Childhood and Education Journey of James Franco in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of James Franco. A timeline of key moments.

James Franco is an American actor and filmmaker known for his diverse roles in both mainstream and independent cinema. He gained prominence in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and has starred in films like Milk, Eat Pray Love, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. A frequent collaborator with Seth Rogen, he has appeared in comedies such as Pineapple Express, This Is the End, and The Interview. Franco received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe for his performance in The Disaster Artist, and an Academy Award nomination for 127 Hours, solidifying his status as a versatile and accomplished performer.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1940: Surname Change

Sometime after 1940, James Franco's maternal grandfather, Daniel, changed his surname from "Verovitz" to "Verne".

1947: Birth of Betsy Lou (Verne)

In 1947, Betsy Lou (née Verne), James Franco's mother, was born. She is a children's book author and occasional actress.

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1948: Birth of Douglas Eugene Franco

In 1948, Douglas Eugene Franco, James Franco's father, was born. He ran a Silicon Valley business.

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April 19, 1978: James Franco's Birth

On April 19, 1978, James Edward Franco was born in Palo Alto, California. His mother is Betsy Lou, a children's book author, and his father is Douglas Eugene Franco.

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1996: Graduation from Palo Alto High School

In 1996, James Franco graduated from Palo Alto High School, where he acted in plays.

1998: Attending CSSSA

In 1998, James Franco attended CSSSA for theater studies, further developing his acting skills.

2006: Re-enrollment at UCLA

In autumn 2006, James Franco, dissatisfied with his career's direction, reenrolled at UCLA as an English major with a creative writing concentration.

June 2008: Undergraduate Degree

In June 2008, James Franco received his undergraduate degree from UCLA with a GPA of 3.5/4.0.

September 23, 2010: Erroneous Grade Announcement

On September 23, 2010, James Franco erroneously announced that he received a "D" grade in an "Acting" class at NYU. In fact, he received that grade in a "Directing the Actor" class.

2010: M.F.A. from Columbia University

In 2010, James Franco received his M.F.A. from Columbia University. As of 2010, Franco was studying in the Ph.D. program in English at Yale University.

2011: Death of Douglas Eugene Franco

In 2011, Douglas Eugene Franco, James Franco's father, passed away.

2011: Media Coverage and Misquotes

In 2011, James Franco addressed frequent media coverage, particularly regarding his interest in colleges, and claimed to have been misquoted by news outlets. This led to a parody on SNL's Weekend Update.

2011: Teaching Film Courses

In 2011, James Franco taught a graduate-level film course at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He has also taught film classes at USC and UCLA, as well as a screenwriting class on the online learning community Skillshare. He also helped to attract actors for his student's film projects.

March 2013: Featured in UCLA Advertisement

In March 2013, James Franco was featured in UCLA print advertisements as a "prolific academic" with the tagline: "Some A-Listers Actually Get A's".

September 2013: Settlement of Defamation Lawsuit

In September 2013, James Franco and José Angel Santana settled the defamation lawsuit.

December 2013: Article on Selfies

In December 2013, James Franco wrote an explanatory article for The New York Times about his reputation for publishing "selfies".

March 2015: Discussion of Sexuality

In a March 2015 interview with Four Two Nine magazine, James Franco opened up about his sexuality, stating he is "gay in my art and straight in my life."

2015: Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

In 2015, James Franco had an official bar mitzvah ceremony, presided over by a rabbi.

2015: Show Inspired by Franco

In 2015, a Chicago-based theater company, Under the Gun Theater, developed a show inspired by and titled after James Franco called "Dear James Franco", which satirized letters penned to or by celebrities.