History of James Franco in Timeline
James Franco is an American actor and filmmaker known for his diverse roles in both mainstream and independent cinema. He gained widespread recognition for his roles in Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' trilogy and has since 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' and 'This Is the End.' Franco won a Golden Globe for his performance in 'The Disaster Artist' and received an Academy Award nomination for '127 Hours,' highlighting his range as an actor.
1940: Surname change
Sometime after 1940, James Franco's maternal grandfather, Daniel, changed his surname from "Verovitz" to "Verne".
April 19, 1978: James Franco's birth
On April 19, 1978, James Edward Franco was born. He is an American actor and filmmaker.
1996: Graduation from Palo Alto High School
In 1996, James Franco graduated from Palo Alto High School, where he participated in plays, marking an early interest in acting.
1998: Attending CSSSA for theater studies
In 1998, James Franco attended CSSSA for theater studies, furthering his interest in acting.
1999: First break on Freaks and Geeks
In 1999, James Franco got his first break when he was cast in a leading role on the NBC television series Freaks and Geeks.
1999: Met Marla Sokoloff on set of Whatever It Takes
In 1999, James Franco met Marla Sokoloff on the set of "Whatever It Takes", which led to them dating for five years.
2000: Role in Whatever It Takes
In 2000, James Franco played Chris in Whatever It Takes, a modern-day remake of the play Cyrano de Bergerac.
2000: Freaks and Geeks ends
In 2000, the TV show Freaks and Geeks, in which James Franco played Daniel Desario, ended. Despite its short run, the show developed a cult following.
2001: Franco wins Golden Globe for James Dean
In 2001, James Franco portrayed the title character in the television biographical film James Dean, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and received nominations for Screen Actors Guild Award and Primetime Emmy Award.
2001: Role in James Dean TV movie
In 2001, James Franco was cast as the title role in the TV biographical film James Dean. He won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG) for his performance.
2002: Role in Spider-Man
In 2002, James Franco achieved worldwide fame and attention with his role as Harry Osborn in the superhero film Spider-Man.
2002: Starring in Sonny and City by the Sea
In 2002, James Franco starred in Sonny, directed by Nicolas Cage, and in City by the Sea, showcasing his versatility as an actor in diverse roles.
2003: Co-starring in The Company
In 2003, James Franco co-starred with Neve Campbell in Robert Altman's ballet movie, The Company.
2004: Reprising the role in Spider-Man 2
In 2004, James Franco reprised his role as Harry Osborn in Spider-Man 2, which was well-received by critics and financially successful.
2005: Starring in The Ape and The Great Raid
In 2005, James Franco starred in The Ape and The Great Raid, portraying Robert Prince in the latter.
February 11, 2006: Paintings displayed publicly for the first time
On February 11, 2006, James Franco's paintings were displayed publicly for the first time at the Glü Gallery in Los Angeles.
September 2006: Releases of Flyboys and The Wicker Man
In September 2006, James Franco appeared in Flyboys, for which he trained for his Private Pilot Licence, and made a brief appearance in The Wicker Man remake.
2006: Re-enrolled at UCLA as an English major
In autumn 2006, James Franco, dissatisfied with his career's direction, re-enrolled at UCLA as an English major with a creative writing concentration, taking as many as 62 course credits per quarter.
2007: Starring in Spider-Man 3, Knocked Up, and Camille
In 2007, James Franco played Harry Osborn in Spider-Man 3, made a cameo appearance in Knocked Up, and co-starred in the independent film Camille.
2007: Spider-Man 3 release
In 2007, James Franco starred in Spider-Man 3, which was the last movie in the Spider-Man trilogy.
June 2008: Received undergraduate degree from UCLA
In June 2008, James Franco received his undergraduate degree from UCLA with a GPA of 3.5/4.0, completing his departmental honors thesis as a novel.
September 20, 2008: Hosting Saturday Night Live
On September 20, 2008, James Franco hosted the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) for the first time.
2008: Franco stars in Milk and Pineapple Express
In 2008, James Franco starred in Milk and Pineapple Express, marking significant roles in his career.
2008: Starring in Milk
In 2008, James Franco starred in Milk as Scott Smith, the boyfriend of Harvey Milk, earning him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2008: Face of Gucci's Men's Fragrance Line
In 2008, James Franco was named as the face of Gucci's men's fragrance line.
June 12, 2009: Withdrawal from UCLA commencement speech
On June 12, 2009, James Franco was scheduled to be the commencement speaker at UCLA, but he withdrew due to a date conflict with location pre-production on a film.
December 19, 2009: Hosting Saturday Night Live again
On December 19, 2009, James Franco hosted the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) for a second time.
2009: Recurring role on General Hospital
In 2009, James Franco had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera General Hospital, showcasing his diverse acting choices.
2009: Named Sexiest Man Living by Salon
In 2009, James Franco was named the Sexiest Man Living by Salon.
2009: Joining General Hospital
In late 2009, James Franco joined the cast of the daytime soap opera General Hospital on a recurring basis, playing a multimedia artist named Franco.
May 2010: Cast in Rise of the Planet of the Apes
In May 2010, James Franco was cast to star in Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
May 2010: Short Films Presented at Maryland Film Festival
In May 2010, James Franco's short films as director, The Feast of Stephen and Herbert White, were both presented within Maryland Film Festival.
June 2010: Solo Exhibition at The Clocktower Gallery
In June 2010, James Franco presented his first solo exhibition, "The Dangerous Book Four Boys", at The Clocktower Gallery in New York City.
September 2010: Acquired Rights to The Adderall Diaries
In September 2010, James Franco acquired the rights to Stephen Elliott's The Adderall Diaries, with the intention to adapt, direct, and star in the film.
September 23, 2010: Erroneous announcement about 'D' grade
On September 23, 2010, James Franco publicly announced that he received a "D" grade in an "Acting" class at NYU, but he actually received it in a "Directing the Actor" class.
October 19, 2010: Publication of Palo Alto
On October 19, 2010, Scribner published a collection of short stories, Palo Alto, by James Franco.
November 5, 2010: Limited Release of 127 Hours
On November 5, 2010, the movie "127 Hours", starring James Franco as Aron Ralston, had a limited release. The movie is about Ralston's experience of being trapped in a ravine and resorting to desperate measures to survive, including amputating his arm. The movie was a commercial success and was well-reviewed.
2010: Appearance on 30 Rock and starring in Howl
In 2010, James Franco appeared on the sitcom 30 Rock, playing himself, and starred as Allen Ginsberg in the drama Howl.
2010: Short film based on "Directing Herbert White" poem
In 2010, James Franco made a short film based on the poem "Directing Herbert White" by Frank Bidart.
2010: Received M.F.A. from Columbia
In 2010, James Franco received his M.F.A. from Columbia University School of the Arts.
2010: Franco stars in Eat Pray Love and 127 hours
In 2010, James Franco starred in Eat Pray Love. He also starred in 127 Hours, which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 83rd Academy Awards.
2010: Franco's Museum Exhibits
In the summer of 2010, the fictional Franco from General Hospital held an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, while the real Franco held an exhibit at the museum based on his experiences on the soap opera.
January 2011: Screening of Three's Company The Drama
In January 2011, James Franco screened his multimedia project, entitled Three's Company The Drama, at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
January 2011: Plans to Direct The Night Stalker
In January 2011, it was announced that James Franco planned to star in and direct himself in The Night Stalker, a film version of Philip Carlo's book about Richard Ramirez.
January 26, 2011: Satirical video on Funny or Die
On January 26, 2011, James Franco and the Harvard Lampoon released a satirical video on Funny or Die mocking his last-minute cancellation of the UCLA commencement speech.
February 23, 2011: Cameo on Minute to Win It
On February 23, 2011, James Franco made a cameo appearance on NBC's Minute to Win It where Aron Ralston was participating as a contestant playing for charity.
February 27, 2011: Hosted the 83rd Academy Awards
On February 27, 2011, James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosted the 83rd Academy Awards, receiving widespread criticism for their performance.
March 31, 2011: An Evening with James Franco benefit
On March 31, 2011, James Franco participated in "An Evening with James Franco," a Washington D.C. dinner benefit for 826DC, discussing the need for more original literature programs in schools.
April 2011: Franco supports Japanese tsunami relief
In April 2011, James Franco autographed a T-shirt for auction through the Yoshiki Foundation, with the proceeds donated for Japanese tsunami relief.
July 2011: Filming Begins for Oz the Great and Powerful
In July 2011, filming began for Oz the Great and Powerful, a Disney prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, starring James Franco.
August 5, 2011: Release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes
On August 5, 2011, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, starring James Franco, was released. It was a reboot of the Planet of the Apes series.
August 2011: Confirmation of separation from Ahna O'Reilly
In the August 2011 issue of Playboy magazine, James Franco confirmed his separation from actress Ahna O'Reilly, citing his interest in education as a contributing factor.
2011: First European art exhibition in Berlin
In 2011, James Franco launched his first European art exhibition at Peres Projects in Berlin.
2011: Dance-theater directorial debut; Short films for R.E.M.; The Broken Tower screening
In 2011, James Franco made his dance-theater directorial debut at New York's Stella Adler Studios with "Collage", directed two short films for R.E.M., and screened his docudrama "The Broken Tower" at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
2011: Franco stars in Rise of the Planet of the Apes
In 2011, James Franco starred in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
2011: Teaching film course at NYU
In 2011, James Franco taught a graduate-level film course at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and helped attract actors to his students' film projects.
2011: Franco discusses media misquotes
In a 2011 interview, James Franco stated that he had been strongly misquoted by reports in the media and news outlets reporting erroneous information about him.
February 2012: Began Shooting Child of God
In February 2012, James Franco began shooting a film version of Cormac McCarthy's Child of God, which stars Scott Haze as Lester Ballard.
April 2012: Ranked on Shalom Life's list of talented Jewish men
In April 2012, Shalom Life ranked James Franco and his brother, Dave, together as number two on its list of 50 talented and attractive Jewish men.
September 2012: Release of Daddy's first single and EP
In September 2012, James Franco announced the release of his band Daddy's first single "Love in the Old Days" and their first EP "MotorCity".
September 2012: Defamation lawsuit filed against Franco
In September 2012, José Angel Santana filed a defamation lawsuit against James Franco, claiming that Franco's comments about his teaching were false and led to his termination.
2012: The Broken Tower DVD release
In 2012, "The Broken Tower", a docudrama directed by James Franco, was released on DVD.
2012: Franco stars in Spring Breakers
In 2012, James Franco starred in Spring Breakers, adding to his list of diverse film roles.
2012: End of General Hospital role
In 2012, James Franco's recurring role on General Hospital came to an end.
March 8, 2013: Release of Oz the Great and Powerful
On March 8, 2013, Oz the Great and Powerful, starring James Franco, was released. It's a Disney prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
March 2013: Featured in UCLA print advertisement
In March 2013, James Franco was featured in half-page print advertisements for UCLA, celebrating him as a "prolific academic".
March 2013: Broadway Debut in Of Mice and Men
In March 2013, it was announced that James Franco was set to make his 2014 Broadway stage debut in the role of George in a revival of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
July 9, 2013: Announcement as Comedy Central Roast roastee
On July 9, 2013, James Franco announced that he would be the featured roastee on the next Comedy Central Roast.
September 2, 2013: Comedy Central Roast aired
On September 2, 2013, James Franco's Comedy Central Roast aired.
September 2013: A24 Campaign for Spring Breakers
In September 2013, A24 films began a campaign in support of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for James Franco's performance in Spring Breakers.
September 2013: Settlement of defamation lawsuit
In September 2013, James Franco and José Angel Santana settled the defamation lawsuit.
October 2013: Appeared in City of Angels Music Video
In October 2013, James Franco appeared in the music video for "City of Angels" by Thirty Seconds to Mars.
December 2013: Article in The New York Times about selfies
In December 2013, James Franco wrote an explanatory article for The New York Times about his reputation for publishing "selfies".
2013: Franco stars in Oz the Great and Powerful and This Is the End
In 2013, James Franco starred in Oz the Great and Powerful, and This Is the End, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
2013: Starred in This Is the End
In 2013, James Franco starred in This Is the End as a fictionalized version of himself stuck in a house during an apocalypse.
2013: Featured in Man of the World magazine
In 2013, James Franco was featured as the cover model and focus in the men's magazine "Man of the World".
February 2014: Article in The New York Times in support of Shia LaBeouf
In February 2014, James Franco wrote an article in The New York Times in support of Shia LaBeouf's metamodernist performance art.
April 2014: Publication of poetry collection
In April 2014, Graywolf Press issued James Franco's first collection of poetry, "Directing Herbert White".
April 2014: Directed and Appeared in Techno Color Sunglasses
In April 2014, James Franco directed and appeared in "Techno Color Sunglasses", which promoted Gucci's eyewear collection.
April 2014: Franco presents at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
In April 2014, James Franco presented at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet Competition with Leighton Meester and Chris O'Dowd.
June 2014: Franco performs in Broadway Bares
In June 2014, James Franco performed in the BC/EFA benefit Broadway Bares.
2014: Controversy over alleged messages with a minor
In 2014, James Franco faced controversy after a seventeen-year-old girl posted screenshots of alleged messages between her and Franco on Instagram, where he reportedly tried to meet her in a hotel room after she told him she was seventeen. Franco admitted to writing the messages and later stated he was "embarrassed" and that "I learned my lesson."
2014: Allegations posted on Instagram
In 2014, a 17-year-old girl posted screenshots on Instagram alleging inappropriate messages between her and James Franco.
March 2015: Interview about sexuality
In a March 2015 interview with Four Two Nine magazine, James Franco opened up about his sexuality, stating that he is "gay in his art and straight in his life."
April 2015: I Am Michael and True Story Shown at Sundance Film Festival
In April 2015, two of James Franco's projects, I Am Michael and True Story, were shown at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
2015: Official bar mitzvah ceremony
In 2015, James Franco had an official bar mitzvah ceremony, presided over by a rabbi.
2015: Cast in 11.22.63
In 2015, James Franco was cast in the lead role for the Hulu limited series 11.22.63, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King.
2015: Washington Post editorial on McDonald's job
In 2015, James Franco wrote a Washington Post editorial titled "McDonald's was there for me when no one else was", reflecting nostalgically on his late-night job at McDonald's.
2015: Under the Gun Theater's Dear James Franco production
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.
February 15, 2016: Premiere of 11.22.63
On February 15, 2016, the eight-episode Hulu limited series 11.22.63, starring James Franco, premiered.
December 2016: Release of Why Him?
In December 2016, the comedy Why Him?, starring James Franco, was released. Franco played an immature tech-billionaire.
2016: Directed, Co-Produced, and Starred in The Disaster Artist
In 2016, James Franco directed, co-produced, and starred in The Disaster Artist, the film adaptation of Greg Sestero's book about the making of The Room.
2016: Franco stars in Sausage Party
In 2016, James Franco starred in Sausage Party, continuing his collaborative work with Seth Rogen.
2016: Franco stars in 11.22.63
In 2016, James Franco starred in the limited series 11.22.63, adding to his television roles.
May 19, 2017: Release of Alien: Covenant
On May 19, 2017, Alien: Covenant, featuring James Franco, was released. Franco played Branson, the captain of the Covenant ship.
December 1, 2017: Release of The Disaster Artist
On December 1, 2017, The Disaster Artist, directed by and starring James Franco, was released to positive reviews.
2017: Slowing Down to Focus on Himself
At the end of 2017, James Franco, almost 40, said he was slowing down to focus on himself.
2017: Started dating Izabel Pakzad
In 2017, James Franco began dating Izabel Pakzad, as reported in 2024.
2017: Franco stars in The Deuce
In 2017, James Franco starred in The Deuce, an HBO drama created by David Simon.
2017: Franco stars in The Disaster Artist
In 2017, James Franco starred in The Disaster Artist, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
January 9, 2018: New York Times cancels event with Franco
On January 9, 2018, The New York Times canceled a planned event with James Franco regarding 'The Disaster Artist' due to the controversy surrounding recent allegations against him.
January 11, 2018: Allegations of inappropriate behavior reported
On January 11, 2018, the Los Angeles Times reported that five women were accusing James Franco of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior during the period when Franco was serving as their acting teacher or mentor.
2018: Criticism for wearing Time's Up pin at Golden Globes
In 2018, at the Golden Globe Awards, James Franco faced immediate criticism for wearing a Time's Up pin in solidarity with the MeToo movement, after actress Ally Sheedy hinted at a negative experience working with him and a former girlfriend alleged he forced her to give him oral sex.
2018: Accusations of inappropriate behavior
In 2018, the Los Angeles Times reported that five women had accused James Franco of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior.
2018: Busy Philipps' account of altercation on Freaks and Geeks set
In her 2018 memoir, Busy Philipps described an account in which James Franco screamed at her before violently shoving her to the ground while on the set of Freaks and Geeks.
October 3, 2019: Lawsuit filed against James Franco
On October 3, 2019, two former students of James Franco's film and acting school, Studio 4, filed a lawsuit against him and his partners alleging sexual exploitation in the guise of education. The lawsuit claimed that students were subjected to sexually exploitative auditions and film shoots and were pressured to engage in simulated sexual acts.
February 21, 2021: Lawsuit settlement reported
On February 21, 2021, it was reported that the lawsuit against James Franco by two former students was settled, with both students agreeing to drop their individual claims.
March 15, 2021: Settlement submitted for court approval
On March 15, 2021, the deal for the lawsuit settlement was submitted for preliminary court approval.
April 2021: Charlyne Yi's allegations against Franco and Rogen
In April 2021, Charlyne Yi alleged that filmmakers tried to bribe her with a larger role after she attempted to quit The Disaster Artist due to allegations against James Franco, and she accused Seth Rogen of enabling Franco's behavior.
June 2021: Settlement terms revealed
In June 2021, the terms of the settlement were revealed, disclosing that James Franco would pay over $2.2 million to resolve the sexual exploitation legal disputes and a class-action plaint by Studio 4 students.
December 23, 2021: Interview on Jess Cagle Podcast
On December 23, 2021, James Franco gave his first interview in nearly four years when he appeared on an episode of the Jess Cagle Podcast.
2021: Franco reveals past substance abuse recovery
In 2021, James Franco stated that he had, at one time, entered recovery for substance abuse.
2021: Lawsuit settlement
In 2021, a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and fraud, filed by some of James Franco's former acting students, was settled for $2.2 million.
August 2022: Cast as Fidel Castro in Alina in Cuba
In August 2022, James Franco was cast as Fidel Castro in Alina in Cuba.
2024: People reports on dating Izabel Pakzad since 2017
In 2024, People reported that James Franco had been dating Izabel Pakzad since 2017.
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