The Many Looks of James Franco

From a debonair James Dean to Spring Breakers's dirtbag drug dealer, the birthday boy (who turns 34 on April 19) flaunts his versatile style
By Cara Lynn Shultz
Updated April 19, 2012 06:00 AM

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FREAK

Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Joining a cadre of future stars like Jason Segel and Seth Rogen, James Franco appeared on the short-lived (but critcially acclaimed) 1999 coming-of-age TV series Freaks and Geeks, playing "freak" Daniel, a troubled slacker in a tumultuous relationship with Kim (Busy Phillipps).

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REBEL

Credit: Everett

In his Golden Globe-winning 2001 breakout role, Franco perfectly channeled the tortured – and well-coiffed – original bad boy with a heart of gold, James Dean, for the eponymous TV movie.

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LOVESICK HERO

Credit: Everett

Giddyap! The actor hoofed it as the tragic romantic lead in 2006's Tristan & Isolde.

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STONER

Credit: Columbia Pictures/Everett

Clad in pajamas and smelling like weed, Franco had audiences in stitches as unlikely hero Saul in the 2008 stoner action-comedy, Pineapple Express.

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TROUBADOUR

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Franco showed off his musical side in 2009, strumming the ukulele while filming Eat, Pray, Love in New York City.

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PARTY BOY

Credit: Sonia Recchia/Getty

Talk about wigging out! The actor donned a blond wig and covered his face in white powder while goofing around at a 2011 Sundance bash.

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BLACK-TIE BABE

Credit: Sthanlee B. Mirador/Shooting Star

He sure cleans up well! Franco cut an impressive figure on the red carpet at the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards in a simple yet chic black suit.

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PERFORMANCE ARTIST

Credit: Rick Rowell/Abc

Did life imitate art or did art imitate life? Playing performance artist "Franco," the actor returned for his third stint on the soap General Hospital in February 2011 – the same month he was up for an Academy Award for 127 Hours.

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DIRTBAG

Credit: INF(2)

Franco was nearly unrecognizable while filming Spring Breakers in March 2012, thanks to his cornrows, shades, tattoos, and, of course, those gold grills.

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By Cara Lynn Shultz