[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/james_franco_nuts.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:315:James Franco: Literally about to start ChewingTheScenery.]]

James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California) is an American [[RenaissanceMan actor, director, screenwriter, producer, teacher, author and poet]].

His first prominent role was as Daniel Desario on the short-lived CultClassic TV series ''Series/FreaksAndGeeks''. He later achieved recognition for playing the [[ProtagonistTitle title role]] in a made-for-TV {{biopic}} about Creator/JamesDean in 2001 (for which he won a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobeAward), and for playing Harry Osborn in Creator/SamRaimi's ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. He is also known for his roles in the films ''Film/PineappleExpress'', ''Film/{{Milk}}'', ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'' (for which he earned an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Actor), ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'', ''Film/SpringBreakers'', and ''Film/ThisIsTheEnd''. He also had a recurring role in the [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]] SoapOpera ''Series/GeneralHospital'' for several years.

Franco volunteers for the Art of Elysium charity and has taught courses at New York University (feature filmmaking and production), the University of Southern California (short film production), and his alma mater, the University of California, Los Angeles (screenwriting). He is a [=PhD=] candidate at [[UsefulNotes/IvyLeague Yale University]].

In 2017, he directed and starred in ''Film/TheDisasterArtist'', based on Greg Sestero's [[Literature/TheDisasterArtist book of the same name]] chronicling the infamous production of Creator/TommyWiseau's ''Film/TheRoom2003''. Following a Golden Globe win for his portrayal of Wiseau, accusations of sexual misconduct against Franco began surfacing on social media in January 2018.

His younger brothers, Tom and Creator/{{Dave|Franco}}, are also actors.

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!!Works he has appeared in:

[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Film roles]]
* ''Film/{{Whatever It Takes|2000}}'' (2000)
* ''Film/{{James Dean|2001}}'' (2001)
* ''Film/{{Sonny|2002}}'' (2002)
* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' (2002–07)
* ''The Company'' (2003)
* ''Film/TheGreatRaid'' (2005)
* ''Film/TristanAndIsolde'' (2006)
* ''Film/{{Annapolis}}'' (2006)
* ''[[Film/TheWickerMan2006 The Wicker Man]]'' (2006)
* ''Film/{{Flyboys}}'' (2006)
* ''Film/TheDeadGirl'' (2006)
* ''Film/TheHoliday'' (2006)
* ''Film/KnockedUp'' (2007)
* ''Film/InTheValleyOfElah'' (2007)
* ''Film/AnAmericanCrime'' (2007)
* ''Film/PineappleExpress'' (2008)
* ''Film/{{Milk}}'' (2008)
* ''Film/DateNight'' (2010)
* ''Film/EatPrayLove'' (2010)
* ''Howl'' (2010)
* ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'' (2010)
* ''Film/TheGreenHornet'' (2011)
* ''Film/YourHighness'' (2011)
* ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' (2011)
* ''Film/TheIceman'' (2012)
* ''Film/SpringBreakers'' (2012)
* ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'' (2013)
* ''Film/ThisIsTheEnd'' (2013)
* ''Film/{{Lovelace}}'' (2013)
* ''Literature/AsILayDying'' (2013; also director and co-writer)
* ''Film/VeronicaMars'' (2014) (cameo)
* ''Film/TheInterview'' (2014)
* ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'' (2014; also director)
* ''True Story'' (2015)
* ''Film/TheNightBefore'' (2015)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Prince|2015}}'' (2015)
* ''[[Literature/ElevenTwentyTwoSixtyThree 11.22.63]]'' (2016)
* ''Literature/InDubiousBattle'' (2016; also director)
* ''WesternAnimation/SausageParty'' (2016)
* ''Film/WhyHim'' (2016)
* ''Film/AlienCovenant'' (2017)
* ''Film/TheDisasterArtist'' (2017; also director)
* ''Film/{{Kin|2018}}'' (2018)
* ''Film/TheBalladOfBusterScruggs'' (2018)
* ''Film/{{Future World|2018}}'' (2018; also director)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Television roles]]
* ''Series/{{Profiler}}'' (1 episode, 1999)
* ''Series/FreaksAndGeeks'' (1999–2000)
* ''Series/TheXFiles'' (1 episode, 2001)
* ''Series/GeneralHospital'' (2007–12)
** ''General Hospital: Night Shift'' (2007–08)
* ''Series/ThirtyRock'' (1 episode, 2010)
* ''Series/HollywoodHeights'' (2012)
* ''Series/TheMindyProject'' (2 episodes, 2013)
* ''Series/AngieTribeca'' (6 episodes, 2016)
* ''Series/TheDeuce'' (2017–19)
[[/folder]]

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!!Tropes
* TheCameo: Done this several times, usually AsHimself.
* DescendedCreator: Appeared in various films that he directed, wrote and produced.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Often plays HeterosexualLifePartners with Creator/SethRogen in many works, including ''This Is The End'', ''Pineapple Express'', and ''The Interview''. Doubles as a ProductionPosse. However, following the allegations of sexual misconduct, Seth Rogen has since cut ties with Franco.
* OldShame: He hated ''Film/YourHighness'' and even made fun of it in ''Film/ThisIsTheEnd''.
* ProductionPosse: Appears on-screen together with Creator/SethRogen quite often. They usually play HeterosexualLifePartners.
* RealLifeRelative: His mother Betsy Franco also played his character's mother on ''Series/GeneralHospital''.
* RedOniBlueOni: When playing opposite Creator/SethRogen, he tends to play the unrestrained party animal red oni.
* TheStoner: Played these in ''Film/PineappleExpress'', ''Film/YourHighness'', and ''WesternAnimation/SausageParty''.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He auditioned for the role of Peter Parker in ''Film/SpiderMan1'', but was given the part of Harry Osborn.
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