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).
2025
as Finn (voice)
2025
2024
2024
as Ezio Burntwood
2022
as Self (archive footage)
2021
as Dallas Hardin
2019
as Lemmy (voice)
2019
as Maxwell
2019
as Vikar
2019
as Roman Smalley
2018
as Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones")
2018
as Taylor Balik
2018
as Self
2018
as Warlord
2018
2017
as Self - Interviewee
2017
as Male Host
2017
as Vincent Martino / Frankie Martino
2017
as Ed Mass
2017
as El Diablo
2017
as Farmer Simon
2017
2017
as Jacob Branson (uncredited)
2017
as Tommy / "Johnny"
2017
as Jake Lamont
2017
as Dr. Cairn
2017
as Capt. Jacob Branson
2017
as Rick Winters
2016
as Laird Mayhew
2016
as Narrator (voice)
2016
as Metalhead Troy
2016
as Joe Kerekes
2016
as Mac McLeod
2016
as Mitch
2016
as Druggie (voice)
2016
as Director
2016
as David D-R+
2016
as Lindsay
2016
as Stephen Elliott
2016
as Mr. Wyckoff
2016
as Self
2016
as Jake Epping
2016
as Sgt. Eddie Pepper
2016
as Phil
2015
as James Franco
2015
as Self
2015
as Conrad
2015
as Benjy Compson
2015
as Henry Cadogan
2015
as Self
2015
as The Fox (voice)
2015
as Leo
2015
as Ben Briggs
2015
as Mr. Hurston
2015
as Christian Longo
2015
as Tomas Eldan
2015
as Conrad
2015
as Self
2015
as Michael Glatze
2015
as Pasamonte
2014
as Dave Skylark
2014
as The Searcher
2014
as George
2014
as David Skylark
2014
as Tom Reed
2014
as Rick
2014
as Felix Mitchum
2014
as Self
2014
as Mr. B
2014
as Jerry
2014
as Johnny
2014
as James Franco (uncredited)
2013
as Morgan 'Gator' Bodine
2013
as The Art Dealer
2013
as Milton Katselas
2013
as Darl Bundren
2013
as James
2013
as Man on Phone
2013
as Self
2013
as Self
2013
as Self
2013
as Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy")
2013
as Hugh Hefner
2013
as Self
2013
as James Franco
2013
as Oz
2013
as Alien
2012
as C.K. Williams (age 40)
2012
as Paul Leotard
2012
as Tyrone
2012
as Marty Freeman
2012
as James
2012
as Self
2012
as Hart Crane
2012
as Himself
2012
as Francis
2012
as Cowboy (archive footage)
2011
as Self - Narrator (voice)
2011
as Will Rodman
2011
as Himself
2011
2011
as Fabious
2011
as Danny Crystal Cleer (uncredited)
2010
as Self
2010
as Aron Ralston
2010
as Allen Ginsberg
2010
as Travis (segment "Grasshopper")
2010
as David
2010
as Self
2010
2010
as Self
2010
as William Vincent
2010
as Taste
2009
2009
2009
as Self
2008
as Scott Smith
2008
as Max
2008
as Mark Flanner (uncredited)
2008
as Saul Silver
2008
as Silias
2007
as Sergeant Carnelli
2007
as Andy
2007
as Boyfriend on Phone (voice)
2007
as Self (uncredited)
2007
as New Goblin / Harry Osborn
2007
as Dean Silo
2007
as Justin Bobby
2006
as James Franco (uncredited)
2006
as Derek
2006
as James Franco
2006
as Travis
2006
as Blaine Rawlings
2006
as Bar Guy #1
2006
as Tristan
2006
as Jake Huard
2005
as Captain Prince
2005
as Harry Walker
2005
as Brent
2004
as Harry Osborn
2003
as Josh
2003
as Danny
2002
as Sonny
2002
as Joey
2002
as Skateboarder guy
2002
2002
2002
as Tino
2002
as Harry Osborn
2002
as Self
2002
as Self
2001
as James Dean
2001
as Apartment Guy #3
2001
as Casey
2000
as Mike
2000
as Chris Campbell
2000
as Devin
1999
as Daniel Desario
1999
as Jason
1999
as Matt Carr
1996
1996
as Brian
1993
as Officer #2
as Fidel Castro
as Babcock
as Dante
as Self