Last evening, Sean Penn received the Oscar for his Leading Man Role in Milk. It was not his first Academy Award.

Sean was born in Burbank, California in 1960 (August 17) to actor parents. He went to High School in Santa Monica, California with others who became prominent actors.

Although his parents were acting, Sean's initial interest was in directing. He soon became interested in acting and gained a role in the play Heartland on Broadway in New York City. He was 19-years-old.

In 1981, his first film was Taps with Tom Cruise and Timothy Hutton. His big break came with Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). His first starring roles where in Bad Boys, and The Falcon and the Snowman (1983, 1985).

His marriage to Madonna and a short stint in jail gave him an unfavorable image. He and Madonna divorced later.

Sean received favorable reviews in Casualties of War (1989). Penn soon directed his first film, The Indian Runner which was a financial flop with small earnings.

Sean Penn quit acting but returned in 1993, playing a criminal lawyer in Carlito's Way for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1995, Sean Penn starred in Dead Man Walking. He earned an Academy Award and a Golden Globe nomination and an Independent Spirit Award. The film grossed more than $80 million.

Also in 1995, Sean wrote, produced, and directed The Crossing Guard, which received a Golden Globe nomination.

Penn next starred in She's So Lovely (1997) which was not a box office smash.

Penn appeared in two other major films in 1997. U-Turn and The Game. Hurlyburly (1998), and The Thin Red Line followed. In 1999, Penn won a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for Sweet and Lowdown. In 2000, he starred in Up in the Villa and The Weight of Water.

He directed The Pledge. , starring Jack Nicholson and Robin Wright Penn. In 2002, Penn starred in I Am Sam.

The following year, he starred in Mystic River, for which he earned the Academy Award for Best Actor. In 2006, Penn starred in All the King's Men.

Last Evening, Sean Penn won his second Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of the first openly gay politician, Harvey Milk, in the film Milk.The film received more than 40 award nominations. During his acceptance speech, Penn blasted those who voted against California Gay Marriage Amendment.

Go to the Internet Movie Data Base site for Sean Penn's filmography.

Current projects for Penn include the action film Tree of Life slated for release in 2009, and a remake of the comedy classic, The Three Stooges.

The Three Stooges!

Now, that is what I'm waiting for!

Fly Old Glory!

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired college professor and business executive, former editor of an international engineering magazine. Writer, novelist, painter of landscapes. Lots of grand-kids



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_T_Jones,_Ph.D.