Matinee Classics - Sean Penn Biography & Filmography

Sean Penn ACTOR

PHOTOS

SEAN PENN BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Sean Penn was born on August 17th, 1960 in Santa Monica, California with the middle name Justin, born to actress Eileen Ryan and director, Leo Penn. His younger brother is actor Chris Penn and his older bother, Michael Penn went on to pursue a career as a musician.

He first began his career in acting when he appeared in 1974 on the television series, "Little House on the Praire" which his father directed. Penn received his high school education at Santa Monica High School where he continued to express his interest in acting.

Some of his early roles were in such films as, "Taps" (1981) co-starring Timothy Hutton, Ronny Cox, George C. Scott and Tom Cruise, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) featuring Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Ray Walston, Eric Stoltz, Anthony Edwards and Nicolas Cage, "The Falcon and the Snowman" (1985) co-starring Timothy Hutton, Pat Hingle and Joyce Van Patten, "At Close Range" (1986) starring alongside Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, Mary Stuart Masterson, Millie Perkins, Candy Clark, Kiefer Sutherland and Crispin Glover and "Shanghai Surprise" (1986) with Madonna Ciccone.

Soon he had really begun to make a name for himself in the industry and he added more prominent roles to his resume such as, "Colors" (1988) co-starring Robert Duval and "Casualties of War" (1989) wit Michael J. Fox, where he portrayed a US soldier in Vietnam.

Penn worked on the big screen with such actors as Robert De Niro in the film, "We're No Angels" (1989) along with Demi Moore and his popularity increased with roles in, "Carlito's Way" (1993) also starring Al Pacino, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo and Viggo Mortensen and "Dead Man Walking" (1995) with Susan Sarandon, a role for which he earned his first Oscar nomination.

Another well known actor, Penn appeared on screen with was Michael Douglas in the film, "The Game" (1997). Other films he added to his credits were, "The Thin Red Line" (1998), "Sweet and Lowdown" (1999) and "I Am Sam" (2001) with Dakota Fanning as his inquisitive seven-year-old daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer, Dianne Wiest, Loretta Devine, Richard Schiff and Laura Dern, for which he received another Academy Award nomination.

Nothing was slowing Penn down and the next decade was filled with more successful film roles such as, "Mystic River" (2003), "21 Grams" (2003), "The Assassination of Richard Nixon" (2004), "Milk" (2008), a role for which he earned an Academy Award for Best actor followed by more success in, "Fair Game" (2010) and "The Tree of Life" (2011).

In addition to his success as an actor he also worked on the other side of the industry as a director on such films as, "The Indian Runner" (1991), "The Crossing Guard" (1995), "The Pledge" (2001), "Into the Wild" (2007) and "The Comedian", scheduled to release in 2013.

Along with his career as an actor he has also made headlines and been in the limelight of media attention for numerous other reasons such as his public views of political and social activism. His personal life has also caught the front page of numerous magazines for his violent outbursts against the press. He has also been charged with felony domestic assault to his first wife, Madonna.

He is also a very charitable man being involved in a number of humanitarian causes for such situations as Hurricane Katrina victims and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Sean Penn has married twice throughout his lifetime. First to singer, Madonna in 1985 however by 1989 this marriage ended in divorce. He then married Robin Wright in 1996 and they had two children together before this marriage also came to an end in 2010. He is currently seeking joint custody of his two children and he remains working in the industry with his two most recent roles in the films, "Gangster Squad" (2012) and soon to releases, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (2013).

Filmography

2013 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

2012 Gangster Squad

2011 This Must Be the Place

2011 The Tree of Life

2010 Fair Game

2008 Milk

2008 What Just Happened

2007 Persepolis

2006 All the King's Men

2005 The Interpreter

2004 The Assassination of Richard Nixon