James Franco(I)
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
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Known for his breakthrough starring role onFreaks and Geeks (1999),James Franco was born April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California, toBetsy Franco,a writer, artist, and actress, and Douglas Eugene "Doug" Franco, who ran a Silicon Valley business. His mother is Jewish and his father was of Portuguese and Swedish descent.
Growing up with his two younger brothers,Dave Franco,also an actor, andTom Franco,James graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1996 and went on to attend UCLA, majoring in English. To overcome his shyness, he got into acting while studying there, which, much to his parents' dismay, he left after only one year. After fifteen months of intensive study at Robert Carnegie's Playhouse West, James began actively pursuing his dream of finding work as an actor in Hollywood. In that short time, he landed himself a starring role onFreaks and Geeks (1999).The show, however, was not a hit to its viewers at the time, and was canceled after its first year. Now, it has become a cult-hit. Prior to joiningFreaks and Geeks (1999),Franco starred in the TV miniseriesTo Serve and Protect (1999).After that, he had a starring role inWhatever It Takes (2000).
Although he'd been working steadily, it wasn't until the TNT made-for-television movie,James Dean (2001)that James rose to fan-magazine fame and got to show off his talent. Since then, he has been working non-stop. After losing the lead role toTobey Maguire,James settled for the part of "Harry Osborne", Spider-Man's best friend in the summer 2002 major hitSpider-Man (2002).He returned to the Osborne role for the next two films in the trilogy.
Next wasDeuces Wild (2002)andCity by the Sea (2002),in whichRobert De Niropersonally had him cast, after viewing his performance inJames Dean (2001).He was seen inDavid Gordon Green'sPineapple Express (2008)oppositeSeth Rogen,inGeorge C. Wolfe'sNights in Rodanthe (2008),starringRichard GereandDiane Laneand inPaul Haggis'In the Valley of Elah (2007),starringTommy Lee Jones.Also starring oppositeSean PenninGus Van Sant'sMilk (2008)in which his performance earned him an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor. Definitely growing out of his shyness, James Franco is turning into a legend of his own.
Growing up with his two younger brothers,Dave Franco,also an actor, andTom Franco,James graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1996 and went on to attend UCLA, majoring in English. To overcome his shyness, he got into acting while studying there, which, much to his parents' dismay, he left after only one year. After fifteen months of intensive study at Robert Carnegie's Playhouse West, James began actively pursuing his dream of finding work as an actor in Hollywood. In that short time, he landed himself a starring role onFreaks and Geeks (1999).The show, however, was not a hit to its viewers at the time, and was canceled after its first year. Now, it has become a cult-hit. Prior to joiningFreaks and Geeks (1999),Franco starred in the TV miniseriesTo Serve and Protect (1999).After that, he had a starring role inWhatever It Takes (2000).
Although he'd been working steadily, it wasn't until the TNT made-for-television movie,James Dean (2001)that James rose to fan-magazine fame and got to show off his talent. Since then, he has been working non-stop. After losing the lead role toTobey Maguire,James settled for the part of "Harry Osborne", Spider-Man's best friend in the summer 2002 major hitSpider-Man (2002).He returned to the Osborne role for the next two films in the trilogy.
Next wasDeuces Wild (2002)andCity by the Sea (2002),in whichRobert De Niropersonally had him cast, after viewing his performance inJames Dean (2001).He was seen inDavid Gordon Green'sPineapple Express (2008)oppositeSeth Rogen,inGeorge C. Wolfe'sNights in Rodanthe (2008),starringRichard GereandDiane Laneand inPaul Haggis'In the Valley of Elah (2007),starringTommy Lee Jones.Also starring oppositeSean PenninGus Van Sant'sMilk (2008)in which his performance earned him an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor. Definitely growing out of his shyness, James Franco is turning into a legend of his own.
