Sean Penn

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

August 17, 1960 · Santa Monica, California, USA

Birth name

Sean Justin Penn

“I've always operated under the notion that audiences don't always know when they're being lied to, but that they always know when they're being told the truth”. Sean Penn is an American actor and film director known for his versatility and commitment to both artistic and political causes. The son of parents connected to the entertainment industry, he decided to leave college to join the Los Angeles Repertory Theatre. After several television appearances, he rose to fame playing the surfer Jeff Spicoli in the comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). During the 1980s, he showcased his talent with diverse roles in Bad Boys (1983), Crackers (1984), Racing with the Moon (1984), and The Falcon and the Snowman (1985). In the mid-1990s, Penn began writing and directing. He made his directorial debut with The Indian Runner (1991) and later directed The Crossing Guard (1995). As an actor, he earned his first Academy Award nomination for Dead Man Walking (1995). He won his first Oscar for Best Actor for Mystic River (2003), a role that also earned him a Golden Globe. In 2008, he received his second Oscar for portraying activist Harvey Milk in Milk (2008). As a director, he was also acclaimed for Into the Wild (2007). Penn was named Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for She’s So Lovely (1997) and at the Venice Film Festival for 21 Grams (2003). Additionally, he lent his voice to animated films such as Persepolis (2007) and The Angry Birds Movie (2016). In 2018, he published his first novel, a satire titled Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff. Throughout his life, Penn has been deeply involved in political activism and humanitarian causes.