James Franco
Acting • Born 1978-04-19
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).
Filmography
196 credits
Spider-Man
Movie • 2002
Harry Osborn
Spider-Man 3
Movie • 2007
New Goblin / Harry Osborn
Spider-Man 2
Movie • 2004
Harry Osborn
Milk
Movie • 2008
Scott Smith
James Dean
Movie • 2001
James Dean
Pineapple Express
Movie • 2008
Saul Silver
The Wicker Man
Movie • 2006
Bar Guy #1
Knocked Up
Movie • 2007
Self (uncredited)
Never Been Kissed
Movie • 1999
Jason
Camille
Movie • 2008
Silias
The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure
Movie • 2024
Ezio Burntwood
In the Valley of Elah
Movie • 2007
Sergeant Carnelli
Tristan & Isolde
Movie • 2006
Tristan
An American Crime
Movie • 2007
Andy
Annapolis
Movie • 2006
Jake Huard
Flyboys
Movie • 2006
Blaine Rawlings
Sonny
Movie • 2002
Sonny
City by the Sea
Movie • 2002
Joey
The Dead Girl
Movie • 2006
Derek
Date Night
Movie • 2010
Taste
The Great Raid
Movie • 2005
Captain Prince
Good Time Max
Movie • 2008
Max
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Movie • 2011
Will Rodman
Eat Pray Love
Movie • 2010
David
127 Hours
Movie • 2010
Aron Ralston
The Ape
Movie • 2005
Harry Walker
Your Highness
Movie • 2011
Fabious
Whatever It Takes
Movie • 2000
Chris Campbell
Dave Skylark's Very Special VMA Special
Movie • 2014
David Skylark
Howl
Movie • 2010
Allen Ginsberg
Shadows & Lies
Movie • 2010
William Vincent
Naya: Legend of the Golden Dolphin
Movie
Finn (voice)
Love and Distrust
Movie • 2010
Travis (segment "Grasshopper")
Oz the Great and Powerful
Movie • 2013
Oz
The Iceman
Movie • 2012
Marty Freeman
The Company
Movie • 2003
Josh
The Broken Tower
Movie • 2012
Hart Crane
The Hills with James Franco and Mila Kunis
Movie • 2007
Justin Bobby
Mean People Suck
Movie • 2001
Casey
Eames: The Architect and the Painter
Movie • 2011
Self - Narrator (voice)
About Cherry
Movie • 2012
Francis
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
Movie • 2010
Self
Lovelace
Movie • 2013
Hugh Hefner
Mother Ghost
Movie • 2002
Skateboarder guy
Nights in Rodanthe
Movie • 2008
Mark Flanner (uncredited)
Spring Breakers
Movie • 2013
Alien
The Letter
Movie • 2012
Tyrone
This Is the End
Movie • 2013
James Franco
Child of God
Movie • 2014
Jerry
As I Lay Dying
Movie • 2013
Darl Bundren
Interior. Leather Bar.
Movie • 2013
James
Maladies
Movie • 2012
James
Palo Alto
Movie • 2014
Mr. B
Third Person
Movie • 2014
Rick
Homefront
Movie • 2013
Morgan 'Gator' Bodine
Erased James Franco
Movie • 2009
Self
The Color of Time
Movie • 2012
C.K. Williams (age 40)
Sal
Movie • 2013
Milton Katselas
Hart Crane: An Exegesis
Movie • 2012
Self
Sausage Party
Movie • 2016
Druggie (voice)
Hey Joe
Movie • 2024
Dean Barry
True Story
Movie • 2015
Christian Longo
Every Thing Will Be Fine
Movie • 2015
Tomas Eldan
The Interview
Movie • 2014
Dave Skylark
Veronica Mars
Movie • 2014
James Franco (uncredited)
Good People
Movie • 2014
Tom Reed
Alien: Covenant
Movie • 2017
Jacob Branson (uncredited)
The Adderall Diaries
Movie • 2016
Stephen Elliott
Alina of Cuba: La Hija Rebelde
Movie
Fidel Castro
The Sound and the Fury
Movie • 2015
Benjy Compson
Saturday Night
Movie • 2010
Self
Queen of the Desert
Movie • 2015
Henry Cadogan
Dumpster Diving
Movie • 2017
El Diablo
Zeroville
Movie • 2019
Vikar
I Am Michael
Movie • 2015
Michael Glatze
Yosemite
Movie • 2016
Phil
Memoria
Movie • 2016
Mr. Wyckoff
SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas
Movie • 2009
(archive footage)
Comedy Central Roast of James Franco
Movie • 2013
Self
National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men
Movie • 2014
George
Golden State Killer
Movie
Caput
Movie • 2011
Wild Horses
Movie • 2015
Ben Briggs
Fool's Gold
Movie • 2005
Brent
Burn Country
Movie • 2016
Lindsay
Bunny-Man
Movie
Austin Boyd
In Dubious Battle
Movie • 2016
Mac McLeod
Why Him?
Movie • 2016
Laird Mayhew
The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards
Movie • 2015
Conrad
Future Relic 02
Movie • 2014
The Searcher
The Night Before
Movie • 2015
Self
Call Me Lucky
Movie • 2015
Self
The Disaster Artist
Movie • 2017
Tommy / 'Johnny'
Grasshopper
Movie • 2006
Travis
Blind Spot
Movie • 2003
Danny
The Long Home
Movie
Dallas Hardin
The Car Kid
Movie • 2002
The Razor's Edge
Movie
Dante
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha
Movie • 2015
Pasamonte
King Cobra
Movie • 2016
Joe Kerekes
Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?
Movie • 2016
Director
Goat
Movie • 2016
Mitch
The Caged Pillows
Movie • 2016
David D-R+
Obituaries
Movie • 2014
Felix Mitchum
The 4%: Film's Gender Problem
Movie • 2016
Self
The Green Hornet
Movie • 2011
Danny Crystal Cleer (uncredited)
The Little Prince
Movie • 2015
The Fox (voice)
At Any Cost
Movie • 2000
Mike
Actors Anonymous
Movie • 2017
Jake Lamont
Richard Peter Johnson
Movie • 2015
James Franco
Future World
Movie • 2018
Warlord
Deuces Wild
Movie • 2002
Tino
Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee
Movie • 2007
Dean Silo
Some Body
Movie • 2001
Apartment Guy #3
Interview
Movie • 2007
Boyfriend on Phone (voice)
Black Dog, Red Dog
Movie • 2015
Leo
The Labyrinth
Movie • 2016
Narrator (voice)
Masculinity & Me
Movie • 2010
The Vault
Movie • 2017
Ed Mass
Arctic Dogs
Movie • 2019
Lemmy (voice)
A Walk in Winter
Movie • 2015
Conrad
Mississippi Requiem
Movie • 2018
Homer Barron
You Always Stalk the Ones You Love
Movie • 2002
Kill the Czar
Movie
The Institute
Movie • 2017
Dr. Cairn
Squali
Movie • 2025
Robert Price
The Mad Whale
Movie • 2017
Edward Fry
Killing Animals
Movie • 2015
Mr. Hurston
Kin
Movie • 2018
Taylor Balik
A Fuller Life
Movie • 2013
Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy")
Pretenders
Movie • 2019
Maxwell
High School Lover
Movie • 2017
Rick Winters
The Holiday
Movie • 2006
James Franco (uncredited)
Don't Come Back from the Moon
Movie • 2019
Roman Smalley
Blood Heist
Movie • 2017
Farmer Simon
To Serve and Protect
Movie • 1999
Matt Carr
Playtime
Movie • 2013
The Art Dealer
Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary
Movie • 2018
Self
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Movie • 2018
Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones")
Behind the Scenes of Palo Alto
Movie • 2014
Self
What Is Cinema?
Movie • 2013
Self
The Room Before and After - Part 1: James Franco
Movie • 2009
Roast of James Franco: Red Carpet Pre-Show
Movie • 2013
Self
If Tomorrow Comes
Movie • 2000
Devin
The Show
Movie • 2017
Male Host
Here Comes the Night Time
Movie • 2013
Man on Phone
Blood Surf
Movie • 2016
Metalhead Troy
Mademoiselle C
Movie • 2013
Self
Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man'
Movie • 2002
Self
Spider-Mania
Movie • 2002
Self
Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
Movie • 2012
Self
Jesse Heiman: World's Greatest Extra
Movie
Self
Catblock (The Ultimate Co%kblock)
Movie • 2010
James Franco (Image Only)
Venice 70: Future Reloaded
Movie • 2013
Self (segment James Franco)
Oh, Hi Mark: Making a Disaster
Movie • 2018
Self
Toad
Movie
Saturday Night Live: The Best of '09/'10
Movie • 2011
Drugs, Skate & Violence: Filmmaker Harmony Korine
Movie • 2017
Self - Archive Footage
Alien: Covenant - Prologue: Last Supper
Movie • 2017
Branson
Alien: Covenant - Master Class: Ridley Scott
Movie • 2017
Self
Foster
Movie
Donald 'Don' Foster
Turnbuckle
Movie • 2026
Love Meets in the Sunshine
Movie
Jacob
Two Films, One Legacy
Movie • 2011
My Journey in Oz
Movie • 2013
Self
The Tony Danza Show
TV • 2004
Self
The Daily Show
TV • 1996
Self
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV • 1988
Self
Freaks and Geeks
TV • 1999
Daniel Desario
The Early Show
TV • 1999
Self
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV • 1992
Profiler
TV • 1996
Stevie
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Officer #2
30 Rock
TV • 2006
James Franco
The Colbert Report
TV • 2005
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV • 2014
Self
Hamish and Andy's Gap Year
TV • 2011
Self
Deadbeat
TV • 2014
Johnny
11.22.63
TV • 2016
Jake Epping
The Mindy Project
TV • 2012
Paul Leotard
The Deuce
TV • 2017
Vincent Martino / Frankie Martino
Hot Ones
TV • 2015
Self
Angie Tribeca
TV • 2016
Sgt. Eddie Pepper
Pacific Blue
TV • 1996
Brian
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
TV • 2015
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV • 2014
Self
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
The Frame
TV • 2013
Will Rodman
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
TV • 2008
Self
Marcians
TV • 2017
Self - Interviewee
Conan
TV • 2010
Self
To Serve and Protect
TV • 1999
Matt Carr
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
The Colbert Report
TV • 2005
Self (uncredited)