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Sean Penn

What's After the Movie

Sean Penn

Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an acclaimed American actor and film director. Known for his intense leading roles in films, he has garnered numerous accolades in his career, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for three BAFTA Film Awards. Penn received an Honorary César in 2015. He made his feature film debut in Taps (1981), and has taken roles in a wide variety of notable films including Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Dead Man Walking (1995), and Mystical River (2003). Making his directorial film debut with The Indian Runner in 1991, he has since directed critically acclaimed films like The Crossing Guard (1995), The Pledge (2001) and Into the Wild (2007). Beyond his film work, Penn has engaged in political and social activism, such as his criticism of the George W. Bush administration, his attention to the Russo-Ukrainian War, and his humanitarian work during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Penn was born in Santa Monica, California, to actor and director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan. His early life revolved around filmmaking with his childhood friends including actors Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. He first appeared in the 1974 television series Little House on the Prairie and made a Broadway debut in 1981. He defined his career as a serious actor with his role in Bad Boys (1983), and has since been celebrated for his ability to develop in-depth, compelling characters on screen. He is one of Hollywood's most well-rounded talents, with his work spanning four decades, various genres, and numerous standout performances.

80 movies
25 nominations

Biography, Career & Filmography

Learn more about Sean Penn, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Sean Penn rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.


Given Name: Sean Justin Penn

Born: Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Citizenship: United States of America

Birthday: August 17, 1960

Occupations: Actor, Film director

Years Active: 1974-present

Children: 2

Spouses: Madonna, Robin Wright, Leila George

Awards and Nominations Received by Sean Penn

Explore awards

Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Sean Penn has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.


81st Academy Awards 2009

Win

Actor in a Leading Role

Milk

62nd British Academy Film Awards 2009

Nomination

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Milk

14th Critics' Choice Awards 2009

Win

Best Actor

Milk

15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2009

Win

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Milk

66th Golden Globe Awards 2009

Nomination

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Milk

24th Film Independent Spirit Awards 2009

Nomination

Best Male Lead

Milk

13th Critics' Choice Awards 2008

Nomination

Best Director

Into the Wild
Nomination

Best Writer

Into the Wild

60th Directors Guild of America Awards 2008

Nomination

Feature Film

Into the Wild

76th Academy Awards 2004

Win

Actor in a Leading Role

Mystic River

57th British Academy Film Awards 2004

Nomination

Best Actor in a Leading Role

21 Grams
Nomination

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Mystic River

9th Critics' Choice Awards 2004

Win

Best Actor

Mystic River

10th Screen Actors Guild Awards 2004

Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Mystic River

61st Golden Globe Awards 2004

Win

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor)

Mystic River

74th Academy Awards 2002

Nomination

Actor in a Leading Role

Play It Again, Sam

7th Critics' Choice Awards 2002

Nomination

Best Actor

I Am Sam

8th Screen Actors Guild Awards 2002

Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

I Am Sam

72nd Academy Awards 2000

Nomination

Actor in a Leading Role

Sweet and Lowdown

57th Golden Globe Awards 2000

Nomination

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actor)

Sweet and Lowdown

68th Academy Awards 1996

Nomination

Actor in a Leading Role

Dead Man Walking

2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards 1996

Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Dead Man Walking

53rd Golden Globe Awards 1996

Nomination

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor)

Dead Man Walking

11th Independent Spirit Awards 1996

Win

Best Male Lead

Dead Man Walking

51st Golden Globe Awards 1994

Nomination

Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor)

Carlito's Way

Movies Featuring Sean Penn

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life

Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza

The Interpreter

The Interpreter

Dogtown and Z-Boys

Dogtown and Z-Boys

The Thin Red Line

The Thin Red Line

Carlito's Way

Carlito's Way

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Milk

Milk

This Must Be the Place

This Must Be the Place

Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking

State of Grace

State of Grace

The Gunman

The Gunman

It's All About Love

It's All About Love

Fair Game

Fair Game

21 Grams

21 Grams

Shanghai Surprise

Shanghai Surprise

At Close Range

At Close Range

Mystic River

Mystic River

Bad Boys

Bad Boys

Colors

Colors

The Game

The Game

U Turn

U Turn

The Weight of Water

The Weight of Water

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

She's So Lovely

She's So Lovely

The Falcon and the Snowman

The Falcon and the Snowman

The Professor and the Madman

The Professor and the Madman

Flag Day

Flag Day

I Am Sam

I Am Sam

Sweet and Lowdown

Sweet and Lowdown

Gangster Squad

Gangster Squad

Casualties of War

Casualties of War

All the King's Men

All the King's Men

This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss

This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss

Racing with the Moon

Racing with the Moon

Citizen Penn

Citizen Penn

We're No Angels

We're No Angels

Superpower

Superpower

Asphalt City

Asphalt City

Daddio

Daddio

Woody Allen: A Documentary

Woody Allen: A Documentary

Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey

Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles

Beaver Trilogy Part IV

Beaver Trilogy Part IV

Sound of Sun

Sound of Sun

Return to the Wild: The Chris McCandless Story

Return to the Wild: The Chris McCandless Story

Beaver Trilogy

Beaver Trilogy

Searching for Debra Winger

Searching for Debra Winger

Rosy-Fingered Dawn: A Film on Terrence Malick

Rosy-Fingered Dawn: A Film on Terrence Malick

A Constant Forge

A Constant Forge

Dennis Hopper: Create (or Die)

Dennis Hopper: Create (or Die)

Inside Björk

Inside Björk

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

Pauly Shore Is Dead

Pauly Shore Is Dead

This So-Called Disaster

This So-Called Disaster

21 Grams: In Fragments

21 Grams: In Fragments

Brando: The Documentary

Brando: The Documentary

Cool Blue

Cool Blue

The Killing of Randy Webster

The Killing of Randy Webster

The Beaver Kid 2

The Beaver Kid 2

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride

Crackers

Crackers

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity

Judgment in Berlin

Judgment in Berlin

Gaslit

Gaslit

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride

Crackers

Crackers

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity

Judgment in Berlin

Judgment in Berlin

Madonna: The Name of the Game

Madonna: The Name of the Game

The Last Party

The Last Party

Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Hugo Pool

Hugo Pool

Witch Hunt

Witch Hunt

Sean Penn, l’enfant terrible de l’Amérique

Sean Penn, l’enfant terrible de l’Amérique

Hurlyburly

Hurlyburly

The People Speak

The People Speak

Gonzo Girl

Gonzo Girl

What Just Happened

What Just Happened

Career Timeline

Track the complete movie timeline of Sean Penn, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.


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