The Many Looks of James Franco

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).

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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