James Franco Biography

James Edward Franco, born on April 19, 1978, is an American actor and filmmaker. He has graced the screen in various films, including Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), Milk (2008).

James Franco Height, Weight, Wife, Age, Biography & More

Eat Pray Love (2010), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). Franco is known for his collaborations with fellow actor Seth Rogen, featuring in eight films and one television series together.

Early Life

James Franco’s early life was marked by academic success and rebellious behavior, including arrests for drinking and theft. Despite initial reluctance, he pursued acting, eventually dropping out of UCLA to fulfill his passion. Franco’s dedication to his craft led him to immerse himself fully in roles, earning critical acclaim and awards.

Education

Originally from California, they attended school in Palo Alto. They pursued higher education at various institutions including the University of California, Los Angeles, Columbia University, New York University, Brooklyn College, and Warren Wilson College, and are currently a Ph.D. student at Yale University.

Age

James Franco Date of Birth April 19, 1978. Now he is  46 years old. Born in Palo Alto, California, U.S. under the Zodiac sign Aries. His Nationality is American.

Physical Stats

This individual stands at 178 centimeters tall, which is equivalent to 1.78 meters or 5 feet 10 inches. They weigh approximately 76 kilograms or 167.5 pounds. Their body measurements include a chest circumference of 42 inches, a waist size of 31 inches, and biceps measuring 14 inches. They have dark brown eyes and hair.

Wife

James Franco is currently unmarried.

Girlfriend

Throughout the years, they’ve had romantic involvements with Marla Sokoloff from 1999 to 2004, Ahna O’Reilly from 2006 to 2011, Agyness Deyn briefly in 2011, and Ashley Hartman from 2004 to 2005.

Family

James Franco comes from a family with a father, Douglas Eugene, who ran a Silicon Valley business, and a mother, Betsy Lou, who is a writer and an occasional actress. He has two brothers, Tom, an artist, and Dave, also known as Davy, who is an actor. When it comes to religion, Franco’s beliefs are complex, describing himself as unsure but believing in God to some degree. His ethnicity includes Portuguese, Swedish, and Jewish heritage.

James Franco with his Girlfriend Marla Sokoloff

James Franco with his Girlfriend Ahna O’Reilly

James Franco with his Girlfriend Agyness Deyn

Career

James Franco’s career is characterized by versatility and dedication. Despite early challenges and a rebellious phase, he pursued acting with determination, eventually achieving success in both film and television. From his breakout role in “Freaks and Geeks” to his immersive portrayal of James Dean, Franco’s commitment to his craft earned him critical acclaim and prestigious awards.

He further showcased his talent by taking on diverse roles, from comedies like “Pineapple Express” to intense dramas like “127 Hours”. Alongside his acting, Franco ventured into writing, directing, and teaching, showcasing his multifaceted talents and cementing his status as a respected figure in the entertainment industry.

Discography

Albums

• 2011: Turn It Up EP – collaboration with Kalup Linzy
• 2012: MotorCity EP – with Tim O’Keefe, as the duo “Daddy”[192]
• 2013: “Hanging with Da Dopeboys” – featuring DangeRuss from album Spring Breakers: Music from the Motion Picture
• 2013: “I Love You” – featuring Kalup Linzy from the album Romantic Loner
• 2016: Let Me Get What I Want – with Tim O’Keefe, as the duo “Daddy”[193]

Filmography and Awards

• Main articles: James Franco’s filmography and List of awards and nominations received by James Franco
• Selected works
• Franco, James. “A Star, a Soap and the Meaning of Art”. The Wall Street Journal, December 4, 2009.
• n+1 Issue 13: Machine Politics. n+1. 2012. ISBN 978-0982-5-9775-0.
• La Force, Thessaly (2012). My Ideal Bookshelf. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0316-2-0090-5.
• Franco, James (2012). Dangerous Book Four Boys. Rizzoli International Publications. ISBN 978-0847-8-3813-4.
• Franco, James (2012). 113 Crickets: Volume 2. Dymaxicon. ISBN 978-1937-9-6506-8.
• The Coffin Factory (Issue 3). The Coffin Factory. 2012.
• Franco, James (2012). Strongest of the Litter: (The Hollyridge Press Chapbook Series). Hollyridge Press. ISBN 978-0984-3-1005-0.
• Franco, James (2013). A California Childhood. Insight Editions. ISBN 978-1608-8-7202-2.
• Franco, James (2013). Actors Anonymous. Little A / New Harvest. ISBN 978-0544-1-1453-1.
• Franco, James (2014). “Acting In and Out of Context”. In Wilson, Carl (ed.). Let’s Talk About Love: Why Other People Have Such Bad Taste. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 233–243. ISBN 978-1-4411-6677-7.
• Franco, James (2014). Directing Herbert White: Poems. Graywolf Press. ISBN 978-1555-9-7673-6.
• Franco, James (2014). Hollywood Dreaming. Insight Editions. ISBN 978-1-60887-343-2.
• Franco, James. “Just Before the Black”. Esquire, March 24, 2010.

Music on other albums

Stage

Net Worth

James Franco has amassed a net worth of $20 million through his successful career in acting, writing, directing, and teaching.

Some Lesser Known Facts About James Franco

• He volunteers for the charity called Art of Elysium and has delivered free lectures on production and filmmaking for New York University.
• Franco has been arrested for drinking, graffiti, and being part of a group that stole expensive perfumes from department stores to sell to classmates, which led him to be the ward of the state. In his defense, he said, “It was teen angst. I was uncomfortable in my own skin. I was shy. I changed my ways just in time to get good grades!”
• Franco always wanted to be an actor but was afraid of rejection. He enrolled in UCLA as an English major but dropped out at his parents’ request to pursue acting.
• He took acting lessons with Robert Carnegie at the Playhouse West because he didn’t want to wait for two more years for his acting program audition at UCLA.
• He took a late-night job at McDonald’s because his parents refused to support him anymore. He would use different accents with customers and once mentioned in a Washington Post editorial that “McDonald’s was there when no one was”.
• He began auditioning after fifteen months of training and landed a role in a Pizza Hut commercial featuring a dancing Elvis Presley.
• The show “Freaks and Geeks”, in which James got his first lead role, was canceled after 18 months due to low viewership, though it later became a cult hit.
• To be convinced as James Dean, Franco lost his own identity and immersed himself in the role, smoking two packs of cigarettes a day despite being a non-smoker. He learned to ride a bike, play guitar, and cut off contact with his family, friends, and even his girlfriend. He spent time with Dean’s associates and watched his movies to get into character, describing it as “a very lonely existence”. He received a Golden Globe for his performance and nominations for an Emmy Award and a Star Guild Award.
• He lived on the streets to understand his drug-addicted homeless character for the movie “City by the Sea” (2002). Robert De Niro watched a snippet of James Dean and suggested casting James Franco.

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