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Sean Penn Biography
Birth Name:
Sean Justin Penn
Birth Place:
Burbank, California, United States
Profession
Actor, producer, director, writer
Fast Facts
- His actor-director father, Leo Penn, was blacklisted during the 1950s McCarthy era
- Made feature-film acting debut as an unruly cadet in Taps (1981)
- Directorial debut was 1991's The Indian Runner
- In 1987, served 32 days of a 60-day sentence for hitting a movie extra trying to photograph him
- Briefly dated Jewel, and later directed her music video for "You Were Meant for Me" in 1997
- Wrote personal accounts of a 2003 trip to Baghdad and a 2005 visit to Tehran for the San Francisco Chronicle
- Helped rescue people in New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005
- Served as president of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival jury
- Following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, cofounded J/P Haitian Relief Organization to provide vital resources to the country
Awards
- 2009Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: nominated
- 2009Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor: winner
- 2009Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
- 2009César Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
- 2009BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actor: nominated
- 2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
- 2008Boston Society of Film Critics-Best Actor: winner
- 2008St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Utah Film Critics-Best Actor: nominated
- 2008New York Film Critics Online-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Houston Film Critics-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Vancouver Film Critics-Best Actor: winner
- 2008National Society of Film Critics-Best Actor: winner
- 2008New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Alliance of Women Film Journalists-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Austin Film Critics-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
- 2008Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actor: nominated
- 2008Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Actor: nominated
- 2008Critics' Choice Awards-Best Director: nominated
- 2008Critics' Choice Awards-Best Writer: nominated
- 2008Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
- 2008San Francisco Film Critics Circle-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Phoenix Film Critics Association-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
- 2008Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor: winner
- 2008London Film Critics Association-Best Actor: nominated
- 2008Southeastern Film Critics Association-Best Actor: winner
- 2008Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
- 2007Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Director: nominated
- 2007Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
- 2007Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
- 2004Independent Spirit Awards-Special Distinction Award: winner
- 2004Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
- 2004Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor: winner
- 2004BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
- 2003National Board of Review-Best Actor: winner
- 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
- 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 2003Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actor - Runner-up: winner
- 2003National Society of Film Critics-Best Actor - Runner-up: winner
- 2003Venice Film Festival-Best Actor: winner
- 2003Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actor: nominated
- 2003Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
- 2002Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor: nominated
- 2001Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 2001Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
- 1999Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 1999Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: nominated
- 1998Venice Film Festival-Best Actor: winner
- 1997Cannes Film Festival-Best Actor: winner
- 1996Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: winner
- 1996Berlin Film Festival-Silver Bear for Best Actor: winner
- 1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
- 1995Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 1995Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
- 1995National Society of Film Critics-Best Actor - Runner-up: winner
- 1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
Relationships
- Dylan Francis Penn -- Daughter
- Hopper Jack Penn -- Son