
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
April 19, 1978 (age 47)
Place of Birth
Palo Alto, California, USA
Also Known As
James Edward Franco
James Franco
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).
Known For

TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

TV
The X-Files
Officer #2
1993

TV
30 Rock
James Franco
2006

TV
Conan
Self
2010

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975

TV
The Colbert Report
2005

TV
The Colbert Report
Self (uncredited)
2005

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self
1988

TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992

Film
Alien: Covenant
Jacob Branson (uncredited)
2017

TV
Hot Ones
Self
2015

TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003

TV
The Mindy Project
Paul Leotard
2012

TV
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self
2015

TV
Angie Tribeca
Sgt. Eddie Pepper
2016

TV
Pacific Blue
Brian
1996
Filmography
2026FilmTurnbuckle2025FilmSqualias Robert Price2024FilmHey Joeas Dean Barry2024FilmThe Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventureas Ezio Burntwood2019FilmArctic Dogsas Lemmy (voice)2019FilmPretendersas Maxwell2019FilmZerovilleas Vikar2019FilmDon't Come Back from the Moonas Roman Smalley2018FilmThe Ballad of Buster Scruggsas Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones")2018FilmKinas Taylor Balik2018FilmFreaks and Geeks: The Documentaryas Self2018FilmFuture Worldas Warlord2018FilmMississippi Requiemas Homer Barron2018FilmOh, Hi Mark: Making a Disasteras Self2017TVMarciansas Self - Interviewee2017FilmDrugs, Skate & Violence: Filmmaker Harmony Korineas Self - Archive Footage2017FilmThe Showas Male Host2017TVThe Deuceas Vincent Martino / Frankie Martino2017FilmThe Vaultas Ed Mass2017FilmAlien: Covenant - Master Class: Ridley Scottas Self2017FilmDumpster Divingas El Diablo2017FilmBlood Heistas Farmer Simon2017FilmThe Mad Whaleas Edward Fry2017FilmAlien: Covenantas Jacob Branson (uncredited)2017FilmThe Disaster Artistas Tommy / 'Johnny'2017FilmActors Anonymousas Jake Lamont2017FilmThe Instituteas Dr. Cairn2017FilmAlien: Covenant - Prologue: Last Supperas Branson2017FilmHigh School Loveras Rick Winters2016FilmWhy Him?as Laird Mayhew2016FilmThe Labyrinthas Narrator (voice)2016FilmBlood Surfas Metalhead Troy2016FilmKing Cobraas Joe Kerekes2016FilmIn Dubious Battleas Mac McLeod2016FilmGoatas Mitch2016FilmSausage Partyas Druggie (voice)2016FilmMother, May I Sleep with Danger?as Director2016FilmThe Caged Pillowsas David D-R+2016FilmBurn Countryas Lindsay2016FilmThe Adderall Diariesas Stephen Elliott2016FilmMemoriaas Mr. Wyckoff2016FilmThe 4%: Film's Gender Problemas Self2016TV11.22.63as Jake Epping2016TVAngie Tribecaas Sgt. Eddie Pepper2016FilmYosemiteas Phil2015FilmRichard Peter Johnsonas James Franco2015FilmThe Night Beforeas Self2015FilmA Walk in Winteras Conrad2015FilmThe Sound and the Furyas Benjy Compson2015FilmQueen of the Desertas Henry Cadogan2015FilmCall Me Luckyas Self2015TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporteras Self2015FilmThe Little Princeas The Fox (voice)2015FilmBlack Dog, Red Dogas Leo2015FilmWild Horsesas Ben Briggs2015FilmKilling Animalsas Mr. Hurston2015FilmTrue Storyas Christian Longo2015FilmEvery Thing Will Be Fineas Tomas Eldan2015FilmThe Heyday of the Insensitive Bastardsas Conrad2015TVHot Onesas Self2015FilmI Am Michaelas Michael Glatze2015FilmDon Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Manchaas Pasamonte2014FilmThe Interviewas Dave Skylark2014FilmFuture Relic 02as The Searcher2014FilmNational Theatre Live: Of Mice and Menas George2014FilmDave Skylark's Very Special VMA Specialas David Skylark2014FilmGood Peopleas Tom Reed2014FilmThird Personas Rick2014FilmObituariesas Felix Mitchum2014FilmBehind the Scenes of Palo Altoas Self2014FilmPalo Altoas Mr. B2014FilmChild of Godas Jerry2014TVDeadbeatas Johnny2014FilmVeronica Marsas James Franco (uncredited)2014TVLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self2014TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self2013FilmHomefrontas Morgan 'Gator' Bodine2013FilmPlaytimeas The Art Dealer2013FilmSalas Milton Katselas2013FilmAs I Lay Dyingas Darl Bundren2013FilmInterior. Leather Bar.as James2013FilmHere Comes the Night Timeas Man on Phone2013FilmMademoiselle Cas Self2013FilmWhat Is Cinema?as Self2013FilmComedy Central Roast of James Francoas Self2013FilmA Fuller Lifeas Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy")2013FilmVenice 70: Future Reloadedas Self (segment James Franco)2013FilmLovelaceas Hugh Hefner2013FilmRoast of James Franco: Red Carpet Pre-Showas Self2013FilmThis Is the Endas James Franco2013FilmMy Journey in Ozas Self2013TVThe Frameas Will Rodman2013FilmOz the Great and Powerfulas Oz2013FilmSpring Breakersas Alien2012FilmThe Color of Timeas C.K. Williams (age 40)2012TVThe Mindy Projectas Paul Leotard2012FilmThe Letteras Tyrone2012FilmThe Icemanas Marty Freeman2012FilmMaladiesas James2012FilmMarina Abramović: The Artist Is Presentas Self2012FilmThe Broken Toweras Hart Crane2012FilmHart Crane: An Exegesisas Self2012FilmAbout Cherryas Francis2011FilmEames: The Architect and the Painteras Self - Narrator (voice)2011FilmRise of the Planet of the Apesas Will Rodman2011TVHamish and Andy's Gap Yearas Self2011FilmCaput2011FilmYour Highnessas Fabious2011FilmTwo Films, One Legacy2011FilmSaturday Night Live: The Best of '09/'102011FilmThe Green Hornetas Danny Crystal Cleer (uncredited)2010Film127 Hoursas Aron Ralston2010TVConanas Self2010FilmHowlas Allen Ginsberg2010FilmCatblock (The Ultimate Co%kblock)as James Franco (Image Only)2010FilmLove and Distrustas Travis (segment "Grasshopper")2010FilmEat Pray Loveas David2010FilmWith Great Power: The Stan Lee Storyas Self2010FilmMasculinity & Me2010FilmSaturday Nightas Self2010FilmShadows & Liesas William Vincent2010FilmDate Nightas Taste2009FilmSNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmasas (archive footage)2009FilmThe Room Before and After - Part 1: James Franco2009FilmErased James Francoas Self2008FilmMilkas Scott Smith2008FilmGood Time Maxas Max2008FilmNights in Rodantheas Mark Flanner (uncredited)2008FilmPineapple Expressas Saul Silver2008FilmCamilleas Silias2008TVBetween Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakisas Self2007FilmThe Hills with James Franco and Mila Kunisas Justin Bobby2007FilmIn the Valley of Elahas Sergeant Carnelli2007FilmAn American Crimeas Andy2007FilmInterviewas Boyfriend on Phone (voice)2007FilmKnocked Upas Self (uncredited)2007FilmSpider-Man 3as New Goblin / Harry Osborn2007FilmFinishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Leeas Dean Silo2006FilmThe Holidayas James Franco (uncredited)2006FilmThe Dead Girlas Derek2006TV30 Rockas James Franco2006FilmGrasshopperas Travis2006FilmFlyboysas Blaine Rawlings2006FilmThe Wicker Manas Bar Guy #12006FilmTristan & Isoldeas Tristan2006FilmAnnapolisas Jake Huard2005TVThe Colbert Report2005FilmThe Great Raidas Captain Prince2005FilmThe Apeas Harry Walker2005FilmFool's Goldas Brent2004TVThe Tony Danza Showas Self2004FilmSpider-Man 2as Harry Osborn2003FilmThe Companyas Josh2003TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2003FilmBlind Spotas Danny2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002FilmSonnyas Sonny2002FilmCity by the Seaas Joey2002FilmMother Ghostas Skateboarder guy2002FilmYou Always Stalk the Ones You Love2002FilmThe Car Kid2002FilmDeuces Wildas Tino2002FilmSpider-Manas Harry Osborn2002FilmSpider-Maniaas Self2002FilmBehind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man'as Self2001FilmJames Deanas James Dean2001FilmSome Bodyas Apartment Guy #32001FilmMean People Suckas Casey2000FilmAt Any Costas Mike2000FilmWhatever It Takesas Chris Campbell2000FilmIf Tomorrow Comesas Devin1999TVThe Early Showas Self1999TVFreaks and Geeksas Daniel Desario1999FilmNever Been Kissedas Jason1999FilmTo Serve and Protectas Matt Carr1999TVTo Serve and Protectas Matt Carr1996TVProfileras Stevie1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1996TVPacific Blueas Brian1993TVThe X-Filesas Officer #21992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Cameo (uncredited)—FilmNaya: Legend of the Golden Dolphinas Finn (voice)—FilmAlina of Cuba: La Hija Rebeldeas Fidel Castro—FilmGolden State Killer—FilmBunny-Manas Austin Boyd—FilmThe Long Homeas Dallas Hardin—FilmThe Razor's Edgeas Dante—FilmKill the Czar—FilmJesse Heiman: World's Greatest Extraas Self—FilmToad—FilmFosteras Donald 'Don' Foster—FilmLove Meets in the Sunshineas Jacob