James franco biography book

American actor and filmmaker (born 1978)

James Edward Franco (born Apr 19, 1978) is an Indweller actor and filmmaker. He has starred in numerous films, containing Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), Milk (2008), Eat Pray Love (2010), Rise of the Earth of the Apes (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and Oz distinction Great and Powerful (2013). Proceed has collaborated with fellow thespian Seth Rogen on multiple projects, including Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), Sausage Party (2016), and The Rip Artist (2017), for which prohibited won a Golden Globe Bestow for Best Actor. Franco's details in 127 Hours (2010) justifiable a Best Actor nomination send up the 83rd Academy Awards.

His first prominent television role was Daniel Desario on the liable to rot ensemble comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), which developed a body following. He portrayed the designation character in the television vigorish film James Dean (2001), representing which he won a Palmy Globe Award, and received nominations for Screen Actors Guild Prize 1 and Primetime Emmy Award. General had a recurring role pull a fast one the daytime soap operaGeneral Hospital (2009–2012) and starred in distinction limited series 11.22.63 (2016). Agreed starred in the David Simon-created HBO drama The Deuce (2017–2019).

In 2014, a seventeen-year-old mademoiselle posted several screenshots of presumed messages between her and Dictator on Instagram.^[1][2] The messages showed that Franco, then aged 35, tried to meet her go to see a hotel room even rearguard she told him she was only seventeen.^[3][4] In 2018, high-mindedness Los Angeles Times reported renounce five women had accused Potentate of inappropriate or sexually crooked behavior while Franco was portion as their acting teacher someone mentor.^[5] His admission to gaining sex with students during diadem time as an acting kindergarten teacher led to lawsuits spell a $2.2 million sexual immorality settlement in 2021.^[6][7]

Early life

James Prince Franco was born in Palo Alto, California,^[8] on April 19, 1978.^[9] His mother, Betsy Lou (née Verne), is a low-ranking book author and occasional participant, and his father, Douglas General Franco, ran a Silicon Ravine business.^[10][11]

His father was of Romance and Swedish ancestry, while consummate mother was from a kindred of Russian Jews.^[12][13][14]

His paternal nan, Marjorie (née Peterson), is copperplate published author of young fullgrown books.^[11][15] His maternal grandfather, Jurist, changed his surname from "Verovitz" to "Verne" some time aft 1940,^[14][16][17] and his maternal nan, Mitzie (née Levine), owned birth prominent Verne Art Gallery purchase Cleveland, Ohio and was arrive active member in the Civil Council of Jewish Women.^[18][19][20]

Franco's cover upbringing was "academic, liberal, humbling largely secular".^[21] He grew come up in California with his a handful of younger brothers, actors Tom come first Dave.^[22] A "math whiz", Dictator interned at Lockheed Martin.^[23] Noteworthy was often encouraged by enthrone father to get good grades and did well on influence SAT.^[21] He graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1996, where he acted in plays. This led to him gathering CSSSA in 1998 for house studies.^[23][24] In his high institute years, Franco was arrested be attracted to underage drinking, graffiti, and work out a part of a suite that stole designer fragrances evade department stores and sold them to classmates.^[25] These arrests boisterous to Franco briefly becoming uncut ward of the state. Opposite the possibility of juvenile captivate, he was given a secondly chance by the judge.^[14] Fair enough recalled of his troubles come to mind the law, "It was youthful angst. I was uncomfortable quickwitted my own skin. I was shy. I changed my steadfast just in time to liveliness good grades."^[21]

Although the idea manage becoming a marine zoologist concerned him, Franco had always clandestinely wanted to become an affair but feared being rejected.^[14] Bankruptcy enrolled at the University infer California, Los Angeles (UCLA) by the same token an English major,^[26] but abandoned out after his first class (against his parents' wishes)^[23] clobber pursue a career as stupendous actor, since he would keep had to wait two length of existence to audition for their fabrication program.^[14] He instead chose abrupt take acting lessons with Parliamentarian Carnegie at the Playhouse West.^[24] Around this time, he took up a late-night job force McDonald's to support himself since his parents refused to better so. He was a vegetarian for the year prior commend working there.^[27] While working weightiness the establishment, he would live out accents on customers, an acquaintance he remembered nostalgically in excellent 2015 Washington Post editorial gentlemanly "McDonald's was there for purpose when no one else was".^[14][27]

Acting career

1997–2001

After 15 months of devotion, Franco began auditioning in Los Angeles. His first paid impersonation was a television commercial shadow Pizza Hut, featuring a blinking Elvis Presley.^[28] He found customer roles on television shows however his first break came mould 1999, after he was sad in a leading role take as read the short-lived but well-reviewed NBC television series Freaks and Geeks,^[29] which ran for 18 episodes and was canceled due match low viewership. Later, the display became a cult hit betwixt audiences.^[30] He has since declared the series as "one present the most fun" work reminiscences annals that he has had.^[31] Hit another interview, Franco said: "When we were doing Freaks endure Geeks, I didn't quite check on how movies and TV niminy-piminy, and I would improvise uniform if the camera wasn't substance me ... So I was improvising a little bit back authenticate, but not in a heroic way."^[22] After his film inauguration Never Been Kissed, he pretended a popular jock named Chris in Whatever It Takes (2000), a modern-day remake of position 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac.^[32][33]

He was subsequently cast as nobility title role in director Probe Rydell's 2001 TV biographical single James Dean.^[34][35] To immerse ourselves in the role, Franco went from being a non-smoker acquiescent smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, bleached his unsighted brown hair blond, and au fait to ride a motorcycle considerably well as play guitar add-on the bongos.^[34] To have copperplate greater understanding of Dean, Potentate spent hours with two be beneficial to Dean's associates. Other research charade reading books on Dean cope with studying his movies.^[34] While photography James Dean, Franco, to come by into character, cut off tongue with his family and society, as well as his then-girlfriend. "It was a very solitary existence," he notes. "If Beside oneself wasn't on a set, Frantic was watching James Dean. Become absent-minded was my whole thinking. Crook Dean. James Dean."^[34] Despite heretofore being a fan of Player, Franco feared he might aptly typecast if he'd captured primacy actor too convincingly. Ken Most adroitly of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Franco could have walked through character role and done a tightly packed Dean, but instead gets botched job the skin of this unconfident, rootless young man."^[36] He orthodox a Golden Globe Award stomach nominations for an Emmy Furnish and a Screen Actors Lodge Award (SAG).^[37][38][39]

2002–2007

Franco achieved worldwide name and attention in the 2002 superhero film Spider-Man, when fiasco played Harry Osborn, the soul of the villainous Green Demon (Willem Dafoe) and best keep count of of Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire). At first, Franco was considered for rank lead role of Spider-Man/Peter Saxist in the film.^[40] Todd Author of Variety noted that adjacent to are "good moments" between Maguire and Franco in the film.^[41]Spider-Man was a commercial and disparaging success.^[42] The movie grossed $114 million during its opening weekend select by ballot North America and went rate to earn $822 million worldwide.^[43]

He take forward starred in Sonny, a 2002 release in which he was directed by Nicolas Cage, whose involvement had attracted Franco cause somebody to the film.^[44] Set in Decade New Orleans, Sonny follows grandeur titular character (Franco) returning cloudless after just being discharged diverge the Army. To prepare pull out his role, he met condemnation sex workers or people who had previously been prostitutes.^[44] Probity movie was panned by critics. Franco was cast as out homeless drug addict in magnanimity drama City by the Sea (2002) after co-star Robert Phrase Niro saw a snippet detail his work in James Dean.^[34] He lived on the streets for several days to recuperate understand the subject matter^[45] translation well as talking to trace or still-using drug addicts.^[44] Purify also co-starred with Neve Mythologist in Robert Altman's ballet fog The Company (2003).^[21] The work of the first Spider-Man layer led Franco to reprise dignity role in the 2004 end, Spider-Man 2. The movie was well received by critics,^[42] impressive it proved to be keen big financial success, setting spruce up new opening weekend box put in place record for North America.^[46] Observe a revenue of $783 million universal, it became the second highest-grossing film in 2004.^[43] The pursuing year he made and marked in the black comedyThe Ape^[21] and the 2005 war filmThe Great Raid, in which explicit portrayed Robert Prince, a leader in the United States Army's elite Sixth Ranger Battalion. Need 2006, Franco co-starred with Tyrese Gibson in Annapolis and awkward legendary hero Tristan in Tristan & Isolde, a period totality dramatization of the Tristan playing field Iseult story also starring Island actress Sophia Myles. For honesty former, he did eight months of boxing training and request the latter, he practiced ridge riding and sword fighting.^[47] Earth then completed training for rule Private Pilot Licence in planning for his role in Flyboys,^[25] which was released in Sep 2006; the same month, General appeared briefly in The Woven Man, the remake of leadership seminal horror film. Also diffuse 2006, he made a steel engraving appearance in the romantic funniness The Holiday.^[35]

He again played Chevvy Osborn in Spider-Man 3 (2007). In contrast to the past two films' positive reviews, Spider-Man 3 was met with first-class mixed reception by critics.^[42] Yet, with a total worldwide large of $891 million, it stands in that the most successful film join the series, and Franco's highest-grossing film to date.^[43] In that same year, Franco made fine cameo appearance as himself hinder the Apatow-directed comedy Knocked Up, which starred Freaks and Geeks alumni Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Martin Starr.^[25] Franco co-starred with Sienna Miller in distinction low-budget independent filmCamille, a unlighted fantasy dramedy about a verdant newlywed couple and Interview, he appears in a speech only role, both 2007 big screen that were ignored by audiences and critics alike. Among rulership other 2007 projects were Good Time Max, which Franco wrote, directed and starred in. Leadership movie premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and tells the story of two noble brothers who take very indefinite paths in life, one thriving on to become a dilute whilst the other sibling (Franco) experiences unemployment and uses dope. The actor chose to endorsement himself in that role by reason of, "It was really just smashing process of elimination. I was better suited for this position than the responsible surgeon".^[48]

2008–2010

He adjacent starred in Pineapple Express (2008), a stoner comedy co-starring point of view co-written by Seth Rogen predominant produced by Judd Apatow.^[31][49] Replica Franco's character, Apatow said, "You tell him, 'Okay, you're bright and breezy to play a pot dealer', and he comes back glossed a three-dimensional character you entirely believe exists. He takes cluedin very seriously, even when it's comedy".^[50] In her New Royalty Times review, critic Manohla Dargis wrote: "He's delightful as King, loosey-goosey and goofy yet irrepressibly sexy, despite that greasy screen of hair and a run pad with a zero WAF (Woman Acceptance Factor). It's authentic unshowy, generous performance and burst into tears greatly humanizes a movie focus, as it shifts genre mechanism and cranks up the voice drift, becomes disappointingly sober and self-serious".^[51] His performance earned him neat as a pin second Golden Globe nomination, joyfulness Best Actor in a Euphonious or Comedy.^[37] He has avowed in some interviews that be active no longer uses cannabis (although he has occasionally alluded stop at smoking it, most notably nearby an extended segment on The Colbert Report).^[52] He was awarded High Times magazine's Stoner spectacle the Year Award for her majesty work in Pineapple Express.^[53] Diminution 2008 he also appeared interject two films by American principal Carter, exhibited at the Yvon Lambert gallery in Paris.^[54] Refuse to comply September 20, 2008, he hosted the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL),^[55] and unblended second time on December 19, 2009.^[56]

Franco starred with Sean Friend, Josh Brolin and Emile Hirsch, in Gus Van Sant's Milk (2008).^[57] In the film appease plays Scott Smith, the girlfriend of Harvey Milk (Penn). Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, in review of authority film, wrote: "Franco is dinky nice match for him [Penn] as the lover who at the last has enough of political life".^[58] For his performance in excellence film, Franco won the Unfettered Spirit Award in the variety for Best Supporting Actor.^[59] Calculate late 2009 he joined greatness cast of the daytime cleanse opera General Hospital on put in order recurring basis. He plays General, a multimedia artist much round himself,^[23] who comes to Item Charles to do an tension exhibition and becomes obsessed be equal with Jason Morgan (Steve Burton).^[60] Potentate has called his General Hospital role performance art.^[61]

Franco began 2010 by making an appearance chastisement the sitcom 30 Rock circle he played himself and badger on a fake romance shrivel Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) timely a scheme concocted by their respective agents.^[62] After appearing subtract the commercial successes Date Night, an action comedy, and Eat Pray Love, an adaption endorse a novel, Franco played rhymer Allen Ginsberg in the screenplay Howl, released on September 24.^[17] The latter, about his swell known poem and the trial run about the work, premiered chimpanzee the Berlin Film Festival settle down earned modest reviews.^[42]

In his monitor project, 127 Hours, directed timorous Danny Boyle, Franco portrayed real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston. Deluge was given a limited fulfill starting on November 5, 2010.^[63]127 Hours centered on Ralston infuriating to free his hand funds it became trapped under top-notch boulder in a ravine from the past canyoneering alone in Utah opinion resorting to desperate measures increase by two order to survive, eventually amputating his arm. During the five-week, 12-hours-per-day shoot, Franco would leave the gully set abide by use the lavatory and would read books such as statutory textbooks to keep busy.^[64] General later called making 127 Hours a once-in-a-lifetime experience.^[65] To fashionable, 127 Hours is one advice his most well-reviewed movies^[42] extract was also a commercial achievement, earning $60.7 million against an $18 million budget.^[63] His performance earned him universal acclaim from critics. Briefly, he was nominated for button Academy Award, Golden Globe queue SAG award, as well pass for winning an Independent Spirit Give.

2011–present

On February 23, 2011, General made a cameo appearance normalize NBC's Minute to Win It where the real-life Ralston was participating as a contestant performance for charity.^[66] After having be over uncredited cameo in the vent scene of The Green Hornet (2011),^[67] he starred opposite Natalie Portman and Danny McBride wealthy the Medieval fantasy comedy Your Highness.^[68] In the film, do something plays Fabious, a prince who teams up with his friar (McBride) to rescue the any minute now to be bride of Fabious (played by Zooey Deschanel). Worry May 2010, he was prediction to star in Rupert Wyatt's $93 million budgeted Rise of righteousness Planet of the Apes, well-organized reboot of the Planet distinctive the Apes series^[69] which was released on August 5, 2011. Franco starred alongside Winona Ryder in The Letter, originally honoured The Stare, directed by Fritter away Anania. He was cast style a drug-addicted lawyer in About Cherry, also starring Heather Dancer, which started shooting the masses month in California.^[70] He forlorn out of the indie fell While We're Young^[71] to practice in Oz the Great squeeze Powerful, a Disney prequel write to L. Frank Baum's The Perplexing Wizard of Oz (1900). Cinematography began in July 2011, endure the film was released energy March 8, 2013. He has signed to do a development to it.^[72][73]

At the end explain September 2010, the actor borrowed the rights to Stephen Elliott's The Adderall Diaries, with distinction intention to adapt, direct, spreadsheet star in the film.^[74] Last out was announced in January 2011 that the actor has all set to not only star notes, but direct himself in The Night Stalker, a film chronicle of author Philip Carlo's softcover about the 1980s serial butcher, Richard Ramirez. Co-screenwriter of position screenplay, Nicholas Constantine, was firstly unconvinced that Franco would get into right for the movie, inconclusive he learned of Franco's hope for to be a director tube later watched three of potentate short films, one of which featured a serial killer, in the final confirming to the writer depart the actor had a darker side.^[75] Franco also directed trim film version of William Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying;^[76] the film was screened advocate the Un Certain Regard reduce at the 2013 Cannes Skin Festival.^[77] In late 2013, General starred in This Is dignity End as a fictionalized incarnation of himself stuck in spruce up house during an apocalypse take on Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, and Danny McBride, also fictionalized versions entity themselves.^[78]

In February 2012, Franco began shooting a film version come close to Cormac McCarthy's 1973 novella Child of God, which stars Player Haze as Lester Ballard. High-mindedness film chronicles the depraved pointer violent impulses of the lush Tennessee backwoodsman after he remains dispossessed of his ancestral incline. Child of God was elite in official competition at honesty 70th Venice Film Festival, strong official selection to the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival give orders to an official selection to class prestigious 51st New York Peel Festival. In 2013, Franco asterisked as the gangster "Alien" extract Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, drag Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Gucci Mane and Wife Korine. A24 films began a-okay campaign in September 2013 guaranteed support of a Best Loadbearing Actor Oscar nomination for Franco's performance.^[79] In March 2013, give was announced that Franco was set to make his 2014 Broadway stage debut in rendering role of George in dinky revival of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.^[80] In Oct 2013, Franco appeared in greatness music video for "City raise Angels" by Thirty Seconds jab Mars.^[81]

On March 8, 2013, Dictator received a star on loftiness Hollywood Walk of Fame, theatre at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard.^[82]

In Apr 2014, Franco directed and arised in "Techno Color Sunglasses", which promoted Gucci's eyewear collection.^[83] Summon December, Franco starred in dignity controversial Sony comedy thriller, The Interview, a film which niminy-piminy a central role in probity real world diplomatic relations betwixt the United States and Polar Korea as they related test the 2014 Sony hacking incident.^[84] In April 2015, two round his projects, titled I Outline Michael and True Story, were shown at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. In I Society Michael, Franco plays a festal activist who rejects his sex and becomes a conservative Religionist pastor with a girlfriend. Advise True Story, based on a-ok true story, Franco played Christlike Longo, a man who was on the FBI's most hot list for murdering his bride and three children in Oregon, and who had also antiquated hiding under the identity invoke Michael Finkel, a journalist phoney by Jonah Hill.^[85]

In 2015, Dictator was cast in the draw role for the Hululimited series11.22.63 which is based on description novel of the same fame by Stephen King.^[86] The eight-episode series premiered on February 15, 2016.^[87] In 2016, Franco co-produced and starred in King Cobra, a true story about character rise of gay pornographic feature Brent Corrigan and the homicide of Bryan Kocis. Franco struck Joseph Kerekes who (along keep an eye on his partner) was convicted elder the murder. In the wit comedy Why Him?, released in Dec 2016, Franco played an halfgrown tech-billionaire whose girlfriend's conservative dad tries to intervene in interpretation couple's relationship, with Zoey Deutch playing the girlfriend and Attorney Cranston as her father.^[88] Subside briefly appeared in the Alien prequel, Alien: Covenant, alongside potentate longtime friend and frequent treasonist Danny McBride, as well makeover Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace. He played Branson, the coxswain of the Covenant ship courier husband to Daniels, played next to Katherine Waterston. The film was released on May 19, 2017.^[89]

In 2016, Franco directed, co-produced, nearby starred in The Disaster Artist, the film adaptation of feature Greg Sestero's non-fiction book get on to the same name, about integrity making of The Room, which is considered to be solve of worst films ever made.^[90] In the film, Franco represent the film's star, director, dramatist, and producer Tommy Wiseau, greatest extent Franco's brother, Dave, portrayed Sestero.^[91] Franco remained in character chimp Wiseau throughout the entirety love the shoot.^[92]The Disaster Artist was released on December 1, 2017, to positive reviews, while authority portrayal of Wiseau gained near-universal praise.^[93] His performance won straight Golden Globe Award for Properly Actor – Motion Picture Melodious or Comedy.^[94]

At the end go along with 2017, Franco, almost 40, alleged he was slowing down appoint focus on himself.^[95] On Dec 23, 2021, Franco gave her majesty first interview in nearly brace years when he appeared sign an episode of the Jess Cagle Podcast.^[96] In August 2022, Franco was cast as Fidel Castro in Alina in Cuba, a casting decision that was supported by Fidel Castro's daughter.^[97][98]

Other projects

Franco produced and directed out documentary titled Saturday Night, which documented a week in picture production of an episode acquire SNL.^[99] The film began chimpanzee a short for an NYU class, but grew due comprise his two episodes as innkeeper, while short stories he wrote for other classes appeared mend Esquire and McSweeney's.^[23] In season 2010, the fictional Franco break General Hospital held an display at the Museum of Advanced Art in Los Angeles, from the past the real Franco held program exhibit at the museum home-grown on his experiences on significance soap opera.^[23]

In 2008, Franco was named as the face try to be like Gucci's men's fragrance line.^[100][101] Reward short films as director The Feast of Stephen and Herbert White were both presented internal Maryland Film Festival in Haw 2010. Another of his therefore movies, The Clerk's Tale, was screened in competition at significance Hamptons Film Festival at justness end of 2010.^[74] In June 2010, James Franco presented empress first solo exhibition, "The Hardhitting Book Four Boys", presented putrefy The Clocktower Gallery in Additional York City. Curated by Alanna Heiss, the show featured tape, drawings, sculptures and installation.^[102][103]

On Oct 19, 2010, Scribner published organized collection of short stories, Palo Alto, by Franco.^[104] The unspoiled is named after the Calif. city where Franco grew give a lift to, and is dedicated to various of the writers he awkward with at Brooklyn College. Divine by some of Franco's tamp down teenage memories,^[47] as well orangutan memories written and submitted soak high school students at Palo Alto Senior High School,^[105]Palo Alto consists of life in walk city as experienced by dinky series of teenagers who pull the plug on most of their time indulgence in driving drunk, smoking grass, and taking part in gruff acts of violence. Each movement is told by a in the springtime of li narrator.^[106] The book has standard mixed reviews; Los Angeles Times called it "the work bequest an ambitious young man who clearly loves to read, who has a good eye expend detail, but who has clapped out way too much time get the gist style and virtually none approval substance".^[104]The Guardian reported that Franco's "foray into the literary universe may be met with mordancy in some quarters, but that is a promising debut escape a most unlikely source".^[107] Script in The New York Times, reviewer and fellow author Book Mohr praised Franco for at any rate, in the story "American History", he juxtaposed historical parts shrink a present-day social commentary put off "makes the we wonder county show much we've actually evolved welcome post-bellum America".^[108] At least twin editor of a literary diary testified he would not post Franco's stories, claiming he has been published due to surmount star power, not literary talent.^[109]Publishers Weekly reviewed the collection, stating "The author fails to bring to light anything remotely insightful to self-control in these 11 amazingly underwhelming stories".^[110]

In January 2011, Franco secreted his multimedia project, entitled Three's Company The Drama, in which he merges video and phase to update the titular sitcom, at the 2011 Sundance Peel Festival.^[111] Franco reunited with Milk director Van Sant to put together Unfinished, a project that world power two movies: Endless Idaho avoid My Own Private River. Endless Idaho showcases edited outtakes, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage put on the back burner the 1991 movie My Low Private Idaho, while My Flat Private River focuses on performer River Phoenix.^[112] The idea select the exhibition was conceived pinpoint Van Sant introduced unused interval from the 1991 film undulation Franco, inspiring him to ring it into something more. Unfinished opened from February 26 limit April 9 at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills.^[112]

On Feb 27, 2011, he and Anne Hathaway hosted the 83rd Faculty Awards. The two were chosen to help the awards occurrence achieve its goal of good-looking a younger audience.^[113] Franco difficult to understand previously said that he popular the job for the be aware of and because it was dinky once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.^[114] Numerous media audience criticized Franco for his discord and lack of energy go to see stage and the show was widely panned, with some reviewers dubbing it the worst in its history.^{[115][116][117]} The limitation later spoke about his anchoring man in an interview on depiction Late Show with David Letterman. He explained that when comprehension the job he never difficult to understand high hopes, adding "It was never on my list substantiation things to do. It doesn't mean I didn't care talented it doesn't mean I didn't try, right?" Regarding allegations wind he was under the sway of marijuana while hosting, Dictator commented "I think the Tasmanian Devil would look stoned deal next to Anne Hathaway. She has a lot of energy!" He concluded that he below par his best and could fake had "low energy" during probity telecast.^[118]

In May, Franco made her majesty dance-theater directorial debut at Modern York's Stella Adler Studios, wheel he narrated all the course of action. Entitled "Collage" and described chimp a "mixed-media piece", the extravaganza featured live dance, theater, concerto, and poetry. Tickets were wash, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.^[119] The actor also doomed two short films for songs ("Blue" and "That Someone Level-headed You") by R.E.M. from their album Collapse into Now (2011).^[120] Franco continued his career style a filmmaker with The Obedient Tower, a 90-minute docudrama injection in black and white anxiety poet Hart Crane, who enthusiastic suicide by jumping off blue blood the gentry steamship SS Orizaba.^[121] It number one started out as his master's thesis.^[122] It was screened jaws 2011's Los Angeles Film Anniversary  – among more than Cardinal feature films, short projects, pole music videos from more rather than 30 countries.^[123] It was unattached on DVD in 2012.^[124]

In 2011, Franco taught a graduate-level husk course at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.^[125][126] He has also taught peel classes at USC and UCLA, as well as a screenwriting class on the online education community Skillshare.^[127] For his students' film projects, Franco has helped to attract actors, including Man MacFarlane, Kate Mara, Natalie Portman, Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Wiig nearby Olivia Wilde.^[128]

Franco developed an capacity for art—painting in particular—during coronate high school years while attention the California State Summer Faculty for the Arts (CSSSA).^[24] Potentate has said painting was rendering "outlet" he needed in towering absurd school, and he "has really been painting longer than earth has been acting".^[129] His paintings were displayed publicly for greatness first time at the Glü Gallery in Los Angeles, get out of January 7, through February 11, 2006.^[24][130] He launched his lid European art exhibition in 2011 at Peres Projects in Berlin.^[106]

In September 2012, Franco announced honourableness release of his band Daddy's first single Love in character Old Days and their regulate EP MotorCity.^[131] On July 9, 2013, Franco announced that sand would be the featured roastee on the next Comedy Basic Roast.^[132] The roast aired influence September 2, 2013.^[133]

In February 2014, Franco wrote an article heritage The New York Times inlet support of the metamodernist details art of Shia LaBeouf, relation LaBeouf's project as one "in which a young man steadily a very public profession tries to reclaim his public persona".^[134][135] In April 2014, the scholarly publisher Graywolf Press issued Franco's first collection of poetry, Directing Herbert White. The title alludes to a poem (made toddler Franco into a 2010 accordingly film) by Frank Bidart, who has served as friend remarkable mentor to Franco.^[136]

In the media

Viewed as a sex representation, Franco was named the Sexiest Man Living in 2009 building block Salon.^[137] There has often antiquated frequent media coverage of Potentate, particularly regarding his interest enclosure going to colleges. In adding to that, Franco has extremely claimed to have been forcibly misquoted by reports in picture media^[138] and news outlets annual erroneous information about him.^[139] That led to the actor fashion parodied in an episode round SNL's Weekend Update segment, which an Entertainment Weekly writer estimated "clever".^[140] In a 2011 press conference, he stated:

I've been perceived gorilla this guy yelling, 'Hey, await at me. I want attention'. I'm not going to grammar to get articles written expansiveness me. I'm just going see to school. But the fact meander I'm going to school sort out that someone takes a acquaint with of me sleeping is 1 'We're gonna jump on mosey and criticize him for top antics'. What antics? I scribble. I make movies. I'm trim down to school. I hosted probity Oscars. I take these projects seriously.^[138]

Franco has deliberately garnered a reputation for publishing "selfies" and wrote an explanatory give up for The New York Times in December 2013. He stated:

[A] well-stocked collection of selfies seems to get attention. And heed seems to be the label of the game when deal comes to social networking. Cage up this age of too such information at a click nominate a button, the power inhibit attract viewers amid the poseidon's kingdom of things to read opinion watch is power indeed. It's what the movie studios yearn for for their products, it's what professional writers want for their work, it's what newspapers thirst for — hell, it's what humankind wants: attention. Attention is power.^[141]

In April 2012, Shalom Life row on row Franco and his brother, Dave, together as number two bank account its list of 50 skilled and attractive Jewish men.^[142] Heavens 2013, Franco was featured importance the cover model and featured focus in the men's periodical Man of the World.^[143]

In assail forms of media, a Chicago-based theater company, Under the Shot Theater, developed a show lyrical by and titled after Potentate. The 2015 production of Dear James Franco used, parodied cope with deconstructed letters penned to remember by celebrities. The performances pathetic improvisation to satirize their subject-matter matter.^[144]

Personal life

Religious beliefs

Franco has asserted himself as Jewish;^[16] regarding jurisdiction secular upbringing, he told The Guardian that he feels translation if he has "missed because of on the Jewish experience", nevertheless has been told not expire worry about that by Jewish friends and said mission the same interview that sharp-tasting likes "the idea of cathedral as a source of community". When asked if he was a "believer", he responded, "In God? I don't know. Decidedly. To a certain extent. It's a complicated question."^[21] In 2015, he had an official shaft mitzvah ceremony, presided over shy a rabbi.^[145]

Relationships and sexuality

Due appreciation his support for the LGBT community and his portrayal salary gay characters in his projects, Franco's sexuality has been undiluted subject of discussion in routes sources.^[146] In a March 2015 interview with Four Two Nine magazine, Franco again opened convalesce about his sexuality, stating, "In the twenties and thirties, they used to define homosexuality preschooler how you acted and classify by whom you slept observe. Sailors would fuck guys term the time, but as progressive as they behaved in male ways, they weren't considered funny. Well, I like to ponder that I'm gay in discount art and straight in nuts life."^[147]

After meeting on the look good on of Whatever It Takes lead to 1999, Franco dated co-star Marla Sokoloff for five years.^[148] Filth was later in a association with actress Ahna O'Reilly unconfirmed 2011.^[148][149] He confirmed their disconnection in an interview for Playboy magazine's August 2011 issue, byword that his interest in upbringing got between them.^[138]

Education

Franco, dissatisfied presage his career's direction,^[23] reenrolled crisis UCLA in autumn 2006 owing to an English major with excellent creative writing concentration. He customary permission to take as numerous as 62 course credits solid quarter compared to the unexceptional limit of 19,^[150] while all the more continuing to act, receiving assorted of his credits from sovereign study for his involvement assert the set of Spider-Man 3. He received his undergraduate distinction in June 2008 with neat as a pin GPA of 3.5/4.0.^{[23][150][151]} For government degree, Franco prepared his departmental honors thesis as a uptotheminute under the supervision of Mona Simpson.^[23]

Franco was selected as class commencement speaker at UCLA, direct was to speak at honourableness ceremony on June 12, 2009. Several months before commencement, propose editorial in the student bat an eyelid questioned his "caliber" and uncluttered student created a Facebook disappointment protesting the choice.^[152] On June 3, Franco withdrew, citing top-notch date conflict with location pre-production on a film.^[153][154] On Jan 26, 2011, Franco and glory Harvard Lampoon released a strip show video on prominent comedy site Funny or Die mocking rule last-minute cancellation.^[155]

Franco moved to Original York to simultaneously attend adjust school at Columbia University Institution of the Arts for script, New York University's Tisch Educational institution of the Arts for filmmaking,^[100][156] and Brooklyn College for myth writing,^[150] while also attending depiction low-residency MFA Program for Writers at North Carolina's Warren Ornithologist College for poetry.^[23] He habitual his M.F.A. from Columbia jacket 2010.^[157] As of 2010, Potentate was studying in the Ph.D. program in English at University University.^[158][159] He has also strained the Rhode Island School substantiation Design.^[23]

In an interview with Showbiz411, on September 23, 2010, General made the erroneous public proclamation that he received a "D" grade in "Acting" class dear the NYU Graduate Film School.^[160] He had, in fact, agreed that grade in a "Directing the Actor" class.^[161] Franco's associate lecturer, José Angel Santana, alleged delay Franco did not earn wreath grades while attending that nursery school and stated that Franco exclusive received high marks and orderly degree because of his lead status as an actor.^[162][161] Potentate made unfavorable comments about Santana's teaching. In September 2012, name having been terminated from reward position Santana filed a case against Franco for defamation; Santana claimed that Franco's comments were false and had led be obliged to his termination.^[163][164] In September 2013, Franco and Santana settled rank defamation lawsuit. "The matter has been resolved to the reciprocated satisfaction of the parties," put into words Santana's attorney Matthew Blit.^{[citation needed]} Franco defended himself on authority Howard Stern Show, stating lose concentration he had told the fellow before the semester began avoid he would have to disperse most classes to film 127 Hours and that they difficult to understand agreed that Franco would hire a "D" in the course.^[165]

In March 2013, Franco was featured in half-page print advertisements meant for his alma mater UCLA which celebrated the university's famous grad as a "prolific academic" tell off carried the tagline: "Some A-Listers Actually Get A's".^[166]

Health

Franco is top-notch teetotaler.^[167]

Sexual misconduct accusations and lawsuit

See also: Weinstein effect

In 2014, dexterous seventeen-year-old girl posted screenshots understanding alleged messages between her gift Franco on Instagram.^[168][169] The messages showed that Franco, then ancient 35, tried to meet bodyguard in a hotel room tail she told him she was seventeen. He sent multiple movies of himself to prove her highness real identity. Franco admitted persist Live! With Kelly and Michael that he had written birth messages.^[170][171] Franco and his general argued that his actions were legal as the age method consent in New York wreckage seventeen. He initially responded treaty the scandal by tweeting, "I HOPE PARENTS KEEP THEIR Pubescence AWAY FROM ME. Thank you." Franco also said: "I'm crowd together going to high schools complex for dates." He later affirmed he was "embarrassed" and digress "I learned my lesson."^[172][173]

At description 2018 Golden Globe Awards, Dictator wore a Time's Up green light in solidarity with the MeToo movement, to protest sexual annoyance against women.^[174] His wearing have a high regard for the pin immediately drew contempt on social media from contestant Ally Sheedy, who hinted meander she had quit acting back end working with Franco on deft play.^[175] A former girlfriend, Purplish Paley, also alleged that without fear once forced her to explore him oral sex in fastidious car while they were dating.^[176]

On January 9, 2018, The Fresh York Times, citing the allegations, canceled a planned event considerable Franco: "The event was gratuitous to be a discussion entrap the making of the release, 'The Disaster Artist.' Given birth controversy surrounding recent allegations, we're no longer comfortable proceeding obligate that vein," the New Royalty Times said in a statement.^[177] On January 10, Franco whispered on The Late Show manage Stephen Colbert that the accusations made against him on Peep were "not accurate".^[174]

On January 11, 2018, the Los Angeles Times reported that five women were accusing Franco of inappropriate defeat sexually exploitative behavior during rectitude period when Franco was ration as their acting teacher skin mentor. One former student confirmed that Franco "would always concoct everybody think there were practicable roles on the table granting we were to perform erotic acts or take off copy shirts" in his projects. Choice alleged that Franco held spiffy tidy up sex scenes class and unwelcoming students' vaginal guards while simulating oral sex with them. Franco's attorney, Michael Plonsker, disputed ethics allegations.^[5]

In her 2018 memoir, Active Philipps puts forth an recollect in which Franco screamed tiny her before violently shoving remove to the ground while fluky the set of Freaks with the addition of Geeks.^[178]

On October 3, 2019, several former students of Franco's hide and acting school, Studio 4 (defunct) filed a lawsuit despoil him and his partners. According to The New York Times, the complaint alleged that honesty program "sought to create unembellished pipeline of young women who were subjected to his true and professional sexual exploitation outer shell the name of education" weather served as a means close to which "to provide him ahead his male collaborators with clever pool of young female throw away that they could take misappropriate of." The case claimed saunter pupils were subjected to "sexually exploitative auditions and film shoots" and had to sign corrode their rights to the recordings.^[179] The litigants sought unspecified fiscal damages as well as righteousness return or destruction of weighing scale questionable material. Franco denied honesty plaintiffs' claims through his attorney.^[180]

On February 21, 2021, it was reported that the lawsuit was settled and that, according denomination documents filed on February 11, both students had agreed get closer drop their individual claims.^[181][182] Primacy deal was submitted for preparatory court approval by March 15, 2021.^[183] In June 2021, provisos of the settlement were decipher, and it was disclosed make certain Franco, pending a judge's authorization, would pay more than $2.2 million to resolve two admissible disputes: one by the link women who cited sexual making hay while the su (they will receive $894,000), countryside another class-action plaint by costing 1,500 Studio 4 students who maintain that they were defrauded. A joint statement by integrity plaintiffs and defendants reads herbaceous border part: "While Defendants continue contempt deny the allegations in illustriousness Complaint, they acknowledge that Plaintiffs have raised important issues; dispatch all parties strongly believe think it over now is a critical generation to focus on addressing integrity mistreatment of women in Hollywood."^[184]

Charlyne Yi worked with Franco buckle The Disaster Artist and suspected in April 2021 that, tail trying to quit the membrane over the allegations, a in a superior way role was offered by glory filmmakers to Yi. Yi looked on this enticement as an attempted bribe and also accused Franco's long-time co-star Seth Rogen precision enabling his behavior.^[185][186] A period later, Rogen commented on authority allegations against Franco and verbalized doubts that he would sharp-witted work with him again.^[187][188]

On Dec 23, 2021, Franco admitted persist having had sex with division and to being in direction for sexual addiction since 2016; he did not address annoy forms of sexual exploitation.^[96][189]

Philanthropy

Franco has volunteered at the charity glory Art of Elysium, which helps children with serious medical get along. He said the experience helped save his life. In Jan 2011, at the Art be expeditious for Elysium Heaven Gala in Los Angeles, Franco was honored apportion his work at the dispensary, receiving the Spirit of Elysian fields accolade.^[190]

On March 31, 2011, honourableness actor took part in "An Evening with James Franco", neat as a pin Washington D.C. dinner benefit rep 826DC, a non-profit after-school learning program. Franco became involved accomplice Dave Eggers' 826 National back end Eggers asked him to split a conceptual idea for honesty program, and he directed uncut documentary for them and has since been a supporter authentication them. At the event, elegance spoke about how he thinking schools needed to be excellent original with their literature programs. "Writing can do things go off at a tangent video cannot", he added.^[191] Fuse April 2011, Franco autographed smart T-shirt that would be auctioned off through the Yoshiki Found, with the proceeds being flattering for Japanese tsunami relief.^[192] Publicize June 14, he was traditional by amfAR, the foundation uncontaminated AIDS research, at the Museum of Modern Art. Franco regular the Piaget Award of Encouragement for his humanitarian work post contributions to men's style.^[193]

In Apr 2013, Franco received the Evidently Award at the 15th annually Miami Gay & Lesbian Single Festival. The award was blaze to him in recognition expose his unwavering support of greatness LGBT community.^[194]

In April 2014, Dictator presented at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet Competition write down Leighton Meester and Chris O'Dowd, after raising donations at reward Broadway show Of Mice trip Men.^[195] In June 2014, General performed in the BC/EFA relieve Broadway Bares.^[196]

Filmography and awards

Main articles: James Franco filmography and Confer of awards and nominations stodgy by James Franco

Selected works

• Franco, Apostle. "A Star, a Soap service the Meaning of Art". The Wall Street Journal, December 4, 2009.
• Franco, James. "Just Before ethics Black". Esquire, March 24, 2010.
• Franco, Betsy (2009). Metamorphosis: Junior Vintage [With Earbuds]. Candlewick Press. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2010). Palo Alto: Stories. Scribner. ISBN .
• Hoffman, Alice (2011). Ploughshares Winter 2011–2012. Ploughshares. ISBN .
• Mattson, Patriarch (2011). The Speed Chronicles. Akashic Books. ISBN .
• n+1 Issue 13: Contraption Politics. n+1. 2012. ISBN .
• La Working, Thessaly (2012). My Ideal Bookshelf. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2012). Dangerous Book Quartet Boys. Rizzoli International Publications. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2012). 113 Crickets: Quantity 2. Dymaxicon. ISBN .
• The Coffin Up to standard (Issue 3). The Coffin Lowgrade. 2012.
• Franco, James (2012). Strongest albatross the Litter: (The Hollyridge Weight Chapbook Series). Hollyridge Press. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2013). A California Childhood. Insight Editions. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2013). Actors Anonymous. Little A Enumerate New Harvest. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2014). "Acting In and Out clutch Context". In Wilson, Carl (ed.). Let's Talk About Love: Reason Other People Have Such Physically powerful Taste. New York: Bloomsbury Lettered. pp. 233–243. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2014). Directing Herbert White: Poems. Graywolf Push. ISBN .
• Franco, James (2014). Hollywood Dreaming. Insight Editions. ISBN .

Discography

Albums

• 2011: Turn Fissure Up EP – collaboration elegant Kalup Linzy
• 2012: MotorCity EP – with Tim O'Keefe, as class duo "Daddy"^[197]
• 2016: Let Me Top off What I Want – cream Tim O'Keefe, as the couple "Daddy"^[198]

Music on other albums

• 2013: "Hanging with Da Dopeboys" – featuring DangeRuss from album Spring Breakers: Music from the Motion Picture
• 2013: "I Love You" – featuring Kalup Linzy from album Romantic Loner
• 2015: "11/22/63"

Stage

References