Penn, Sean (1960-…), is an American motion-picture actor, director, and screenwriter known for his intense performances. Penn won Academy Awards as best actor for his performance as a father seeking revenge for his daughter’s murder in Mystic River (2003) and for his portrayal of the openly gay California politician Harvey Milk in Milk (2008).
Sean Justin Penn was born on Aug. 17, 1960, in Santa Monica, California. His father was the director Leo Penn, and his mother was the actress Eileen Ryan. Chris Penn, his younger brother, was also an actor before his death in 2006. Sean became an actor after graduating from high school. He made his professional debut in an episode of the television series “Barnaby Jones” in 1979 and his motion-picture debut in Taps (1981). His other films include Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Bad Boys (1983), Crackers (1984), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), Colors (1988), Casualties of War (1989), Carlito’s Way (1990), Dead Man Walking (1995), The Thin Red Line (1998), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), I Am Sam (2001), The Weight of Water (2002), 21 Grams (2003), The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004), The Interpreter (2005), All the King’s Men (2006), Fair Game (2010), The Tree of Life and This Must Be the Place (both 2011), Gangster Squad (2013), and The Gunman (2015). He has also acted in several theater productions.
Penn wrote and directed The Indian Runner (1991) and The Crossing Guard (1995) and directed The Game (1997), She’s So Lovely (1997), and The Pledge (2001). He also directed and wrote the screenplay for Into the Wild (2007).
Penn’s personal life also gained him much attention. He earned a reputation for his temper and rebellious attitude. His turbulent marriage to the singer Madonna from 1985 to 1989 was highly publicized. He was married to the American actress Robin Wright Penn from 1996 to 2010.
In 2010, Sean Penn cofounded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization after an earthquake struck the country. He set up a tent camp in Haiti to provide relief and shelter to Haitians displaced by the disaster.
