In 2014, a 17-year-old girl posted several screenshots of alleged messages between her and Franco onInstagram.[1][2] The messages showed that Franco, then aged 35, tried to meet her in a hotel room even after she told him she was only 17.[3][4] In 2018, theLos Angeles Times reported that five women had accused Franco of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior while Franco was serving as their acting teacher or mentor.[5] His admission to having sex with students during his time as an acting school teacher led to lawsuits and a $2.2 million sexual misconduct settlement in 2021.[6][7]
Early life
James Edward Franco was born inPalo Alto, California,[8] on April 19, 1978.[9] His mother, Betsy Lou (née Verne), is a children's book author and occasional actress, and his father, Douglas Eugene Franco, ran aSilicon Valley business.[10][11]
His father was of Portuguese and Swedish ancestry, while his mother was from a family ofRussian Jews.[12][13][14]
His paternal grandmother, Marjorie (née Peterson), is a published author ofyoung adult books.[11][15] His maternal grandfather, Daniel, changed his surname from "Verovitz" to "Verne" some time after 1940,[14][16][17] and his maternal grandmother, Mitzie (née Levine), owned the prominent Verne Art Gallery inCleveland, Ohio and was an active member in theNational Council of Jewish Women.[18][19][20]
Franco's family upbringing was "academic, liberal, and largely secular".[21] He grew up in California with his two younger brothers, actorsTom andDave.[22] A "math whiz", Franco interned atLockheed Martin.[23] He was often encouraged by his father to get good grades and did well on theSAT.[21] He graduated fromPalo Alto High School in 1996, where he acted in plays. This led to him attendingCSSSA in 1998 for theater studies.[23][24] In his high school years, Franco was arrested for underage drinking, graffiti, and being a part of a group that stole designer fragrances from department stores and sold them to classmates.[25] These arrests led to Franco briefly becoming award of the state. Facing the possibility ofjuvenile hall, he was given a second chance by the judge.[14] He recalled of his troubles with the law, "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."[21]
Although the idea of becoming amarine zoologist interested him, Franco had always secretly wanted to become an actor but feared being rejected.[14] He enrolled at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an English major,[26] but dropped out after his first year (against his parents' wishes)[23] to pursue a career as an actor, since he would have had to wait two years to audition for their acting program.[14] He instead chose to take acting lessons with Robert Carnegie at the Playhouse West.[24] Around this time, he took up a late-night job atMcDonald's to support himself because his parents refused to do so. He was a vegetarian for the year prior to working there.[27] While working at the establishment, he would practice accents on customers, an experience he remembered nostalgically in a 2015Washington Post editorial titled "McDonald's was there for me when no one else was".[14][27]
Acting career
1997–2001
After 15 months of training, Franco began auditioning in Los Angeles. His first paid role was a television commercial forPizza Hut, featuring a dancingElvis Presley.[28] He found guest roles on television shows but his first break came in 1999, after he was cast in a leading role on the short-lived but well-reviewedNBC television seriesFreaks and Geeks,[29] which ran for 18 episodes and was canceled due to low viewership. Later, the show became acult hit among audiences.[30] He has since described the series as "one of the most fun" work experiences that he has had.[31] In another interview, Franco said: "When we were doingFreaks and Geeks, I didn't quite understand how movies and TV worked, and I would improvise even if the camera wasn't on me ... So I was improvising a little bit back then, but not in a productive way."[22] After his film debutNever Been Kissed, he played a popular jock named Chris inWhatever It Takes (2000), a modern-day remake of the 1897 playCyrano de Bergerac.[32][33]
He was subsequently cast as thetitle role in directorMark Rydell's 2001 TV biographical filmJames Dean.[34][35] To immerse himself in the role, Franco went from being a non-smoker to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, bleached his dark brown hair blond, and learned to ride a motorcycle as well as play guitar and the bongos.[34] To have a greater understanding of Dean, Franco spent hours with two of Dean's associates. Other research included reading books on Dean and studying his movies.[34] While filmingJames Dean, Franco, to get into character, cut off communication with his family and friends, as well as his then-girlfriend. "It was a very lonely existence," he notes. "If I wasn't on a set, I was watching James Dean. That was my whole thinking. James Dean. James Dean."[34] Despite already being a fan of Dean, Franco feared he might be typecast if he'd captured the actor too convincingly. Ken Tucker ofEntertainment Weekly wrote: "Franco could have walked through the role and done a passable Dean, but instead gets under the skin of this insecure, rootless young man."[36] He received aGolden Globe Award and nominations for anEmmy Award and aScreen Actors Guild Award (SAG).[37][38][39]
2002–2007
Franco achieved worldwide fame and attention in the 2002 superhero filmSpider-Man, when he playedHarry Osborn, the son of the villainousGreen Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and best friend ofSpider-Man (Tobey Maguire). Originally, Franco was considered for the lead role ofSpider-Man/Peter Parker in the film.[40] Todd McCarthy ofVariety noted that there are "good moments" between Maguire and Franco in the film.[41]Spider-Man was a commercial and critical success.[42] The movie grossed $114 million during its opening weekend in North America and went on to earn $822 million worldwide.[43]
He next starred inSonny, a 2002 release in which he was directed byNicolas Cage, whose involvement had attracted Franco to the film.[44] Set in 1980s New Orleans,Sonny follows the titular character (Franco) returning home after just being discharged from the Army. To prepare for his role, he met with sex workers or people who had previously been prostitutes.[44] The movie was panned by critics. Franco was cast as a homeless drug addict in the dramaCity by the Sea (2002) after co-starRobert De Niro saw a snippet of his work inJames Dean.[34] He lived on the streets for several days to better understand the subject matter[45] as well as talking to former or still-using drug addicts.[44] He also co-starred withNeve Campbell inRobert Altman's ballet movieThe Company (2003).[21] The success of the firstSpider-Man film led Franco to reprise the role in the 2004 sequel,Spider-Man 2. The movie was well received by critics,[42] and it proved to be a big financial success, setting a new opening weekend box office record for North America.[46] With a revenue of $783 million worldwide, it became the second highest-grossing film in 2004.[43] The following year he made and starred in theblack comedyThe Ape[21] and the 2005war filmThe Great Raid, in which he portrayedRobert Prince, a captain in the United States Army's eliteSixth Ranger Battalion. In 2006, Franco co-starred withTyrese Gibson inAnnapolis and played legendary heroTristan inTristan & Isolde, aperiod piece dramatization of theTristan and Iseult story also starring British actressSophia Myles. For the former, he did eight months of boxing training and for the latter, he practiced horseback riding and sword fighting.[47] He then completed training for hisPrivate Pilot Licence in preparation for his role inFlyboys,[25] which was released in September 2006; the same month, Franco appeared briefly inThe Wicker Man, the remake of theseminal horror film. Also in 2006, he made acameo appearance in the romantic comedyThe Holiday.[35]
Franco, preparing to ride in theBlue Angels No. 7, with Patrick Palma in a two-seat F/A-18B, in August 2006
He again played Harry Osborn inSpider-Man 3 (2007). In contrast to the previous two films' positive reviews,Spider-Man 3 was met with a mixed reception by critics.[42] Nonetheless, with a total worldwide gross of $891 million, it stands as the most successfulfilm in the series, and Franco's highest-grossing film to date.[43] In this same year, Franco made a cameo appearance as himself in the Apatow-directed comedyKnocked Up, which starredFreaks and Geeks alumniSeth Rogen,Jason Segel andMartin Starr.[25] Franco co-starred withSienna Miller in the low-budgetindependent filmCamille, a dark fantasydramedy about a young newlywed couple andInterview, where he appears in a voice only role, both 2007 movies that were ignored by audiences and critics alike. Among his other 2007 projects wereGood Time Max, which Franco wrote, directed and starred in. The movie premiered at the 2007Tribeca Film Festival and tells the story of two talented brothers who take very diverse paths in life, one going on to become a doctor whilst the other sibling (Franco) experiences unemployment and uses drugs. The actor chose to cast himself in that role because, "It was really just a process of elimination. I was better suited for this role than the responsible surgeon".[48]
2008–2010
He next starred inPineapple Express (2008), a stoner comedy co-starring and co-written bySeth Rogen and produced byJudd Apatow.[31][49] Of Franco's character, Apatow said, "You tell him, 'Okay, you're going to play a pot dealer', and he comes back with a three-dimensional character you totally believe exists. He takes it very seriously, even when it's comedy".[50] In herNew York Times review, critic Manohla Dargis wrote: "He's delightful as Saul, loosey-goosey and goofy yet irrepressibly sexy, despite that greasy curtain of hair and a crash pad with a zero WAF (Woman Acceptance Factor). It's an unshowy, generous performance and it greatly humanizes a movie that, as it shifts genre gears and cranks up the noise, becomes disappointingly sober and self-serious".[51] His performance earned him a secondGolden Globe nomination, forBest Actor in a Musical or Comedy.[37] He has stated in some interviews that he no longer usescannabis (although he has occasionally alluded to smoking it, most notably during an extended segment onThe Colbert Report).[52] He was awardedHigh Times magazine's Stoner of the Year Award for his work inPineapple Express.[53] In 2008 he also appeared in two films by American artistCarter, exhibited at the Yvon Lambert gallery in Paris.[54] On September 20, 2008, he hosted the sketch comedy showSaturday Night Live (SNL),[55] and a second time on December 19, 2009.[56]
Franco began 2010 by making an appearance on the sitcom30 Rock where he played himself and carried on a fake romance withJenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) in a scheme concocted by their respective agents.[62] After appearing in the commercial successesDate Night, an action comedy, andEat Pray Love, an adaption of a novel, Franco played poetAllen Ginsberg in the dramaHowl, released on September 24.[17] The latter, about his most known poem and the trial about the work, premiered at theBerlin Film Festival and earned modest reviews.[42]
In his next project,127 Hours, directed byDanny Boyle, Franco portrayed real-life mountain climberAron Ralston. It was given a limited release starting on November 5, 2010.[63]127 Hours centered on Ralston trying to free his hand after it became trapped under a boulder in a ravine while canyoneering alone inUtah and resorting to desperate measures in order to survive, eventually amputating his arm. During the five-week, 12-hours-per-day shoot, Franco would only leave the gully set to use the lavatory and would read books such as academic textbooks to keep busy.[64] Franco later called making127 Hours a once-in-a-lifetime experience.[65] To date,127 Hours is one of his most well-reviewed movies[42] and was also a commercial success, earning $60.7 million against an $18 million budget.[63] His performance earned him universal acclaim from critics. Subsequently, he was nominated for anAcademy Award, Golden Globe and SAG award, as well as winning an Independent Spirit Award.
At the end of September 2010, the actor acquired the rights toStephen Elliott'sThe Adderall Diaries, with the intention to adapt, direct, and star in the film.[74] It was announced in January 2011 that the actor has planned to not only star in, but direct himself inThe Night Stalker, a film version of authorPhilip Carlo's book about the 1980s serial killer,Richard Ramirez. Co-screenwriter of the screenplay, Nicholas Constantine, was initially unconvinced that Franco would be right for the movie, until he learned of Franco's desire to be a director and later watched three of his short films, one of which featured a serial killer, ultimately confirming to the writer that the actor had a darker side.[75] Franco also directed a film version ofWilliam Faulkner's novelAs I Lay Dying;[76] thefilm was screened in theUn Certain Regard section at the2013 Cannes Film Festival.[77] In late 2013, Franco starred inThis Is the End as a fictionalized version of himself stuck in a house during anapocalypse with Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, and Danny McBride, also fictionalized versions of themselves.[78]
In February 2012, Franco began shooting afilm version ofCormac McCarthy's 1973 novellaChild of God, which starsScott Haze as Lester Ballard. The film chronicles the depraved and violent impulses of the young Tennessee backwoodsman after he is dispossessed of his ancestral land. Child of God was selected in official competition at the 70th Venice Film Festival, an official selection to the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and an official selection to the prestigious 51st New York Film Festival. In 2013, Franco starred as the gangster "Alien" inHarmony Korine'sSpring Breakers, withVanessa Hudgens,Selena Gomez,Ashley Benson,Gucci Mane andRachel Korine. A24 films began a campaign in September 2013 in support of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for Franco's performance.[79] In March 2013, it was announced that Franco was set to make his 2014 Broadway stage debut in the role of George in a revival ofJohn Steinbeck'sOf Mice and Men.[80] In October 2013, Franco appeared in the music video for "City of Angels" byThirty Seconds to Mars.[81]
On March 8, 2013, Franco received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard.[82]
Franco at the New York Film Critics Series premiere ofChild of God
In April 2014, Franco directed and appeared in "Techno Color Sunglasses", which promoted Gucci's eyewear collection.[83] In December, Franco starred in the controversial Sony comedy thriller,The Interview, a film which played a central role in the real world diplomatic relations between the United States and North Korea as they related to the2014 Sony hacking incident.[84] In April 2015, two of his projects, titledI Am Michael andTrue Story, were shown at the2015 Sundance Film Festival. InI Am Michael, Franco plays a gay activist who rejects his homosexuality and becomes a conservative Christian pastor with a girlfriend. InTrue Story, based on a true story, Franco playedChristian Longo, a man who was on the FBI's most wanted list for murdering his wife and three children in Oregon, and who had also been hiding under the identity ofMichael Finkel, a journalist played byJonah Hill.[85]
In 2015, Franco was cast in the lead role for theHululimited series11.22.63 which is based on thenovel of the same name byStephen King.[86] The eight-episode series premiered on February 15, 2016.[87] In 2016, Franco co-produced and starred inKing Cobra, a true story about the rise of gay pornographic actorBrent Corrigan and the murder ofBryan Kocis. Franco playedJoseph Kerekes who (along with his partner) was convicted of the murder. In the comedyWhy Him?, released in December 2016, Franco played an immature tech-billionaire whose girlfriend's conservative father tries to intervene in the couple's relationship, withZoey Deutch playing the girlfriend andBryan Cranston as her father.[88] He briefly appeared in theAlien prequel,Alien: Covenant, alongside his longtime friend and frequent collaboratorDanny McBride, as well asMichael Fassbender andNoomi Rapace. He played Branson, the captain of the Covenant ship and husband to Daniels, played byKatherine Waterston. The film was released on May 19, 2017.[89]
At the end of 2017, Franco, almost 40, said he was slowing down to focus on himself.[95] On December 23, 2021, Franco gave his first interview in nearly four years when he appeared on an episode of theJess Cagle Podcast.[96] In August 2022, Franco was cast asFidel Castro inAlina in Cuba, a casting decision that was supported by Fidel Castro's daughter.[97][98]
Other projects
Franco signing an autograph
Franco produced and directed a documentary titledSaturday Night, which documented a week in the production of an episode ofSNL.[99] The film began as ashort for anNYU class, but grew due to his two episodes as host, while short stories he wrote for other classes appeared inEsquire andMcSweeney's.[23] In summer 2010, the fictional Franco fromGeneral Hospital held an exhibit at theMuseum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, while the real Franco held an exhibit at the museum based on his experiences on the soap opera.[23]
In 2008, Franco was named as the face ofGucci's men's fragrance line.[100][101] His short films as directorThe Feast of Stephen andHerbert White were both presented withinMaryland Film Festival in May 2010. Another of his short movies,The Clerk's Tale, was screened in competition at the Hamptons Film Festival at the end of 2010.[74] In June 2010, James Franco presented his first solo exhibition, "The Dangerous Book Four Boys", presented at The Clocktower Gallery in New York City. Curated byAlanna Heiss, the show featured video, drawings, sculptures and installation.[102][103]
On October 19, 2010,Scribner published a collection of short stories,Palo Alto, by Franco.[104] The book is named after the California city where Franco grew up, and is dedicated to many of the writers he worked with atBrooklyn College. Inspired by some of Franco's own teenage memories,[47] as well as memories written and submitted by high school students at Palo Alto Senior High School,[105]Palo Alto consists of life in that city as experienced by a series of teenagers who spend most of their time indulging in driving drunk, smokingmarijuana, and taking part in unplanned acts of violence. Each passage is told by a young narrator.[106] The book has received mixed reviews;Los Angeles Times called it "the work of an ambitious young man who clearly loves to read, who has a good eye for detail, but who has spent way too much time on style and virtually none on substance".[104]The Guardian reported that Franco's "foray into the literary world may be met with cynicism in some quarters, but this is a promising debut from a most unlikely source".[107] Writing inThe New York Times, reviewer and fellow authorJoshua Mohr praised Franco for how, in the story "American History", he juxtaposed historical parts with a present-daysocial commentary that "makes the we wonder how much we've actually evolved in post-bellum America".[108] At least one editor of a literary journal testified he would not publish Franco's stories, claiming he has been published due to his star power, not literary talent.[109]Publishers Weekly reviewed the collection, stating "The author fails to find anything remotely insightful to say in these 11 amazingly underwhelming stories".[110]
In January 2011, Franco screened his multimedia project, entitledThree's Company The Drama, in which he merges video and art to update thetitular sitcom, at the2011 Sundance Film Festival.[111] Franco reunited withMilk director Van Sant to makeUnfinished, a project that features two movies:Endless Idaho andMy Own Private River.Endless Idaho showcases edited outtakes, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage from the 1991 movieMy Own Private Idaho, whileMy Own Private River focuses on actorRiver Phoenix.[112] The idea for the exhibition was conceived after Van Sant introduced unused footage from the 1991 film to Franco, inspiring him to turn it into something more.Unfinished opened from February 26 to April 9 at theGagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills.[112]
Franco at the Austin Film Festival, October 23, 2011
On February 27, 2011, he andAnne Hathaway hosted the83rd Academy Awards. The two were selected to help the awards show achieve its goal of attracting a younger audience.[113] Franco had previously said that he accepted the job for the experience and because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.[114] Numerous media viewers criticized Franco for his discontent and lack of energy on stage and the show was widely panned, with some reviewers dubbing it the worst telecast in its history.[115][116][117] The actor later spoke about his hosting in an interview on theLate Show with David Letterman. He explained that when accepting the job he never had high hopes, adding "It was never on my list of things to do. It doesn't mean I didn't care and it doesn't mean I didn't try, right?" Regarding allegations that he was under the influence of marijuana while hosting, Franco commented "I think theTasmanian Devil would look stoned standing next to Anne Hathaway. She has a lot of energy!" He concluded that he tried his best and could have had "low energy" during the telecast.[118]
In May, Franco made his dance-theater directorial debut at New York's Stella Adler Studios, where he narrated all the performances. Entitled "Collage" and described as a "mixed-media piece", the show featured live dance, theater, music, and poetry. Tickets were free, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.[119] The actor also directed two short films for songs ("Blue" and "That Someone Is You") byR.E.M. from their albumCollapse into Now (2011).[120] Franco continued his career as a filmmaker withThe Broken Tower, a 90-minutedocudrama shot in black and white about poetHart Crane, who committed suicide by jumping off the steamshipSS Orizaba.[121] It originally started out as his master's thesis.[122] It was screened at 2011'sLos Angeles Film Festival – among more than 200 feature films, short projects, and music videos from more than 30 countries.[123] It was released on DVD in 2012.[124]
Franco developed an aptitude for art—painting in particular—during his high school years while attending theCalifornia State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA).[24] Franco has said painting was the "outlet" he needed in high school, and he "has actually been painting longer than he has been acting".[129] His paintings were displayed publicly for the first time at the Glü Gallery in Los Angeles, from January 7, through February 11, 2006.[24][130] He launched his first European art exhibition in 2011 at Peres Projects in Berlin.[106]
In September 2012, Franco announced the release of his band Daddy's first singleLove in the Old Days and their first EPMotorCity.[131] On July 9, 2013, Franco announced that he would be the featuredroastee on the nextComedy Central Roast.[132] The roast aired on September 2, 2013.[133]
In February 2014, Franco wrote an article inThe New York Times in support of themetamodernist performance art ofShia LaBeouf, describing LaBeouf's project as one "in which a young man in a very public profession tries to reclaim his public persona".[134][135] In April 2014, the literary publisherGraywolf Press issued Franco's first collection of poetry,Directing Herbert White. The title alludes to a poem (made by Franco into a 2010 short film) byFrank Bidart, who has served as friend and mentor to Franco.[136]
In the media
Viewed as asex symbol, Franco was named the Sexiest Man Living in 2009 bySalon.[137] There has often been frequent media coverage of Franco, particularly regarding his interest in going to colleges. In addition to that, Franco has also claimed to have been strongly misquoted by reports in the media[138] and news outlets reporting erroneous information about him.[139] This led to the actor being parodied in an episode ofSNL's Weekend Update segment, which anEntertainment Weekly writer deemed "clever".[140] In a 2011 interview, he stated:
I've been perceived as this guy yelling, 'Hey, look at me. I want attention'. I'm not going to school to get articles written about me. I'm just going to school. But the fact that I'm going to school or that someone takes a picture of me sleeping is like, 'We're gonna jump on that and criticize him for his antics'. What antics? I write. I make movies. I'm going to school. I hosted the Oscars. I take these projects seriously.[138]
Franco has deliberately garnered a reputation for publishing "selfies" and wrote an explanatory article forThe New York Times in December 2013. He stated:
[A] well-stocked collection of selfies seems to get attention. And attention seems to be the name of the game when it comes to social networking. In this age of too much information at a click of a button, the power to attract viewers amid the sea of things to read and watch is power indeed. It's what the movie studios want for their products, it's what professional writers want for their work, it's what newspapers want — hell, it's what everyone wants: attention. Attention is power.[141]
In April 2012,Shalom Life ranked Franco and his brother, Dave, together as number two on its list of 50 talented and attractive Jewish men.[142] In 2013, Franco was featured as the cover model and featured focus in the men's magazineMan of the World.[143]
In other forms of media, a Chicago-based theater company,Under the Gun Theater, developed a show inspired by and titled after Franco. The 2015 production ofDear James Franco used, parodied and deconstructed letters penned to or by celebrities. The performances usedimprovisation to satirize their subject matter.[144]
Personal life
Religious beliefs
Franco has described himself asJewish;[16] regarding his secular upbringing, he toldThe Guardian that he feels as if he has "missed out on the Jewish experience", but has been told not to worry about that by his Jewish friends and said in the same interview that he likes "the idea of religion as a source of community". When asked if he was a "believer", he responded, "In God? I don't know. Yes. To a certain extent. It's a complicated question."[21] In 2015, he had an officialbar mitzvah ceremony, presided over by a rabbi.[145]
Relationships and sexuality
Due to his support for theLGBT community and his portrayal of gay characters in his projects, Franco's sexuality has been a subject of discussion in media sources.[146] In a March 2015 interview withFour Two Nine magazine, Franco again opened up about his sexuality, stating, "In the twenties and thirties, they used to define homosexuality by how you acted and not by whom you slept with. Sailors would fuck guys all the time, but as long as they behaved in masculine ways, they weren't considered gay. Well, I like to think that I'm gay in my art and straight in my life."[147]
After meeting on the set ofWhatever It Takes in 1999, Franco dated co-starMarla Sokoloff for five years.[148] He was later in a relationship with actressAhna O'Reilly until 2011.[148][149] He confirmed their separation in an interview forPlayboy magazine's August 2011 issue, saying that his interest in education got between them.[138]
Education
Franco, dissatisfied with his career's direction,[23] reenrolled atUCLA in autumn 2006 as anEnglish major with a creative writing concentration. He received permission to take as many as 62course credits perquarter compared to the normal limit of 19,[150] while still continuing to act, receiving many of his credits from independent study for his involvement on the set ofSpider-Man 3. He received his undergraduate degree in June 2008 with aGPA of 3.5/4.0.[23][150][151] For his degree, Franco prepared his departmental honors thesis as a novel under the supervision ofMona Simpson.[23]
Franco was selected as the commencement speaker at UCLA, and was to speak at the ceremony on June 12, 2009. Several months before commencement, an editorial in the student newspaper questioned his "caliber" and a student created aFacebook page protesting the choice.[152] On June 3, Franco withdrew, citing a date conflict with location pre-production on a film.[153][154] On January 26, 2011, Franco and theHarvard Lampoon released a satirical video on prominent comedy websiteFunny or Die mocking his last-minute cancellation.[155]
In an interview withShowbiz411, on September 23, 2010, Franco made the erroneous public announcement that he received a "D" grade in "Acting" class at the NYU Graduate Film School.[160] He had, in fact, received that grade in a "Directing the Actor" class.[161] Franco's professor, José Angel Santana, alleged that Franco did not earn his grades while attending that school and stated that Franco only received high marks and a degree because of his celebrity status as an actor.[162][161] Franco made unfavorable comments about Santana's teaching. In September 2012, after having been terminated from his position Santana filed a lawsuit against Franco fordefamation; Santana claimed that Franco's comments were false and had led to his termination.[163][164] In September 2013, Franco and Santana settled the defamation lawsuit. "The matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties," said Santana's attorneyMatthew Blit.[citation needed] Franco defended himself on theHoward Stern Show, stating that he had told the professor before the semester began that he would have to miss most classes to film127 Hours and that they had agreed that Franco would receive a "D" in the course.[165]
In March 2013, Franco was featured in half-page print advertisements for his alma mater UCLA which celebrated the university's famous alumnus as a "prolific academic" and carried the tagline: "Some A-Listers Actually Get A's".[166]
In 2014, a seventeen-year-old girl posted screenshots of alleged messages between her and Franco onInstagram.[1][2] The messages showed that Franco, then aged 35, tried to meet her in a hotel room after she told him she was seventeen. He sent multiple pictures of himself to prove his real identity. Franco admitted onLive! With Kelly and Michael that he had written the messages.[3][4] Franco and his supporters argued that his actions were legal as theage of consent in New York is seventeen. He initially responded to the scandal by tweeting, "I HOPE PARENTS KEEP THEIR TEENS AWAY FROM ME. Thank you." Franco also said: "I'm not going to high schools looking for dates." He later stated he was "embarrassed" and that "I learned my lesson."[168][169]
At the2018 Golden Globe Awards, Franco wore aTime's Up pin in solidarity with theMeToo movement, to protest sexual harassment against women.[170] His wearing of the pin immediately drew criticism on social media from actressAlly Sheedy, who hinted that she had quit acting after working with Franco on a play.[171] A former girlfriend, Violet Paley, also alleged that he once forced her to give him oral sex in a car while they were dating.[172]
On January 9, 2018,The New York Times, citing the allegations, canceled a planned event with Franco: "The event was intended to be a discussion of the making of the film, 'The Disaster Artist.' Given the controversy surrounding recent allegations, we're no longer comfortable proceeding in that vein," the New York Times said in a statement.[173] On January 10, Franco said onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert that the accusations made against him on Twitter were "not accurate".[170]
On January 11, 2018, theLos Angeles Times reported that five women were accusing Franco of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior during the period when Franco was serving as their acting teacher or mentor. One former student stated that Franco "would always make everybody think there were possible roles on the table if we were to perform sexual acts or take off our shirts" in his projects. Another alleged that Franco held a sex scenes class and removed students' vaginal guards while simulating oral sex with them. Franco's attorney, Michael Plonsker, disputed the allegations.[5]
In her 2018 memoir,Busy Philipps puts forth an account in which Franco screamed at her before violently shoving her to the ground while on the set ofFreaks and Geeks.[174]
On October 3, 2019, two former students of Franco's film and acting school,Studio 4 (defunct) filed a lawsuit against him and his partners. According toThe New York Times, the complaint alleged that the program "sought to create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitation in the name of education" and served as a means by which "to provide him and his male collaborators with a pool of young female performers that they could take advantage of." The case claimed that pupils were subjected to "sexually exploitative auditions and film shoots" and had to sign away their rights to the recordings.[175] The litigants sought unspecified monetary damages as well as the return or destruction of any questionable material. Franco denied the plaintiffs' claims through his attorney.[176]
On February 21, 2021, it was reported that the lawsuit was settled and that, according to documents filed on February 11, both students had agreed to drop their individual claims.[177][178] The deal was submitted for preliminary court approval by March 15, 2021.[179] In June 2021, terms of the settlement were revealed, and it was disclosed that Franco, pending a judge's approval, would pay more than $2.2 million to resolve two legal disputes: one by the two women who cited sexual exploitation (they will receive $894,000), and another class-action plaint by approximately 1,500 Studio 4 students who maintain that they were defrauded. A joint statement by the plaintiffs and defendants reads in part: "While Defendants continue to deny the allegations in the Complaint, they acknowledge that Plaintiffs have raised important issues; and all parties strongly believe that now is a critical time to focus on addressing the mistreatment of women in Hollywood."[180]
Charlyne Yi worked with Franco onThe Disaster Artist and claimed in April 2021 that, after trying to quit the film over the allegations, a bigger role was offered by the filmmakers to Yi. Yi viewed this enticement as an attempted bribe and also accused Franco's long-time co-starSeth Rogen of enabling his behavior.[181][182] A month later, Rogen commented on the allegations against Franco and expressed doubts that he would ever work with him again.[183][184]
On December 23, 2021, Franco admitted to having had sex with students and to being in treatment forsexual addiction since 2016; he did not address other forms of sexual exploitation.[96][185]
Philanthropy
Franco has volunteered at the charitythe Art of Elysium, which helps children with serious medical conditions. He said the experience helped save his life. In January 2011, at the Art of Elysium Heaven Gala in Los Angeles, Franco was honored for his work at the hospital, receiving the Spirit of Elysium accolade.[186]
On March 31, 2011, the actor took part in "An Evening with James Franco", a Washington D.C. dinner benefit for826DC, a non-profit after-school literature program. Franco became involved withDave Eggers'826 National after Eggers asked him to do a conceptual idea for the program, and he directed a documentary for them and has since been a supporter of them. At the event, he spoke about how he thought schools needed to be more original with their literature programs. "Writing can do things that video cannot", he added.[187] In April 2011, Franco autographed a T-shirt that would be auctioned off through the Yoshiki Foundation, with the proceeds being donated forJapanese tsunami relief.[188] On June 14, he was honored byamfAR, the foundation forAIDS research, at theMuseum of Modern Art. Franco received the Piaget Award of Inspiration for his humanitarian work and contributions to men's style.[189]
In April 2013, Franco received the Ally Award at the 15th annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The award was presented to him in recognition of his unwavering support of theLGBT community.[190]
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.ISBN978-1-4411-6677-7.
^Smith, Neil (February 22, 2009)."Rourke steals Spirit award show".BBC News. RetrievedFebruary 23, 2009.Other acting awards went to Melissa Leo and Penélope Cruz, both of whom are also up for Oscars, and to James Franco for his supporting role inMilk.
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