Skip to main content
James Franco

James Franco

Acting1978Palo Alto, California, USA

Biography

James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor and filmmaker. For his role in 127 Hours (2010), he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Franco is known for appearing in films such as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), Milk (2008), Eat, Pray, Love (2010), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). He frequently collaborates with fellow actor Seth Rogen, including in Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), Sausage Party (2016), and The Disaster Artist (2017), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.

Franco's first prominent acting role was on television. He starred as Daniel Desario on the short-lived ensemble comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), which developed a cult following. He portrayed the title character in the television biographical film James Dean (2001), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and received nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and Primetime Emmy Award. Franco also had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera General Hospital (2009–2012) and starred in the limited series 11.22.63 (2016). He starred in the David Simon-created HBO drama The Deuce (2017–2019).

Acting History

2025
Squali
as Robert Price
2024
2020
Sleepaway Slasher
Executive Producer
2019
Pretenders
as Maxwell
Zeroville
as Vikar
Arctic Dogs
as Lemmy (voice)
Zeroville
Director
Pretenders
Director
2017
Alien: Covenant
as Jacob Branson (uncredited)
The Mad Whale
as Edward Fry
Blood Heist
as Farmer Simon
The Vault
as Ed Mass
The Institute
as Dr. Cairn
High School Lover
as Rick Winters
The Show
as Male Host
Actors Anonymous
as Jake Lamont
Dumpster Diving
as El Diablo
The Disaster Artist
as Tommy / 'Johnny'
The Deuce
TVas Vincent Martino / Frankie Martino25 eps
Marcians
TVas Self - Interviewee1 eps
Rio
Executive Producer
The Institute
Executive Producer
High School Lover
Executive Producer
Tenn
Director
Metamorphosis: Junior Year
Executive Producer
The Deuce
TVDirector4 eps
The Deuce
TVExecutive Producer25 eps
2016
In Dubious Battle
as Mac McLeod
Blood Surf
as Metalhead Troy
Why Him?
as Laird Mayhew
Sausage Party
as Druggie (voice)
King Cobra
as Joe Kerekes
Burn Country
as Lindsay
Goat
as Mitch
The Labyrinth
as Narrator (voice)
The Caged Pillows
as David D-R+
The Adderall Diaries
as Stephen Elliott
Yosemite
as Phil
Memoria
as Mr. Wyckoff
Angie Tribeca
TVas Sgt. Eddie Pepper6 eps
11.22.63
TVas Jake Epping8 eps
Hot Ones
TVas Self1 eps
King Cobra
Producer
Yosemite
Executive Producer
Goat
Producer
The Labyrinth
Executive Producer
Why Him?
Executive Producer
Blood Surf
Executive Producer
11.22.63
TVDirector1 eps
11.22.63
TVProducer8 eps
2014
The Interview
as Dave Skylark
Future Relic 02
as The Searcher
Obituaries
as Felix Mitchum
Palo Alto
as Mr. B
Child of God
as Jerry
The Veronica Mars Movie
as James Franco (uncredited)
Good People
as Tom Reed
The Colbert Report
TVas Self (uncredited)1 eps
Child of God
Director
Child of God
Screenplay
The Interview
Executive Producer
Guests
Executive Producer
Palo Alto
Presenter
2013
Playtime
as The Art Dealer
Homefront
as Morgan 'Gator' Bodine
Lovelace
as Hugh Hefner
This Is the End
as James Franco
As I Lay Dying
as Darl Bundren
Sal
as Milton Katselas
A Fuller Life
as Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy")
Venice 70: Future Reloaded
as Self (segment James Franco)
The Frame
TVas Will Rodman1 eps
The Mindy Project
TVas Paul Leotard2 eps
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TVas Self1 eps
As I Lay Dying
Screenplay
Kink
Producer
The Director
Producer
Bukowski
Director
Bukowski
Writer
La Passione
Director
DREAM
Director
DREAM
Producer
Interior. Leather Bar.
Director of Photography
Sal
Director
Sal
Story
2010
Howl
as Allen Ginsberg
Shadows & Lies
as William Vincent
Love and Distrust
as Travis (segment "Grasshopper")
Date Night
as Taste
Catblock (The Ultimate Co%kblock)
as James Franco (Image Only)
127 Hours
as Aron Ralston
30 Rock
TVas James Franco1 eps
Goat Boy
Director
2008
Milk
as Scott Smith
Camille
as Silias
Nights in Rodanthe
as Mark Flanner (uncredited)
Pineapple Express
as Saul Silver
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TVas Self2 eps
The Early Show
TVas Self1 eps
Saturday Night Live
TVas Self - Host / Self - Cameo (uncredited)4 eps
2007
Interview
as Boyfriend on Phone (voice)
Knocked Up
as Self (uncredited)
In the Valley of Elah
as Sergeant Carnelli
Spider-Man 3
as New Goblin / Harry Osborn
2006
The Holiday
as James Franco (uncredited)
Annapolis
as Jake Huard
Flyboys
as Blaine Rawlings
Grasshopper
as Travis
The Wicker Man
as Bar Guy #1
The Tony Danza Show
TVas Self1 eps
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TVas Self1 eps
2005
The Ape
as Harry Walker
The Great Raid
as Captain Prince
Fool's Gold
as Brent
The Ape
Director
Fool's Gold
Director
The Ape
Writer
The Ape
Executive Producer
2004
Spider-Man 2
as Harry Osborn
2003
Blind Spot
as Danny
2001
James Dean
as James Dean
Some Body
as Apartment Guy #3
The X-Files
TVas Officer #21 eps
2000
Whatever It Takes
as Chris Campbell
1999
Profiler
TVas Stevie1 eps
Freaks and Geeks
TVas Daniel Desario18 eps
To Serve and Protect
TVas Matt Carr2 eps
1997
Pacific Blue
TVas Brian1 eps

Social Media

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
4/19/1978(47 years old)
Place of Birth
Palo Alto, California, USA