Acting · Palo Alto, California, USA · Born April 19, 1978
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).
MovieJohn Rambo
2027
MovieBunny-Man
2026
as Austin Boyd
MovieSquali
2025
as Robert Price
MovieHey Joe
2024
as Dean Barry
MovieLargo Winch: The Price of Money
2024
as Ezio Burntwood
MovieArctic Dogs
2019
as Lemmy (voice)
MoviePretenders
2019
as Maxwell
MovieZeroville
2019
as Vikar
MovieDon't Come Back from the Moon
2019
as Roman Smalley
MovieThe Ballad of Buster Scruggs
2018
as Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones")
MovieKin
2018
as Taylor Balik
MovieFreaks and Geeks: The Documentary
2018
as Self
TVCultureshock
2018
as Self
MovieFuture World
2018
as Warlord
MovieMississippi Requiem
2018
as Homer Barron
MovieOh, Hi Mark: Making a Disaster
2018
as Self
TVMarcians
2017
as Self - Interviewee
MovieDrugs, Skate & Violence: Filmmaker Harmony Korine
2017
as Self - Archive Footage
MovieThe Show
2017
as Male Host
TVThe Deuce
2017
as Vincent Martino / Frankie Martino
MovieThe Vault
2017
as Ed Mass
Dumpster Diving
2017
as El Diablo
MovieBlood Heist
2017
as Farmer Simon
MovieThe Mad Whale
2017
as Edward Fry
MovieAlien: Covenant
2017
as Jacob Branson (uncredited)
MovieThe Disaster Artist
2017
as Tommy / 'Johnny'
MovieActors Anonymous
2017
as Jake Lamont
MovieThe Institute
2017
as Dr. Cairn
MovieHigh School Lover
2017
as Rick Winters
MovieWhy Him?
2016
as Laird Mayhew
MovieThe Labyrinth
2016
as Narrator (voice)
MovieBlood Surf
2016
as Metalhead Troy
MovieKing Cobra
2016
as Joe Kerekes
MovieIn Dubious Battle
2016
as Mac McLeod
MovieGoat
2016
as Mitch
MovieSausage Party
2016
as Druggie (voice)
MovieMother, May I Sleep with Danger?
2016
as Director
The Caged Pillows
2016
as David D-R+
MovieBurn Country
2016
as Lindsay
MovieThe Adderall Diaries
2016
as Stephen Elliott
MovieMemoria
2016
as Mr. Wyckoff
MovieThe 4%: Film's Gender Problem
2016
as Self
TV11.22.63
2016
as Jake Epping
TVAngie Tribeca
2016
as Sgt. Eddie Pepper
MovieYosemite
2016
as Phil
MovieRichard Peter Johnson
2015
as James Franco
MovieThe Night Before
2015
as Self
MovieA Walk in Winter
2015
as Conrad
MovieThe Sound and the Fury
2015
as Benjy Compson
MovieQueen of the Desert
2015
as Henry Cadogan
MovieCall Me Lucky
2015
as Self
TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015
as Self
MovieThe Little Prince
2015
as The Fox (voice)
MovieBlack Dog, Red Dog
2015
as Leo
MovieWild Horses
2015
as Ben Briggs
MovieKilling Animals
2015
as Mr. Hurston
MovieTrue Story
2015
as Christian Longo
MovieEvery Thing Will Be Fine
2015
as Tomas Eldan
MovieThe Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards
2015
as Conrad
TVHot Ones
2015
as Self
MovieI Am Michael
2015
as Michael Glatze
MovieDon Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha
2015
as Pasamonte
MovieThe Interview
2014
as Dave Skylark
MovieFuture Relic 02
2014
as The Searcher
MovieNational Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men
2014
as George
TVMaking A Scene With James Franco
2014
MovieDave Skylark's Very Special VMA Special
2014
as David Skylark
MovieGood People
2014
as Tom Reed
MovieThird Person
2014
as Rick
MovieObituaries
2014
as Felix Mitchum
MovieBehind the Scenes of Palo Alto
2014
as Self
MoviePalo Alto
2014
as Mr. B
MovieChild of God
2014
as Jerry
TVDeadbeat
2014
as Johnny
MovieVeronica Mars
2014
as James Franco (uncredited)
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
MovieI Think You're Totally Wrong: A Quarrel
2014
as James Franco
MovieHomefront
2013
as Morgan 'Gator' Bodine
MoviePlaytime
2013
as The Art Dealer
MovieSal
2013
as Milton Katselas
MovieAs I Lay Dying
2013
as Darl Bundren
MovieInterior. Leather Bar.
2013
as James
MovieHere Comes the Night Time
2013
as Man on Phone
MovieMademoiselle C
2013
as Self
MovieWhat Is Cinema?
2013
as Self
MovieComedy Central Roast of James Franco
2013
as Self
MovieA Fuller Life
2013
as Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy")
MovieVenice 70: Future Reloaded
2013
as Self (segment James Franco)
MovieLovelace
2013
as Hugh Hefner
Roast of James Franco: Red Carpet Pre-Show
2013
as Self
MovieThis Is the End
2013
as James Franco
MovieMy Journey in Oz
2013
as Self
TVThe Frame
2013
as Will Rodman
MovieOz the Great and Powerful
2013
as Oz
MovieSpring Breakers
2013
as Alien
MovieThe Color of Time
2012
as C.K. Williams (age 40)
TVThe Mindy Project
2012
as Paul Leotard
MovieThe Letter
2012
as Tyrone
MovieThe Iceman
2012
as Marty Freeman
MovieMaladies
2012
as James
MovieMarina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
2012
as Self
MovieThe Broken Tower
2012
as Hart Crane
MovieHart Crane: An Exegesis
2012
as Self
MovieAbout Cherry
2012
as Francis
MovieEames: The Architect and the Painter
2011
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieRise of the Planet of the Apes
2011
as Will Rodman
TVHamish and Andy's Gap Year
2011
as Self
MovieCaput
2011
MovieYour Highness
2011
as Fabious
MovieTwo Films, One Legacy
2011
MovieSaturday Night Live: The Best of '09/'10
2011
MovieThe Green Hornet
2011
as Danny Crystal Cleer (uncredited)
Movie127 Hours
2010
as Aron Ralston
TVConan
2010
as Self
MovieHowl
2010
as Allen Ginsberg
Catblock (The Ultimate Co%kblock)
2010
as James Franco (Image Only)
MovieLove and Distrust
2010
as Travis (segment "Grasshopper")
MovieEat Pray Love
2010
as David
MovieWith Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
2010
as Self
Masculinity & Me
2010
MovieSaturday Night
2010
as Self
MovieShadows & Lies
2010
as William Vincent
MovieDate Night
2010
as Taste
MovieSNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas
2009
as (archive footage)
MovieThe Room Before and After - Part 1: James Franco
2009
MovieErased James Franco
2009
as Self
MovieMilk
2008
as Scott Smith
MovieGood Time Max
2008
as Max
MovieNights in Rodanthe
2008
as Mark Flanner (uncredited)
MoviePineapple Express
2008
as Saul Silver
MovieCamille
2008
as Silias
TVBetween Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
2008
as Self
MovieThe Hills with James Franco and Mila Kunis
2007
as Justin Bobby
MovieIn the Valley of Elah
2007
as Sergeant Carnelli
MovieAn American Crime
2007
as Andy
MovieInterview
2007
as Boyfriend on Phone (voice)
MovieKnocked Up
2007
as Sol (uncredited)
MovieSpider-Man 3
2007
as New Goblin / Harry Osborn
MovieFinishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee
2007
as Dean Silo
MovieThe Holiday
2006
as James Franco (uncredited)
MovieThe Dead Girl
2006
as Derek
TV30 Rock
2006
as James Franco
Grasshopper
2006
as Travis
MovieFlyboys
2006
as Blaine Rawlings
MovieThe Wicker Man
2006
as Bar Guy #1
MovieTristan & Isolde
2006
as Tristan
MovieAnnapolis
2006
as Jake Huard
TVThe Colbert Report
2005
MovieThe Great Raid
2005
as Captain Prince
MovieThe Ape
2005
as Harry Walker
MovieFool's Gold
2005
as Brent
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self
MovieSpider-Man 2
2004
as Harry Osborn
MovieThe Company
2003
as Josh
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
Blind Spot
2003
as Danny
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
MovieSonny
2002
as Sonny
MovieCity by the Sea
2002
as Joey
MovieMother Ghost
2002
as Skateboarder guy
You Always Stalk the Ones You Love
2002
MovieThe Car Kid
2002
MovieDeuces Wild
2002
as Tino
MovieSpider-Man
2002
as Harry Osborn
MovieSpider-Mania
2002
as Self
MovieBehind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man'
2002
as Self
MovieJames Dean
2001
as James Dean
Some Body
2001
as Apartment Guy #3
Mean People Suck
2001
as Casey
MovieAt Any Cost
2000
as Mike
MovieWhatever It Takes
2000
as Chris Campbell
MovieIf Tomorrow Comes
2000
as Devin
TVThe Early Show
1999
as Self
TVFreaks and Geeks
1999
as Daniel Desario
MovieNever Been Kissed
1999
as Jason
MovieTo Serve and Protect
1999
as Matt Carr
TVTo Serve and Protect
1999
as Matt Carr
TVProfiler
1996
as Stevie
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self
TVPacific Blue
1996
as Brian
TVThe X-Files
1993
as Officer #2
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
MovieNaya: Legend of the Golden Dolphin
as Finn (voice)
Castro's Daughter
as Fidel Castro
Golden State Killer
The Long Home
as Dallas Hardin
MovieThe Razor's Edge
as Dante
Kill the Czar
Jesse Heiman: World's Greatest Extra
as Self
MovieToad
Foster
as Donald 'Don' Foster
Love Meets in the Sunshine
as Jacob
Something's In There
Making A Scene
as Himself
