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 his roles 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 is known for his collaborations with fellow actor Seth Rogen, having appeared in eight films and one television series with him, examples being 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 is also known for his work on television where his first prominent acting role was the character 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 Screen Actors Guild Award and Primetime Emmy Award. Franco 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).
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Known For
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(2011)
Will Rodman
Alien: Covenant
(2017)
Jacob Branson (uncredited)
Sausage Party
(2016)
Druggie (voice)
Spider-Man 3
(2007)
New Goblin / Harry Osborn
Spider-Man
(2002)
Harry Osborn
The Little Prince
(2015)
The Fox (voice)
Future World
(2018)
Warlord
The Interview
(2014)
Dave Skylark
Homefront
(2013)
Morgan 'Gator' Bodine
Oz the Great and Powerful
(2013)
Oz
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
(2018)
Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones")
The Vault
(2017)
Ed Mass
Spider-Man 2
(2004)
Harry Osborn
The Holiday
(2006)
James Franco (uncredited)
Knocked Up
(2007)
Self (uncredited)
The Wicker Man
(2006)
Bar Guy #1
Full Filmography
Acting
To Serve and Protect
(1999)
Matt Carr
Never Been Kissed
(1999)
Jason
If Tomorrow Comes
(2000)
Devin
At Any Cost
(2000)
Mike
Whatever It Takes
(2000)
Chris Campbell
James Dean
(2001)
James Dean
Some Body
(2001)
Apartment Guy #3
Mean People Suck
(2001)
Casey
Spider-Mania
(2002)
Self
The Car Kid
(2002)
Mother Ghost
(2002)
Skateboarder guy
Sonny
(2002)
Sonny
Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man'
(2002)
Self
You Always Stalk the Ones You Love
(2002)
Spider-Man
(2002)
Harry Osborn
Deuces Wild
(2002)
Tino
City by the Sea
(2002)
Joey
The Company
(2003)
Josh
Blind Spot
(2003)
Danny
Spider-Man 2
(2004)
Harry Osborn
Fool's Gold
(2005)
Brent
The Ape
(2005)
Harry Walker
The Great Raid
(2005)
Captain Prince
The Dead Girl
(2006)
Derek
The Holiday
(2006)
James Franco (uncredited)
The Wicker Man
(2006)
Bar Guy #1
Annapolis
(2006)
Jake Huard
Flyboys
(2006)
Blaine Rawlings
Tristan & Isolde
(2006)
Tristan
Grasshopper
(2006)
Travis
An American Crime
(2007)
Andy
Knocked Up
(2007)
Self (uncredited)
Interview
(2007)
Boyfriend on Phone (voice)
Spider-Man 3
(2007)
New Goblin / Harry Osborn
In the Valley of Elah
(2007)
Sergeant Carnelli
Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee
(2007)
Dean Silo
The Hills with James Franco and Mila Kunis
(2007)
Justin Bobby
Good Time Max
(2008)
Max
Pineapple Express
(2008)
Saul Silver
Nights in Rodanthe
(2008)
Mark Flanner (uncredited)
Camille
(2008)
Silias
Milk
(2008)
Scott Smith
Erased James Franco
(2009)
Self
SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas
(2009)
The Room Before and After - Part 1: James Franco
(2009)
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
(2010)
Self
Love and Distrust
(2010)
Travis (segment "Grasshopper")
Howl
(2010)
Allen Ginsberg
Shadows & Lies
(2010)
William Vincent
127 Hours
(2010)
Aron Ralston
Eat Pray Love
(2010)
David
Date Night
(2010)
Taste
Masculinity & Me
(2010)
14 Actors Acting
(2010)
Self
Saturday Night
(2010)
Self
Eames: The Architect and the Painter
(2011)
Narrator (voice)
The Green Hornet
(2011)
Danny Crystal Cleer (uncredited)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(2011)
Will Rodman
Your Highness
(2011)
Fabious
Caput
(2011)
About Cherry
(2012)
Francis
The Color of Time
(2012)
C.K. Williams (age 40)
Maladies
(2012)
James
The Letter
(2012)
Tyrone
Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
(2012)
Self
Hart Crane: An Exegesis
(2012)
Himself
The Iceman
(2012)
Marty Freeman
The Broken Tower
(2012)
Hart Crane
Comedy Central Roast of James Franco
(2013)
Self
Roast of James Franco: Red Carpet Pre-Show
(2013)
Self
Mademoiselle C
(2013)
Self
Playtime
(2013)
The Art Dealer
Sal
(2013)
Milton Katselas
What Is Cinema?
(2013)
Self
Third Person
(2013)
Rick
Bound 3
(2013)
"Kanye" Substitute
As I Lay Dying
(2013)
Darl Bundren
This Is the End
(2013)
James Franco
Interior. Leather Bar.
(2013)
James
Homefront
(2013)
Morgan 'Gator' Bodine
Here Comes the Night Time
(2013)
Man on Phone
Lovelace
(2013)
Hugh Hefner
Oz the Great and Powerful
(2013)
Oz
Spring Breakers
(2013)
Alien
A Fuller Life
(2013)
Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy")
Dave Skylark's Very Special VMA Special
(2014)
David Skylark
Good People
(2014)
Tom Reed
Veronica Mars
(2014)
James Franco (uncredited)
Palo Alto
(2014)
Mr. B
Child of God
(2014)
Jerry
The Interview
(2014)
Dave Skylark
Obituaries
(2014)
Felix Mitchum
Future Relic 02
(2014)
The Searcher
National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men
(2014)
George
Behind the Scenes of Palo Alto
(2014)
Self
I Am Michael
(2015)
Michael Glatze
The Sound and the Fury
(2015)
Benjy Compson
Wild Horses
(2015)
Ben Briggs
Black Dog, Red Dog
(2015)
Leo
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha
(2015)
Pasamonte
Call Me Lucky
(2015)
Self
The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards
(2015)
Conrad
The Night Before
(2015)
Self
Killing Animals
(2015)
Mr. Hurston
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
(2015)
Self
A Walk in Winter
(2015)
Conrad
Richard Peter Johnson
(2015)
James Franco
The Little Prince
(2015)
The Fox (voice)
Queen of the Desert
(2015)
Henry Cadogan
True Story
(2015)
Christian Longo
Every Thing Will Be Fine
(2015)
Tomas Eldan
Blood Surf
(2016)
Metalhead Troy
The Caged Pillows
(2016)
David D-R+
The 4%: Film's Gender Problem
(2016)
Self
Why Him?
(2016)
Laird Mayhew
King Cobra
(2016)
Joe Kerekes
Burn Country
(2016)
Lindsay
Goat
(2016)
Mitch
Sausage Party
(2016)
Druggie (voice)
The Adderall Diaries
(2016)
Stephen Elliott
In Dubious Battle
(2016)
Mac McLeod
Memoria
(2016)
Mr. Wyckoff
Yosemite
(2016)
Phil
Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?
(2016)
Director
The Labyrinth
(2017)
Narrator (voice)
Actors Anonymous
(2017)
Jake Lamont
The Mad Whale
(2017)
The Vault
(2017)
Ed Mass
The Disaster Artist
(2017)
Tommy / "Johnny"
The Institute
(2017)
Dr. Cairn
Alien: Covenant
(2017)
Jacob Branson (uncredited)
Alien: Covenant - Prologue: Last Supper
(2017)
Capt. Jacob Branson
The Show
(2017)
Male Host
Blood Heist
(2017)
Farmer Simon
High School Lover
(2017)
Rick Winters
Kin
(2018)
Taylor Balik
Future World
(2018)
Warlord
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
(2018)
Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones")
Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary
(2018)
Self
Mississippi Requiem
(2018)
Arctic Dogs
(2019)
Lemmy (voice)
Zeroville
(2019)
Vikar
Don't Come Back from the Moon
(2019)
Roman Smalley
Pretenders
(2019)
Maxwell
The Long Home
(2021)
Dallas Hardin
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure
(2024)
Directing
The Ape
(2005)
Director
Fool's Gold
(2005)
Director
Good Time Max
(2008)
Director
The Feast of Stephen
(2009)
Director
Goat Boy
(2010)
Director
42 One Dream Rush
(2010)
Director
Herbert White
(2010)
Director
The Clerk's Tale
(2010)
Director
Saturday Night
(2010)
Director
Untitled
(2010)
Director
Masculinity & Me
(2010)
Director
Blood Meridian Test Reel
(2011)
Director
My Own Private River
(2011)
Director
Hart Crane: An Exegesis
(2012)
Director
Francophrenia
(2012)
Director
The Broken Tower
(2012)
Director
Bukowski
(2013)
Director
Sal
(2013)
Director
La Passione
(2013)
Director
Venice 70: Future Reloaded
(2013)
Director
DREAM
(2013)
Director
Interior. Leather Bar.
(2013)
Director
As I Lay Dying
(2013)
Director
Child of God
(2014)
Director
I Think You're Totally Wrong: A Quarrel
(2014)
Director
The Sound and the Fury
(2015)
Director
Black Dog, Red Dog
(2015)
Director
In Dubious Battle
(2016)
Director
The Institute
(2017)
Director
Tenn
(2017)
Director
The Disaster Artist
(2017)
Director
Future World
(2018)
Director
Pretenders
(2019)
Director
Zeroville
(2019)
Director
Birth of a Poet
(2020)
Director
The Long Home
(2021)
Director
Writing
Fool's Gold
(2005)
Writer
The Ape
(2005)
Writer
Good Time Max
(2008)
Writer
The Feast of Stephen
(2009)
Writer
Masculinity & Me
(2010)
Writer
The Clerk's Tale
(2010)
Screenplay
Herbert White
(2010)
Writer
The Broken Tower
(2012)
Screenplay
Bukowski
(2013)
Writer
Sal
(2013)
Story
As I Lay Dying
(2013)
Screenplay
Palo Alto
(2014)
Book and Author
Child of God
(2014)
Screenplay
Killing Animals
(2015)
Novel
Black Dog, Red Dog
(2015)
Writer
Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?
(2016)
Story
Yosemite
(2016)
Book
Actors Anonymous
(2017)
Writer
Mississippi Requiem
(2018)
Writer
Birth of a Poet
(2020)
Writer
Production
The Ape
(2005)
Executive Producer
Jeffrey
(2012)
Executive Producer
The Color of Time
(2012)
Producer
The Broken Tower
(2012)
Producer
The Director
(2013)
Producer
Kink
(2013)
Producer
Interior. Leather Bar.
(2013)
Producer
DREAM
(2013)
Producer
Guests
(2014)
Executive Producer
The Interview
(2014)
Executive Producer
Miss Famous
(2015)
Executive Producer
I Am Michael
(2015)
Producer
A Walk in Winter
(2015)
Executive Producer
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha
(2015)
Executive Producer
King Cobra
(2016)
Producer
Blood Surf
(2016)
Executive Producer
Yosemite
(2016)
Executive Producer
In Dubious Battle
(2016)
Producer
Goat
(2016)
Producer
The Adderall Diaries
(2016)
Producer
Why Him?
(2016)
Executive Producer
Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?
(2016)
Executive Producer
The Labyrinth
(2017)
Executive Producer
The Institute
(2017)
Executive Producer
High School Lover
(2017)
Executive Producer
The Disaster Artist
(2017)
Producer
Rio
(2017)
Executive Producer
Mississippi Requiem
(2018)
Executive Producer
Future World
(2018)
Producer
Don't Come Back from the Moon
(2019)
Producer
Sleepaway Slasher
(2020)
Executive Producer
Editing
Crew