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Sean Penn Biography

Birth Name:Sean Justin Penn

Birth Place:Santa Monica, California, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Camera department

Fast Facts

Received the John Steinbeck Award in 2004 for capturing empathy, democratic values and belief of the dignity of the common man in his artistic work
Was the first non-Haitian citizen to be designated as Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti because of his disaster-relief efforts in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake
Grew up in a family already heavily involved in acting and directing, sharing the screen with late brother Chris and mother Eileen Ryan in 1986's "At Close Range․"
Quote: "I don't consider myself specifically political, you know? I think of working as an actor as being a human thing․ The concerns I have that fall into politics are human concerns․"
Quote: "I like to believe that love is a reciprocal thing, that it can't really be felt, truly, by one․ That on a romantic level, if you feel it about somebody and it's pure, it means that they do too․ And if you keep believing that, they come around․"
Quote: "If you can't count on your heart having some kind of unified response, you can't count on anything․ You use your heart as a barometer for your movie's completeness․"
In addition to his political activism and award-winning acting, he is also famous for previous, high-profile marriages to pop artist Madonna and actress Robin Wright
His acting style is intensely emotional, and he often plays characters with conflicting natures, such reprehensible men with a hidden sense of morality or characters who have a penchant for violence, but who the audience can still sympathize with
Prior to his 40th birthday, he was known to smoke upwards of four packs of cigarettes a day
As a youth, he began making short films with several peers who would become just as famous as Penn, particularly actors/siblings Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez

Awards

1983New Generation Award-: winner
1986NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1987Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1991SACD Prize-Directors' Fortnight: nominated
1991Golden Leopard-: nominated
1994CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1995ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1995Golden Lion-: nominated
1996Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1996Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actor: winner
1996CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1996Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: winner
1996Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: winner
1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1996NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1996Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): nominated
1997Best Actor-: winner
1998Volpi Cup-Best Actor: winner
1999Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
1999Special Achievement Award-Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble: winner
2000Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2001Palme d'Or-: nominated
2001Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2002Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
2002Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Modern Master Award-: winner
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2002UNESCO Award-: winner
2003ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2003ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2003ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2003ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2003BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2003César-Best European Union Film (Meilleur film de l'Union Européenne): nominated
2003Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2003KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2003LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
2003NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003UFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003Volpi Cup-Best Actor: winner
2003WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004COFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2004CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
2004DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2004Special Distinction Award-: winner
2004FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2004Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2004Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2004Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
2004ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2004Audience Award-Best International Actor: nominated
2004IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): winner
2004IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): nominated
2004Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2004ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2004NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2004OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: winner
2004Audience Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
2004VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2006Stinker Award-Most Annoying Fake Accent: Male: nominated
2007EDA Award-Best Picture: nominated
2007EDA Award-Best Director: nominated
2007Capri Movie of the Year Award-: winner
2007CFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2007DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2007DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2007Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: winner
2007Premiere Prize-: winner
2007SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2007SLFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2007Audience Award-Best Foreign Feature Film: winner
2008EDA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008AFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2008ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2008BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2008CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008Critics Choice Award-Best Writer: nominated
2008Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2008DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
2008DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
2008Audience Award-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): winner
2008FCCA Award-Best Foreign Film - English Language: nominated
2008Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
2008Gold Derby Film Award-Director: nominated
2008Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2008HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2008HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2008ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2008Silver Ribbon-Best Non-European Director (Regista del Miglior Film Non-Europeo): nominated
2008IOMA-Best Picture (Miglior film): winner
2008IOMA-Best Adapted Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura non originale): nominated
2008IOMA-Best Director (Miglior regia): nominated
2008LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2008NYFCO Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Director of the Year Award-: winner
2008PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role: winner
2008SFFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2008SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008SLFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2008TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: nominated
2008USC Scripter Award-: nominated
2008UFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008VVFP Award-Best Actor: winner
2008WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2009Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2009BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
2009COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
2009César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
2009DFCC-Best Actor: winner
2009Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2009Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: winner
2009Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2009ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009INOCA-Best Actor: winner
2009IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): nominated
2009Jupiter Award-Best International Director: winner
2009Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Film Director: winner
2009Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
2009ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2009MTV Movie Award-Best Kiss: nominated
2009NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2009OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2009OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009Top Film-Top 10 Key Films of the Noughties: winner
2009VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2010Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2010Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
2010IOFCP Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2010IOFCP Award-Best Actor of the Decade: nominated
2010Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2013Yoga Award-Worst Hairstyle: winner
2014Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2016Palme d'Or-: nominated
2018Yoga Award-Worst Foreign Director: winner
2021Palme d'Or-: nominated
2022HCA Award-Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Limited Series, Anthology Series, or TV Movie: nominated
2023Berlinale Documentary Award-: nominated
2023Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2024Emmy-Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary: nominated
2025AFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2025GAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025GWNYFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025IFJA Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2025ICP Award-Best Performance: nominated
2025KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2025Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025MMCG Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025NYFCO Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025OAFFC Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2025PCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2025PCA Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2025SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025SFBAFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025SFCS Award-Villain of the Year: nominated
2025SFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2025SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2025TFCA Award-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
2025FCA Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: winner
2025WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2025WFCC Award-Best Screen Couple: nominated
2026AACTA International Award-Best Supporting Actor in Film: nominated
2026Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Movies for Grownups Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2026Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2026EDA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Astra Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical: nominated
2026BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Windie-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actor - International Competition: nominated
2026COFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2026Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Dorian Award-Supporting Film Performance of the Year: nominated
2026Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture: nominated
2026HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026ICFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026IFTA Award-Best International Actor: nominated
2026ALFS Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
2026MNFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026MCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2026NDFS Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2026NDFS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026OFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2026UFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance, Male: nominated