Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2001Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated

Relationships