James Franco

At 46 years old, James Franco has this physical status:

Acting career

Franco began auditioning in Los Angeles after 15 months of preparation. Elvis Presley's first paid role was in a television commercial for Pizza Hut, which featured a dancing Elvis Presley. He found guest appearances on television shows, but his first break came in 1999, after being cast in a lead role in the short-lived but well-reviewed NBC television series Freaks and Geeks, which lasted for 18 episodes but was cancelled due to poor viewership. The show became a cult hit among audiences later in the decade. He has since referred to the series as "one of the most enjoyable" work experiences he has had. "I didn't exactly know how movies and television worked when we were doing Freaks and Geeks, and I'd improvise even if the camera wasn't on me," Franco said in another interview. So I was improvising a little bit back then, but not in a more effective manner." In Whatever It Takes (2000), a modern-day recreation of the 1897 film Cyrano de Bergerac, he played a prominent jock Chris on his debut in Never Been Kissed.

He was later cast as the title character in director Mark Rydell's 2001 TV biographical film James Dean. Franco went from being a non-smoker to two packs of cigarettes a day, bleached his dark brown hair blond, and learned to ride a motorcycle as well as play guitar and bongos to immerse himself in the role. Franco spent hours with two of Dean's associates in order to have a deeper understanding of him. Other research included reading books on Dean and looking at his films. When filming James Dean, Franco, try to get into character, as well as his then-girlfriend. "It was a very lonely life," the author recalls. "I wasn't on a set, I was watching James Dean." That was my whole plan. James Dean. "James Dean" is the head of the United States. Despite being a fan of Dean, Franco feared he'd be typecast if he had portrayed the actor too convincingly. "Franco may have walked through the role and produced a passable Dean, but instead, this fragile, rootless young man" comes under his skin. He received a Golden Globe Award and nominations for an Emmy Award and a Screen Actor Guild Award (SAG).

When Franco played Harry Osborn, the son of the villainous Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Spider-Man's best friend (Tobey Maguire), he gained worldwide fame and admiration. Franco was initially intended to play Spider-Man/Peter Parker in the film. Maguire and Franco have "good times" in the film, according to Variety's Todd McCarthy. Spider-Man was a commercial and critical success. During its first weekend in North America, the film grossed $114 million and went on to earn $822 million worldwide.

He appeared in Sonny, a 2002 film in which fellow actor Nicolas Cage's involvement had attracted Franco to the film. Sonny, a 1980s New Orleans narrates the titular character (Franco) returning home after being barred from the Army. He met with sex workers or people who had never been prostitutes in order to prepare for his position. Critics blasted the film, with Lou Lumenick of the New York Post calling it a "instant nominee for the year's worst movie ever." After co-star Robert De Niro saw a snippet of his work in James Dean, Franco was cast as a homeless drug addict in the drama City by the Sea (2002). He lived on the streets for many days to better understand the subject, as well as interacting with former or continuing opioid users. In Robert Altman's ballet film The Company (2004), he co-starred with Neve Campbell. Franco was able to reprise his role in the 2004 sequel, Spider-Man 2. Critics loved the film, and it was a huge financial success, smashing a new opening weekend box office record for North America. With a worldwide sales of $783 million, it was the second highest-grossing film in 2004. In the ensuing year, he produced and appeared in The Ape and the 2005 war film The Great Raid, in which he played Robert Prince, a captain in the United States Army's elite Sixth Ranger Battalion. Franco co-starred with Tyrese Gibson in Annapolis in 2006 and appeared in Tristan & Isolde, a period piece dramatization of the Tristan and Iseult story starring British actress Sophia Myles. For the former, he did eight months of boxing instruction, and for the latter, he rode horses back riding and sword fighting. He then started preparing for his Private Pilot Licence role in Flyboys, which was released in September 2006; the same month, Franco appeared briefly in The Wicker Man, the seminal horror film. He made a cameo appearance in The Holidays in 2006.

In Spider-Man 3 (2005), he played Harry Osborn once more. Spider-Man 3 received a mixed reception by critics in comparison to the previous two films' positive reviews. Nonetheless, with a worldwide gross of $891 million, it is still the most profitable film in the series and Franco's highest-grossing film to date. Franco made a cameo appearance as himself in the Apatow-directed comedy Knocked Up, which starred Freaks and Geeks alumni Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Martin Starr last year. Both 2007 films that were largely ignored by audiences and critics alike, Franco co-starred with Sienna Miller in Camille, a low-budget independent film about a young newlywed couple and Interview, where he appears in a voice only role. Good Time Max, Franco's other 2007 projects, was one of his many ventures. The film premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and tells the tale of two talented brothers who take very different paths in life, one of whom plans to become a doctor, and the other sibling (Franco) suffers unemployment and uses opioids. "It was really just a process of elimination," the actor chose to portray himself in the role. I was more suitable for this position than the sole surgeon."

He co-starred and co-written Pineapple Express (2008), a stoner comedy co-starring and co-written by Seth Rogen and produced by Judd Apatow. You tell him, 'You're going to play a pot dealer,' and he comes back with a three-dimensional version that you absolutely agree exists." Even when it's comedic, he takes it seriously." "He's delightful as Saul, loosey-goosey and sexy yet irrepressibly sexy," critic Manohla Dargis wrote in her New York Times review, despite the greasy curtain of hair and a zero WAF crash pad. It's an unshowy, generous performance, which helps to humanize a film that, as it shifts genre gears and cranks up the volume, becomes disappointingly sober and self-serious." His role earned him his second Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. In some interviews, he has said that he no longer uses cannabis (although he has occasionally alluded to it, most notably during an extended segment on The Colbert Report). For his work in Pineapple Express, he was named High Times magazine's Stoner of the Year Award. In 2008, he appeared in two films by American artist Carter, which were also on display at the Yvon Lambert gallery in Paris. On September 20, 2008, he hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL), for the second time on December 19, 2009.

In Gus Van Sant's Milk (2008), Franco starred Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, and Emile Hirsch. In the film, he portrays Scott Smith, Harvey Milk's boyfriend (Penn). "Franco is a good match for him [Penn] as the lover who finally has enough political life," Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote about the film. Franco received the Independent Spirit Award in the category for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film. He joined the cast of the daytime soap opera Gratitude in late 2009. Franco, a multimedia artist who looks remarkably like himself, goes to Port Charles to see an art show and becomes obsessed with Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). Franco has referred to his GM position as an art of performance.

Franco began 2010 by appearing on the sitcom 30 Rock where he portrayed himself and carried on a fake love affair with Jenna Krakowski (Jann Krakowski) in a plot devised by their respective agents. Franco played poet Allen Ginsberg in the drama Howl after appearing in Date Night, an action comedy, and Eat Pray Love, an action film adaptation. The latter, about his most well-known poem and the investigation into his conduct, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and received modest praise.

Aron Ralston, a real-life mountain climber, was depicted in his forthcoming film 127 Hours, directed by Danny Boyle. Starting on November 5, 2010, the product was limited to a select number. The 127 Hours revolved around Ralston, who was stranded under a rock in a ravine while canyoneering alone in Utah and resorting to desperate measures in order to recover, eventually amputating his arm. Franco would only leave the lavatory and read academic textbooks to keep busy during the five-week, 12-hours-per-day shooting. A once-in-a-lifetime experience was called by Franco after his time in 127 Hours. 127 Hours is one of his most well-reviewed films and also a commercial success, grossing $60.7 million against an $18 million budget. Critics also lauded his achievements. He was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG award, as well as winning an Independent Spirit Award.

Franco appeared on NBC's Minute to Win It on February 23, 2011, where the real-life Ralston was competing for charity. He appeared in the Medieval fantasy film Your Highness despite having an uncredited cameo in the opening scene of The Green Hornet (2011). He plays Fabious, a prince who works with his brother (McBride) to save Fabious's soon-to-bee bride (played by Zooey Deschanel). He was cast in Rupert Wyatt's $93 million budgeted Rise of the Apes, a spin on the Planet of the Apes that was announced on August 5. In The Letter, originally titled The Stare and directed by Jay Anania, Franco starred alongside Winona Ryder. In About Cherry, which also starred Heather Graham, who opened shooting in California the following month, he was depicted as a drug-addicted prosecutor. He dropped out of the indie film Although We're Young to star in Oz the Great and Powerful, a Disney prequel to L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). Filming began in July 2011, and the film was released on March 8, 2013. He has committed to do a sequel to it.

At the end of September 2010, the actor bought the rights to Stephen Elliott's The Adderall Diaries, with the intention to adapt, direct, and star in the film. In January 2011, it was revealed that the actor would not be involved in, but rather direct himself in The Night Stalker, a film adaptation of author Philip Carlo's book about 1980s serial killer Richard Ramirez. Nicholas Constantine, the screenwriter, was initially concerned that Franco would be right for the role until he learned of Franco's intension to be a writer and later watched three of his short films, one of which featured a serial killer, and later revealed to the writer that the actor had a darker side. In the Uncertain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Franco also produced a film adaptation of William Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying; the film was also shown. Franco starred in This Is the End as a fictionalized version of himself trapped in a house during a horrific time of war with Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, and Danny McBride, among other fictionalized versions of themselves.

Franco began shooting a film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's 1973 bookla Child of God, which stars Scott Haze as Lester Ballard. Since being homeless of his ancestral land, the young Tennessee backwoodsman's depraved and violent instincts are chronicled in this film. In official competition at the 1970 Venice Film Festival, an official selection to the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and a special invitation to the prestigious 51st New York Film Festival were announced. Franco appeared in Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers as the gangster "Alien" in 2013, with Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Benson, Gucci Mane, and Rachel Korine. In September 2013, A24 films launched a campaign to encourage Franco's nomination for Best Supporting Actor Oscars. Franco would make his Broadway debut in the role of George in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men's revival in March 2013. Franco appeared in the music video for "City of Angels" in October 2013.

Franco appeared on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 8, 2013. 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Franco conceived and appeared in "Techno Color Sunglasses," which promoted Gucci's eyewear collection in April 2014. Franco appeared in The Interview, a film that played a significant role in the real world diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea as a result of the 2014 Sony hacker scandal. At the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, two of his films, I Am Michael and True Story, were shown in April 2015. Franco plays I Am Michael as a gay activist who denies his homosexuality and becomes a centrist Christian pastor with a girlfriend. Franco played Christian Longo, a man on the FBI's most wanted list for murdering his wife and three children in Oregon and who had also been hiding under the name of Michael Finkel, a journalist portrayed by Jonah Hill in True Story, based on a true story.

Franco appeared in the lead role in the Hulu limited series 11.22.63, which is based on Stephen King's book of the same name. On February 15, 2016, the eight-episode serial premiered. Franco co-produced and appeared in King Cobra, a true story about gay pornographic actor Brent Corrigan's ascension and the assassination of Bryan Kocis in 2016. Franco was found guilty of the murder of Joseph Kerekes (along with his partner) in 1999. Franco played an immature tech-billionaire whose girlfriend's conservative father intervenes in the couple's union, with Zoey Deutch playing the mother and Bryan Cranston playing her father in the comedy Why Him?, which was released in December 2016. He appeared in Alien: Covenant for a brief period of time, as well as friend and longtime collaborator Danny McBride, Michael Fassbender, and Noomi Rapace. Katherine Waterston played Branson, the Covenant ship's captain and husband to Daniels. On May 19, 2017, the film was released.

Franco produced, co-produced, and appeared in The Disaster Artist, actor Greg Sestero's non-fiction book of the same name, during production of The Room, one of the worst films ever produced. Franco portrayed the film's star, producer, and producer Tommy Wiseau, while Franco's brother, Dave, portrayed Sestero. Throughout the entire shooting, Franco remained in character as Wiseau. The Disaster Artist was released on December 1, 2017, to glowing reviews, while Wiseau's portrayal of him received near-universal honors. His work was named Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards.

Franco, a nearly 40-year-old boy, said he was slowing down to concentrate on himself at the end of 2017. Franco did his first interview in nearly four years on December 23, 2021, when he appeared on an episode of the Jess Cagle Podcast for the first time in nearly four years. Franco was cast as Fidel Castro in Alina, Cuba, in August 2022, a casting decision that was supported by Fidel Castro's daughter.

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