In 2001, Franco won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of James Dean in the Mark Rydell-directed biopic of the same name.
Franco also became well known for frequently acting alongside his former "Freaks and Geeks" co-star Seth Rogen. The pair appeared together in "Knocked Up," "Pineapple Express," "This Is The End," "The Interview," and several other films.
That said, his rise to fame has not been without controversy.
Currently, Franco is being sued by two former students of his now-defunct acting school. They accuse Franco and his business partners of sexually exploiting female students, according to a lawsuit seen by the New York Times.
And, in 2018, five women accused Franco of engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior. Per the Los Angeles Times, Franco's attorney has disputed all of the women's allegations.