Curriculum

JAMES FRANCO is a multi-hyphenate actor, director, producer, and author. He began receiving critical acclaim early on in his career, winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of James Dean in TNT’s 2001 biopic. He won his second Golden Globe in 2018 for his role in THE DISASTER ARTIST, which he also directed and produced. His convincing performance also earned him a Critics Choice Award, a Gotham Award, nominations for Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Awards, as well as several other accolades from film critics around the world. Based on the book of the same name, the film recounts the making of THE ROOM, a cult classic now known as “the best worst movie ever made.” The film debuted at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival, garnered fantastic reviews after screening at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, and was nominated for several awards including a Golden Globe, eventually taking the win for Best Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The film features Franco alongside a stellar cast including Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Bryan Cranston.

He has been recognized with countless award nominations for both his comedic and dramatic work, including PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor), SPRING BREAKERS, and 127 HOURS, the lattermost for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Franco also starred in HBO’s THE DEUCE, a series about the emergence of porn in NYC during the 1970s and ‘80s, THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS from directors Ethan and Joel Coen, and ZEROVILLE which he both starred in and directed. He’ll next be seen playing the iconic Cuban leader Fidel Castro in ALINA OF CUBA: LA HIJA REBELDE and in the third installment of the massively popular French ‘Largo Winch’ action franchise, THE PRICE OF MONEY.

He began his career on the fan-favorite TV series FREAKS AND GEEKS, opposite friend and frequent collaborator Seth Rogen. The two have teamed up for some of the most beloved comedies of the past decade, including PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, THIS IS THE END and THE INTERVIEW. Franco’s international success came by way of his role as “Harry Osborn” in Sam Raimi’s SPIDERMAN trilogy. Shortly after wrapping the final installment, he returned to UCLA to complete his bachelor’s degree in creative writing. He went on to receive MFAs from Columbia, NYU, RISD and Brooklyn College before enrolling at Yale University for his Ph.D., all while continuing to balance his acting and directing career.

Franco’s commercial success has continued through the years with blockbuster films like OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL and WHY HIM. He returned to the small screen in 2016 for the well-received limited series 11.22.63, which he produced with J.J. Abrams. He is also an Emmy-nominated producer for his digital sketch series MAKING A SCENE, the third season of which premieres this year.

In addition to his film and educational work, Franco is a successful author with several books published to date.

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