Happy 60th Birthday, Sean Penn! Born today in 1960 as Sean Justin Penn, this American political activist, actor, writer, producer and director has long been the bad boy of Hollywood. He is also among the most fiercely talented actors of his generation.
Born in Santa Monica, California, Penn was a son to American actor and director Leo Penn, and American stage, film and television actress Eileen Ryan (née Annucci).
Penn's older brother is American singer, songwriter and composer Michael Penn. His younger brother was American actor Chris Penn.
Penn was raised in a secular home and later attended Santa Monica High School. He began making short films with some of his childhood friends, including Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, who lived near his home.
Penn later appeared in a 1974 episode of the American drama western drama television series Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983) as an extra when his father, Leo, directed some of the episodes.
In the early 1980s, Penn appeared in American film director Amy Heckerling's ('Clueless') hit 1982 American coming-of-age comedy drama/teen film 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'.
This was as the surfer-stoner Jeff Spicoli. It was this character that helped to popularize the word "dude" in popular culture.
The following year, Penn appeared as Mick O'Brien, a troubled youth, in the 1983 American coming-of-age crime drama/thriller film 'Bad Boys'. The role later earned Penn favorable reviews and jump-started his career as a serious actor.
The following year, Penn was engaged to American film, television, and theater actress and musician Elizabeth McGovern, his co-star in the 1984 American drama film 'Racing with the Moon'.
A year later, Penn met Madonna in February 1985. They later married on August 16. This was Madonna's birthday.
The following year, Penn starred in the 1986 American neo-noir crime drama 'At Close Range'.
Made by American film director James Foley ('Glengarry Glen Ross'), the film later received critical acclaim.
Later that same year, Penn and Madonna starred in the panned and much-derided 1986 British/American adventure comedy film 'Shanghai Surprise'.
On a budget of $17 million, the film was a box office bomb, only grossing $2,315,000 at the box office. For a time, it even appeared on IMDb's Bottom 100 list.
On a budget of $17 million, the film was a box office bomb, only grossing $2,315,000 at the box office. For a time, it even appeared on IMDb's Bottom 100 list.
Madonna dedicated her 1986 third studio album "True Blue" to Penn, referring to him in the liner notes as "the coolest guy in the universe".
However, their relationship, was later marred by violent outbursts against the press, including one incident when Penn was arrested for assaulting a photographer on a film set; Penn was sentenced to sixty days in jail in mid-1987, of which he served thirty-three days.
In December 1987, Madonna filed for divorce but later withdrew the papers, only to file them again two years later in January 1989.
Madonna reportedly filed an assault complaint that she was beaten in her Malibu, California, home by her estranged husband.
Also, in January 1989, the Associated Press reported that she had "dropped assault charges."
At the end of his first marriage, Penn moved in with American actress and director Robin Wright.
Penn, however, stopped acting for a few years in the early 1990s, having been dissatisfied with the industry, and focused on making his directing debut.
Two years later, Penn and Wright separated in 1995. This during which time when Penn developed a relationship with American singer-songwriter, musician, producer, actress, author, and poet Jewel Kilcher.
Penn had spotted her performing on the American late-night talk show Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993–2009).
Penn later invited her to compose a song for his 1995 American drama/independent film 'The Crossing Guard', of which he would write, co-produce and direct.
The film starred Jack Nicolson, Anjelica Huston, David Morse, Robin Wright, Piper Laurie and John Savage. Afterwards, Penn followed Kilcher on tour.
The following year, the 68th Academy Awards recognized Penn's work in nominating him for playing racist murderer Matthew Poncelet on death row.
This was in Tim Robbins' 1996 American drama/crime film 'Dead Man Walking'. This was Penn's first film of which was well received by critics.
This was in Tim Robbins' 1996 American drama/crime film 'Dead Man Walking'. This was Penn's first film of which was well received by critics.
Four months later, Penn and Wright reconciled and married on April 27. They then lived in Ross, California.
Two years later, Penn co-starred in Terrence Malick's epic 1998 American drama/independent war film 'The Thin Red Line'. This was as 1st Sergeant Edward Welsh.
The following year, Penn was nominated again for his comedic performance as egotistical jazz guitarist Emmet Ray in Woody Allen's 1999 American comedy-drama mockumentary film 'Sweet and Lowdown'.
The film was loosely based on Federico Fellini's 1954 Italian black and white drama film 'La Strada'.
The film was loosely based on Federico Fellini's 1954 Italian black and white drama film 'La Strada'.
That same year, Penn had an uncredited role in Spike Jonze's ('Adaptation') 1999 American comedy/fantasy film 'Being John Malkovich' as himself.
Two years later, Penn received his third Oscar nomination at the 74th Academy Awards in late March 2002. This was after portraying the mentally-challenged father Sam Dawson in the 2001 American melodrama/drama film 'I Am Sam'.
One year later after the Oscars, Penn played ex-con Jimmy Marcus in the 2003 American neo-noir psychological mystery crime/drama film 'Mystic River'. The feature had been directed by Clint Eastwood.
The following year, Penn finally won for his role with Best Actor in a Leading Role. This occurred at the 76th Academy Awards in late February 2004.
Two years later, Penn's brother Chris was found dead in his condominium in Santa Monica, California on January 24, 2006. He was 40.
An autopsy revealed that the primary cause for his death was "nonspecific cardiomyopathy" (heart disease).
Later that same year, Penn starred in the 2006 American political drama film 'All the King's Men'.
However, the picture was a critical and commercial failure, named by a 2010 Forbes article as the biggest flop in the last five years.
After the film's failure, Penn, the following year, wrote, co-produced and directed his fourth feature film.
This was also the film of which he is best known for directing, being the 2007 American biographical adventure/drama film 'Into the Wild'.
Based off of the eponymous 1996 biographical travel literature nonfiction book by American writer and mountaineer Jon Krakauer, it is an expansion of a 9,000-word article by Krakauer on American hiker Christopher McCandless.
The article was titled "Death of an Innocent", and had appeared in the January 1993 issue of the American outdoor-focused magazine Outside.
Also known by the pseudonym Alexander Supertramp, the real Christopher McCandless passed in Stampede Trail, Alaska on August 18, 1992.
This was in an abandoned bus in the wilderness after living mostly on squirrels, birds, roots and seeds for one hundred and thirteen days.
However, his body wasn't discovered until weeks later by hunters on September 6, 1992. Alaska state coroners declared starvation as the cause of death.
In December 2007, Penn and Wright filed for divorce, but reconciled several months later, requesting a court dismissal of their divorce case.
The following month, 'Into the Wild' was nominated two Golden Globes. These were for Best Original Song and Best Original Score. However, the film only won one award.
This was for Best Original Song by American singer, musician and songwriter Eddie Vedder. This occurred at the 65th Golden Globe Awards in mid-January 2008.
Vedder is also best known as the lead vocalist and one of four guitarists, and the primary lyricist of the American rock band Pearl Jam.
One month later, 'Into the Wild' was nominated for two Oscars. These were for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hal Holbrook) and Best Editing. However, the film didn't win. This occurred at the 80th Academy Awards in late February 2008.
In November the following year, Penn earned positive reviews for his portrayal of real-life gay-rights icon and politician Harvey Milk.
This was in American film director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author Gus Van Sant's ('Drugstore Cowboy', 'My Own Private Idaho', 'Elephant') 2008 American biographical drama/romance film 'Milk'.
The following year, the film also earned Penn his fifth nomination and second Oscar win for Best Actor. This occurred at the 81st Academy Awards in late February 2009.
Two years later, Penn co-starred in Malick's 2011 American experimental epic drama/fantasy film 'The Tree of Life'. Penn portrayed his parents, the O'Brien's, eldest son Jack in present day.
Penn's second collaboration with Malick. 'The Tree of Life' later won the Palme d'Or at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in May 2011.
In December 2013, Penn began dating South African and American actress and producer Charlize Theron. The two later announced their engagement in December 2014.
Four years later, in March, Atria Books published Penn's 2018 political satire absurdist dystopian fiction novel "Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff".
After the book's release, Penn went on a highly publicized press tour. He claimed that he no longer had "a generic interest in making films", and being a writer will "dominate my creative energies for the foreseeable future."
Penn was alleged to have struck Madonna on multiple occasions during their marriage.
However, in 2015 Madonna stated that the allegations were "completely outrageous, malicious, reckless, and false".
In addition to his film work, Penn has engaged in political and social activism, including his criticism of the administration of 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush.
Penn has also maintained his contact with the Presidents of Cuba and Venezuela, and his humanitarian work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Penn has beec active from 1974–present.
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