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Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Known For Acting
Birthday Aug 17, 1960 (65)
Birthplace Santa Monica, California, USA
Popularity 4 (history)
Updated Jan 22, 2026
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his intense leading man roles in film. His accoladesinclude two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and nominations for three British Academy Film Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award. He received the  ... Honorary César in 2015 and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2022. Penn made his feature film debut in the drama Taps (1981), before taking roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Bad Boys (1983), and At Close Range (1986). He has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice, for playing a grieving father in Mystic River (2003) and the gay rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk (2008). He was Oscar-nominated for Dead Man Walking (1995), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and I Am Sam (2001). He also acted in Casualties of War (1989), State of Grace (1990), Carlito's Way (1993), The Game(1997), The Thin Red Line (1998), Hurlyburly (1998), 21 Grams (2003), Fair Game (2010), The Tree of Life (2011), Licorice Pizza (2021), Daddio(2023), and One Battle After Another (2025). Penn made his directorial film debut with the crime drama The Indian Runner (1991), followed by The Crossing Guard (1995), The Pledge (2001), and Into the Wild (2007). On stage, he acted in the Broadway plays Heartland (1981) and Slab Boys (1983). On television, he portrayed an astronaut in the Hulu drama series The First (2018) and John N. Mitchell in the Starz political thriller miniseries Gaslit (2022). Penn has also engaged in political and social activism, including his criticism of the George W. Bush administration, his contact with the presidents of Cuba and Venezuela, his humanitarian work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and his support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amidst the Russian-Ukrainian war. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sean Penn, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

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Filmography

One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another

2025

as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw

Asphalt City

Asphalt City

2024

as Gene Rutkovsky

Daddio

Daddio

2024

as Clark

Flag Day

Flag Day

2021

as John Vogel

Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza

2021

as Jack Holden

The Professor and the Madman

The Professor and the Madman

2019

as Dr. William Chester Minor

Sound of Sun

Sound of Sun

2017

as Man

The Angry Birds Movie

The Angry Birds Movie

2016

as Terence (voice)

The Gunman

The Gunman

2015

as Jim Terrier

The Human Experiment

The Human Experiment

2013

as Narrator

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

2013

as Sean O'Connell

Gangster Squad

Gangster Squad

2013

as Mickey Cohen

Americans

Americans

2012

as Commie

This Must Be the Place

This Must Be the Place

2011

as Cheyenne

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life

2011

as Jack

Fair Game

Fair Game

2010

as Joseph Wilson

I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here

2010

as Sean Penn (uncredited)

Deflating the Elephant

Deflating the Elephant

2009

as Narrator

Milk

Milk

2008

as Harvey Milk

All the King's Men

All the King's Men

2006

as Willie Stark

The Interpreter

The Interpreter

2005

as Tobin Keller

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

2004

as Samuel Bicke

21 Grams

21 Grams

2003

as Paul Rivers

Mystic River

Mystic River

2003

as Jimmy Markum

It's All About Love

It's All About Love

2003

as Marciello

Pauly Shore Is Dead

Pauly Shore Is Dead

2003

as Sean Penn

Dogtown and Z-Boys

Dogtown and Z-Boys

2002

as Narrator

The Weight of Water

The Weight of Water

2001

as Thomas Janes

I Am Sam

I Am Sam

2001

as Sam Dawson

Beaver Trilogy

Beaver Trilogy

2000

as "Groovin' Larry" Huff

Up at the Villa

Up at the Villa

2000

as Rowley Flint

Before Night Falls

Before Night Falls

2000

as Cuco Sanchez

Sweet and Lowdown

Sweet and Lowdown

1999

as Emmet Ray

Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich

1999

as Sean Penn (uncredited)

Hurlyburly

Hurlyburly

1998

as Eddie

The Thin Red Line

The Thin Red Line

1998

as 1st Sgt. Edward Welsh

U Turn

U Turn

1997

as Bobby Cooper

She's So Lovely

She's So Lovely

1997

as Eddie Quinn

The Game

The Game

1997

as Conrad Van Orton

Hugo Pool

Hugo Pool

1997

as Strange Hitchhiker

Loved

Loved

1997

as Man on the Hill (Michael)

Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking

1995

as Matthew Poncelet

Carlito's Way

Carlito's Way

1993

as David Kleinfeld

State of Grace

State of Grace

1990

as Terry

Cool Blue

Cool Blue

1990

as Phil the Plumber (uncredited)

Casualties of War

Casualties of War

1989

as Sgt. Tony Meserve

We're No Angels

We're No Angels

1989

as Jim

Colors

Colors

1988

as Danny McGavin

Judgment in Berlin

Judgment in Berlin

1988

as Guenther X

Shanghai Surprise

Shanghai Surprise

1986

as Glendon Wasey

At Close Range

At Close Range

1986

as Bradford 'Brad' Whitewood Jr.

The Falcon and the Snowman

The Falcon and the Snowman

1985

as Daulton Lee

Racing with the Moon

Racing with the Moon

1984

as Henry 'Hopper' Nash

Crackers

Crackers

1984

as Dillard

Summerspell

Summerspell

1983

as Buddy

Bad Boys

Bad Boys

1983

as Mick O'Brien

Risky Business

Risky Business

1983

as Passenger in Car (uncredited)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

1982

as Jeff Spicoli

The Beaver Kid 2

The Beaver Kid 2

1981

as Groovin' Larry

Taps

Taps

1981

as Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer

The Killing of Randy Webster

The Killing of Randy Webster

1981

as Don Fremont

Hellinger's Law

Hellinger's Law

1981

as Bit Part (uncredited)

The Gunman

The Gunman

2015

Screenplay

Americans

Americans

2012

Story

Into the Wild

Into the Wild

2007

Screenplay

The Crossing Guard

The Crossing Guard

1995

Writer

The Indian Runner

The Indian Runner

1991

Screenplay

Superpower

Superpower

2023

Director

Flag Day

Flag Day

2021

Director

The Last Face

The Last Face

2017

Director

Into the Wild

Into the Wild

2007

Director

The Pledge

The Pledge

2001

Director

The Crossing Guard

The Crossing Guard

1995

Director

The Indian Runner

The Indian Runner

1991

Director

Words of War

Words of War

2025

Executive Producer

Asphalt City

Asphalt City

2024

Producer

September 5

September 5

2024

Producer

kid 90

kid 90

2021

Executive Producer

Flag Day

Flag Day

2021

Producer

The Gunman

The Gunman

2015

Producer

The Human Experiment

The Human Experiment

2013

Executive Producer

Into the Wild

Into the Wild

2007

Producer

The Pledge

The Pledge

2001

Producer

She's So Lovely

She's So Lovely

1997

Executive Producer

Loved

Loved

1997

Producer

The Crossing Guard

The Crossing Guard

1995

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Spirit Awards Best Actor Dead Man Walking Nominated
SAG Awards Best Actor The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Nominated
SAG Awards Best Actor Mystic River Won
BAFTA Awards Best Actor Dead Man Walking Nominated
Spirit Awards Best Supporting Actor The Falcon and the Snowman Nominated
Spirit Awards Best Actor Racing with the Moon Won
Venice Film Festival Best Actor Dead Man Walking Nominated
Television Credits

The First

as Tom Haggerty

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Sep 14, 2018

Gaslit

as John Mitchell

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Apr 24, 2022

Friends

as Eric

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 22, 1994

Family Guy

as Sean Penn (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 31, 1999

Curb Your Enthusiasm

as Sean Penn

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 15, 2000

Real Time with Bill Maher

as Self

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Feb 21, 2003

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts

as Self

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Aug 21, 2006

Celebrities Uncensored

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jun 04, 2003

The Oscars

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 19, 1953

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 26, 2003

Brando: The Documentary

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: May 01, 2007

Inside the Actors Studio

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 14, 1994

Little House on the Prairie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Viva La Bam

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 26, 2003

Two and a Half Men

as Himself

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 2003

The Early Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 01, 1999

VH1 Rock Honors

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 31, 2006

Iconoclasts

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 17, 2005

Where Are They Now?

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 07, 1999

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 11, 1975

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 04, 2008

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 2015

The View

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 11, 1997

The Reichen Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 11, 2005

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 11, 1975

Lights Out with David Spade

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 29, 2019

The Graham Norton Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 22, 2007

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 22, 2018

aspekte

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 17, 1965

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 43 50 37
2024 6 36 54 24
2024 7 40 58 25
2024 8 32 69 17
2024 9 28 48 16
2024 10 20 35 11
2024 11 23 34 13
2024 12 30 47 16
2025 1 33 53 22
2025 2 26 38 5
2025 3 5 30 0
2025 4 3 3 2
2025 5 5 6 2
2025 6 3 4 2
2025 7 2 3 1
2025 8 2 6 1
2025 9 2 3 1
2025 10 3 3 2
2025 11 3 4 2
2025 12 3 5 2
2026 1 4 5 3
2026 2 4 4 4

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 546 238
2024 6 379 40
2024 12 743 446
2025 1 356 32
2025 2 622 101
2025 5 653 558
2025 7 375 62
2025 8 545 142
2025 9 620 150
2025 10 442 49
2025 11 415 29
2025 12 530 5
2026 1 507 53
2026 2 540 540

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