The Many Looks of James Franco
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FREAK
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
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
Giddyap! The actor hoofed it as the tragic romantic lead in 2006's Tristan & Isolde.
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STONER
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
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
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
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
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
Franco was nearly unrecognizable while filming Spring Breakers in March 2012, thanks to his cornrows, shades, tattoos, and, of course, those gold grills.