James Franco's youth, dark good looks and wiry athletic build made him a suitable choice to play sports heroes as well as rebellious burnouts, a particularly advantageous versatility for an up and coming actor in the midst of a film and television teen boom. Best known for his breakthrough starring role on "Freaks and Geeks" (1999-2000), NBC's realistic look at high school life circa 1980, Franco made his television debut with a role in the 1999 NBC miniseries "To Serve and Protect", following a family with five generations of police officers in its ranks. He next appeared on an episode of NBC's "Profiler" before landing a role on the hour-long "Freaks and Geeks". On the series, Franco portrayed Daniel, a nihilistic "freak" whose troubled family life forces him to grow up fast and see the world with a resigned fatalism. The actor's brooding take on the character won over former good girl Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) on the show, and would no doubt win him the admiration of young viewers.

Franco first appeared on the big screen in the charming 1999 Drew Barrymore vehicle "Never Been Kissed" and solidified his appeal with a starring role as popular jock Chris Campbell in the high school-set "Cyrano de Bergerac" update "Whatever It Takes" (2000). In 2001, Franco was cast as the legendary film actor James Dean in the TNT biographical feature "James Dean." His portrayal of the rebellious heart throb earned Franco (in 2002), his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie as well as his first Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television.

Some of Franco's other memorable features include the blockbuster hit "Spider Man" (2002) and its sequel "Spider-Man 2" (2004), in which he played Harry Osborn, Peter Parker's best friend and romantic rival, as well as the son of the villainous Green Goblin (Willem DeFoe); the lead in Nicolas Cage's directorial debut "Sonny" (2002); the lackluster crime drama feature "City By The Sea," (2002) which also co-starred Robert De Niro; and the Robert Altman-directed ensemble of the ballet-themed "The Company" (2003). Though filmed in 2002, his next film, “The Great Raid,” was released in August 2005. Franco played Captain Robert Prince, leader of the 6th Ranger Battalion team that went 30 miles behind Japanese lines to rescue 500 POWs from the notorious Cabanatuan prison camp during World War II. Through steely gazes and a clenched jaw, Franco played his character straight, with little nuance and less depth. Meanwhile, the movie took in a paltry $3 million its opening weekend.

from movies.yahoo.com

  Spider-Man 3 (2007) (filming) .... Harry Osborn
Flyboys (2006) (post-production) .... Rawlings
Good Time Max (2006) (post-production) .... Max

Annapolis (2006) .... Jake Huard
Tristan & Isolde (2006) .... Tristan
The Great Raid (2005) .... Captain Prince
Fool's Gold (2005) .... Brent
Spider-Man 2 (2004) .... Harry Osborn
... aka Spider-Man 2: The IMAX Experience (USA: IMAX version)
The Ape (2004) .... Harry Walker
The Company (2003) .... Josh
... aka The Company - Das Ensemble (Germany)
The Car Kid (2003)
Mean People Suck (2003) .... Casey
City by the Sea (2002) .... Joey
... aka The Suspect (Philippines: English title)
Sonny (2002) .... Sonny Phillips
Blind Spot (2002/I) .... Danny
Mother Ghost (2002) .... Skateboarder guy
You Always Stalk the Ones You Love (2002)
Deuces Wild (2002) .... Tino
... aka Deuces Wild - Wild in den Straßen (Germany)
Spider-Man (2002) .... Harry Osborn
James Dean (2001) (TV) .... James Dean/Narrator
Some Body (2001) (uncredited) .... Apartment Guy 3
At Any Cost (2000) (TV) .... Mike
Whatever It Takes (2000) .... Chris Campbell
If Tomorrow Comes (2000) .... Devin

"Freaks and Geeks" (1999) TV Series .... Daniel Desario
Never Been Kissed (1999) (as James Edward Franco) .... Jason Way
"To Serve and Protect" (1999) (mini) TV Series .... Matt Carr
... aka Family Shield (USA)