James Franco landed his breakthrough role in the NBC series "Freaks and Geeks" in 1999. He made his film debut in 1999’s "Never Been Kissed", followed by the 2000 romantic comedy "Whatever It Takes." His performance in 2001's TNT cable biopic "James Dean" earned him a 2002 Golden Globe for best actor. Franco later took a role in the "Spider-Man" film franchise.

He briefly attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied English and drama, before dropping out in his freshman year to pursue a career as an actor. Franco returned to UCLA and earned his undergraduate degree in 2008. He moved to New York City where he worked toward his MFA at Columbia and attended New York Univeristy's Tisch School of the Arts for filmmaking. He also attended Yale University in pursuit of a PhD in their English program.

After 15 months of intensive study with noted drama coach Robert Carnegie at Playhouse West, Franco landed his breakthrough starring role in the critically acclaimed but short-lived NBC series "Freaks and Geeks" in 1999. Franco then took on the role of Harry Osborne, the son of the villainous Green Goblin, in the "Spider-Man" films.

He next starred in "Pineapple Express," a stoner comedy co-starring and co-written by Seth Rogen and produced by Judd Apatow. His performance earned him a second Golden Globe nomination, for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Franco starred opposite Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Emile Hirsch in Gus Van Sant's "Milk." In the film, he played Scott Smith, the boyfriend of Harvey Milk (Penn).

In late 2009, he joined the cast of the daytime soap opera "General Hospital" on a recurring basis. Franco began 2010 by making an appearance on the sitcom "30 Rock" where he played himself and carried on a fake romance with Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) in a scheme concocted by their respective agents. After appearing in the commercial successes "Date Night," an action comedy, and "Eat Pray Love," an adaption of the novel, Franco played poet Allen Ginsberg in the drama "Howl."

In his next project, "127 Hours," Franco portrayed real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston. He was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG award, as well as winning an Independent Spirit Award.

In May 2010, he was cast to star in Rupert Wyatt's $93 million budgeted "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," a reboot of the "Planet of the Apes" series. He then starred in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." In 2013, Franco starred as the gangster "Alien" in Harmony Korine's "Spring Breakers," with Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Gucci Mane and Rachel Korine.

In March 2013, it was announced that Franco was set to make his Broadway stage debut in the role of George in a revival of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men."

In 2010, Franco published a collection of short stories, "Palo Alto." The book is named after the California city where Franco grew up and is dedicated to many of the writers he worked with at Brooklyn College.

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