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Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960)[1] is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his intense leading man roles in film. His accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for three British Academy Film Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award. He received an Honorary César in 2015.

Key Information

Penn made his feature film debut in the drama Taps (1981), before taking roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Bad Boys (1983), and At Close Range (1986). He has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice, for playing a grieving father in Mystic River (2003) and the gay rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk (2008). He was Oscar-nominated for Dead Man Walking (1995), Sweet and Lowdown (1999) and I Am Sam (2001). He also acted in Casualties of War (1989), State of Grace (1990), Carlito's Way (1993), The Game (1997), The Thin Red Line (1998), Hurlyburly (1998), 21 Grams (2003), Fair Game (2010), The Tree of Life (2011), Licorice Pizza (2021), Daddio (2023), and One Battle After Another (2025).

Penn made his directorial film debut with the crime drama The Indian Runner (1991), followed by The Crossing Guard (1995), The Pledge (2001), and Into the Wild (2007). On stage, he acted in the Broadway plays Heartland (1981) and Slab Boys (1983). On television, he portrayed an astronaut in the Hulu drama series The First (2018) and John N. Mitchell in the Starz political thriller miniseries Gaslit (2022).

Penn has also engaged in political and social activism, including his criticism of the George W. Bush administration, his contact with the presidents of Cuba and Venezuela, his humanitarian work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and his support for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amidst the Russian-Ukrainian War.[2][3]

Early life

[edit]

Sean Justin Penn was born on August 17, 1960 in Santa Monica, California,[4] to actor and director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan (née Annucci).[4][5] His older brother is musician Michael Penn. His younger brother, actor Chris Penn, died in 2006.[6] His father was a Jew whose parents were emigrants from Merkinė in Lithuania,[7][8][9][10][11] and his mother was a Catholic of Irish and Italian descent.[11][12]

Penn was raised in a secular home in Malibu, California,[9] and attended Malibu Park Junior High School and Santa Monica High School.[13][14] He began[when?] making short films with some of his childhood friends including actors Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, who lived near his home.[15]

Career

[edit]

1974–1989: Early work and breakthrough

[edit]
Penn at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival

Penn appeared in a 1974 episode of the Little House on the Prairie television series as an extra when his father, Leo, directed some of the episodes.[16] Penn launched his film career with the action-drama Taps (1981), where he played a military high school cadet.[15] That same year he made his Broadway debut in the Kevin Heelan play Heartland at the Century Theatre.[17] A year later, he appeared in the hit comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), in the role of surfer-stoner Jeff Spicoli; his character helped popularize the word "dude" in popular culture.[15] Next, Penn appeared as Mick O'Brien, a troubled youth, in the drama Bad Boys (1983).[15] The role earned Penn favorable reviews and jump-started his career as a serious actor. He returned to Broadway that same year acting in the John Byrne play Slab Boys acting alongside Kevin Bacon, Val Kilmer, Jackie Earl Haley, and Madeleine Potter at the Playhouse Theatre.[18]

Penn played Andrew Daulton Lee in the film The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), which closely followed an actual criminal case.[15] Lee was a former drug dealer, convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union and originally sentenced to life in prison, but was paroled in 1998. Penn later hired Lee as his personal assistant, partly because he wanted to reward Lee for allowing him to play Lee in the film; Penn was also a firm believer in rehabilitation and thought Lee should be successfully reintegrated into society, since he was a free man again.[19] Penn starred in the drama At Close Range (1986) which received critical acclaim.[15] He stopped acting for a few years in the early 1990s, having been dissatisfied with the industry, and focused on making his directing debut.[15]

1990–1999: Leading man roles and stardom

[edit]

In 1990, Penn portrayed Detective Terry Noonan in the neo-noir State of Grace opposite Ed Harris and Gary Oldman.[20] The following year, Penn made his directorial debut with The Indian Runner (1991), a crime drama film based on Bruce Springsteen's song "Highway Patrolman", from the 1982 album Nebraska.[15] Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote, "Flirting constantly with the dangers of pure self-indulgence, Mr. Penn still manages to keep the improvisatory quality of this painful family drama from becoming overwhelming. For all its hazy excesses, the film seldom loses sight of its story's raw essence."[21] He also directed music videos, such as Shania Twain's "Dance with the One That Brought You" (1993), Lyle Lovett's "North Dakota" (1993). After a brief hiatus from acting, he returned to star in the Brian De Palma crime drama Carlito's Way (1993) acting opposite Al Pacino.[22] Film critic Leonard Klady of Variety wrote of his performance, "Penn reminds viewers of what they've been missing in his performance as Carlito's ambitious, amoral lawyer. Without stooping to caricature, he effortlessly captures what is most heinous in the profession."[23] Penn was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[24]

He also directed the indie thriller The Crossing Guard (1995) starring Jack Nicholson.[25] Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote, "Penn is a slugger of a film maker, whether pummeling his audience with the obvious or hammering home the heartfelt and true. His second feature...has the same brute force that made his Indian Runner such a gripping oddity, bearing the distinctive stamp of Mr. Penn's raw, searching style".[26] That same year he acting alongside Susan Sarandon starring in the Tim Robbins directed crime drama playing a racist murderer on death row in Dead Man Walking (1995).[27] Critic Roger Ebert wrote "Penn proves again that he is the most powerful actor of his generation".[28] For his performance he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.[29] The following year he acted in the Nick Cassavetes-directed romantic drama She's So Lovely (1997) opposite his then-wife Robin Wright Penn. Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly compared the film to the works of John Cassavetes and wrote that Penn's performance "is so full of heart and talent".[30] Penn won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor.[31] That same year he acted in the Oliver Stone directed neo-noir crime drama U Turn, and David Fincher's mystery thriller The Game.[32][33]

In 1997, he starred in the independent drama Hurlyburly based on the 1984 play of the same name by David Rabe. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote, "Sean Penn ends up dominating the film, sweating anxiety and rage from every pore. His charisma and screen presence are undeniable".[34] For his performance he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival.[35] That same year he had a leading role in the Terrence Malick epic about the World War II battle for Guadalcanal in The Thin Red Line (1998) based on the 1962 novel of the same name by James Jones.[36] The following year he portrayed an egotisitcal jazz guitarist in the Woody Allen film Sweet and Lowdown (1999).[37] Roger Ebert described Penn's performances as "master classes in the art of character development".[38] For his performance he was nominated for his second Academy Award for Best Actor.[39]

2000–2011: Established actor and acclaim

[edit]
Penn in 2008

In 2000, Penn acted in Julian Schnabel's drama Before Night Falls opposite Javier Bardem and Kathryn Bigelow's thriller The Weight of Water with Elizabeth Hurley.[40][41] The following year he guest starred on the NBC sitcom Friends portraying Eric, a man who was engaged to Phoebe Buffay's sister Ursula, both of whom are played by Lisa Kudrow. He appeared in two episodes in the eighth season.[42] That same year he portrayed a mentally handicapped father in the family drama I am Sam (2001). His performance led him to his third nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.[43]

In 2003, he starred in the Clint Eastwood directed Boston crime drama Mystic River portraying a grieving father looking for his daughter.[44] Penn acted alongside Tim Robbins, Laura Linney, Marcia Gay Harden, and Kevin Bacon. Film critic Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote, "[The] Casting is immaculate. Penn is in top form as the reformed hood whose basic instincts overtake him."[45] Penn received widespread acclaim for his performance earning numerous accolades including the Academy Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor as well as nominations for the BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award.[46][47] That same year he acted in Alejandro González Iñárritu's psychological thriller 21 Grams opposite Naomi Watts and Benicio del Toro. For his performance he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor at the 57th British Academy Film Awards.[48]

In 2004, Penn played Samuel Bicke, a character based on Samuel Byck, who in 1974 attempted and failed to assassinate President Richard Nixon, in The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004). The same year, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[49] Next, Penn portrayed governor Willie Stark (based on Huey Long) in an adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's classic 1946 American novel All the King's Men (2006). The film was a critical and commercial failure, named by a 2010 Forbes article as the biggest flop in the last five years.[50] During this time he directed the mystery film The Pledge (2001) and Peter Gabriel's "The Barry Williams Show" (2002). Penn gained acclaim for directing the biographical drama survival film Into the Wild (2007). Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly praised wrote, "Penn has written and directed with magnificent precision and imaginative grace".[51] For his direction he was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film.[52]

Penn portraying Harvey Milk during filming of Milk in March 2008

In November 2008, Penn earned positive reviews for his portrayal of real-life politician and gay rights activist and icon Harvey Milk in the Gus Van Sant directed biographical drama film Milk (2008). Kirk Honeycutt for The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Penn is one of those actors in complete control of his entire instrument. He uses voice, body movements, line readings and something indefinable within his own psyche to transmigrate into another person's body and mind".[53] For his performance he was nominated for Best Actor by the British Academy Film Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards.[54][55] Penn won his second Academy Award for Best Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.[56][57]

In Fair Game (2010), Penn starred as Joseph C. Wilson, whose wife, Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts), was outed as a CIA agent by Bush advisor Scooter Libby in retaliation for an article Wilson wrote debunking Bush's claim that Iraq was building a nuclear bomb as a rationale for invading the country. The film is based upon Plame's 2007 memoir Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House.[58] Penn reunited with Terrence Malick drama The Tree of Life (2011), which won the Palme d'Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.[59] That same year he starred in the Paolo Sorrentino directed comedy-drama This Must Be the Place (2011) opposite Frances McDormand. In the film Penn plays Cheyenne, a former rock star. The film received positive reviews[60] with Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "Penn dominates the film, of course, although it's a performance that slithers between the genuine and the stunt-like".[61]

2012–present: Focus on directing and television roles

[edit]

In 2015, Penn starred in The Gunman, a French-American action thriller based on the novel The Prone Gunman, by Jean-Patrick Manchette. Jasmine Trinca, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance, and fellow Oscar-winner Javier Bardem appear in supporting roles. In The Gunman, Penn played Jim Terrier, a sniper on a mercenary assassination team who kills the minister of mines of the Congo. During this time Penn directed the drama film The Last Face (2016) starring Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem and the crime/drama film Flag Day (2021) with Dylan Penn and Josh Brolin.[62] In March 2018, Atria Books published Penn's novel Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff.[63] After the book's release, Penn went on a highly publicized press tour.[64][65][66] He claimed that he no longer had "a generic interest in making films", and being a writer will "dominate my creative energies for the foreseeable future".[67]

In 2018 Penn starred in his first leading role in a television series portraying Tom Hagerty, an astronaut chosen to be one of the first people to visit Mars in the Hulu science fiction drama series The First created by Beau Willimon.[68] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote of his performance, "You can quickly see why Penn gravitated toward this as his series debut. His physical transformation and high-intensity confrontations...are showy, but the slowly unfolding role also lets him play quiet moments, and even light ones" adding, "It's funny that I'm always surprised by how game Penn is to be a goofball. The guy who starred in Fast Times at Ridgemont High is still in there somewhere."[69] The series received positive reviews[70] but on January 18, 2019, Hulu canceled the series after one season.[71] In 2020 Penn played himself in a cameo role in the Curb Your Enthusiasm season 10 episode "The Spite Store".[72]

In 2021, Penn portrayed Jack Holden, an actor based on William Holden, in the Paul Thomas Anderson directed coming of age comedy-drama Licorice Pizza.[73] Penn returned to television starring in the Starz political thriller limited series Gaslit (2022) portraying John N. Mitchell opposite Julia Roberts as Martha Mitchell. The role required transformational prosthetics.[74] Ben Travers of IndieWire wrote of his performance, "Penn manages to bring life to his makeup-constructed character" adding "Even his manner of speech, spitting curse words while clenching his wooden pipe, befits the boil of a man that John Mitchell becomes".[75] For his performance he was nominated for the Hollywood Critics Association Award for Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series.[76]

In 2023 Penn directed his first documentary film, Superpower, profiling the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.[77][78] The film follows Penn as he travels to Ukraine to meet with Zelenskyy, the soldiers and observe firsthand how the Russo-Ukrainian War is being waged.[79] Penn starred as a cab driver in Christy Hall's directorial debut Daddio (2023) acting opposite Dakota Johnson. Film critic Todd McCarthy of Deadline Hollywood wrote, "Sean Penn is at his absolute best here in a tremendously engaging performance as a salty working-class guy with an endless supply of opinions and ways of drawing out his passengers".[80]

In 2025, he appeared on the Netflix late-night talk show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney alongside Adam Sandler. Penn and Sandler give Mulaney advice for the physical fight he would later have with three 14-year olds on the show.[81] The same year, he reunited with Paul Thomas Anderson, starring in his film One Battle After Another as the main antagonist.[82]

Personal life

[edit]

Marriages and relationships

[edit]
Penn with then-wife Robin Wright in September 2006; the two were married from 1996 to 2010.

Penn was engaged to actress Elizabeth McGovern, his co-star in Racing with the Moon (1984). He also dated Demi Moore and Susan Sarandon.[83][84]

Penn met singer-songwriter Madonna on set of her "Material Girl" music video in January 1985.[85] On August 16, 1985, they married on Madonna's 27th birthday; Penn turned 25 the next day.[86] The two starred in the panned Shanghai Surprise (1986), directed by Jim Goddard, and Madonna dedicated her third studio album True Blue (1986) to Penn, referring to him in the liner notes as "the coolest guy in the universe".[87] Their marriage was marred by Penn's violent outbursts against the press.[88] Madonna filed for divorce in December 1987, but withdrew the papers two weeks later.[89] In January 1989, Madonna filed for divorce again and reportedly withdrew an assault complaint against Penn following an incident at their Malibu, California, home during the New Year weekend.[90][91] Penn was alleged to have struck Madonna on multiple occasions during their marriage in the book Madonna Unauthorized.[92] Madonna denied the allegations stating they were "completely outrageous, malicious, reckless, and false" in 2015.[93][85]

In 1989, Penn began dating actress Robin Wright, and their first child, a daughter named Dylan Frances, was born April 13, 1991.[94] Their second child, son Hopper Jack, was born August 6, 1993.[95] Penn and Wright separated in 1995, during which time he developed a relationship with Jewel, after he spotted her performing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He invited her to compose a song for his film The Crossing Guard (1995) and followed her on tour.[96] Penn reconciled with Wright and they married on April 27, 1996. The couple filed for divorce in December 2007 but reconciled several months later, requesting a court dismissal of their divorce case.[97] In April 2009, Penn filed for legal separation, only to withdraw the case once again when the couple reconciled in May.[98][99][100] On August 12, 2009, Wright filed for divorce again.[101][102] The couple's divorce was finalized on July 22, 2010; the couple reached a private agreement on child and spousal support, division of assets, and custody of Hopper, who was almost 17 at the time.[103]

In December 2013, Penn began dating South African actress Charlize Theron.[104] Their relationship ended in June 2015.[105] Despite reports that they were engaged, Theron stated that they were never engaged.[106] Theron starred in Penn's film The Last Face (2016), which they filmed while still a couple.[104]

In 2016, Penn began a relationship with Australian actress Leila George, daughter of actors Vincent D'Onofrio and Greta Scacchi.[107] They married on July 30, 2020.[108] George filed for divorce on October 15, 2021.[109] Their divorce was finalized on April 22, 2022.[110] In June 2023, Penn began a relationship with Ukrainian Olga Korotyayeva.[111]

[edit]

In October 1985, Penn pled no contest to charges that he assaulted two journalists when they tried to photograph him and Madonna in Nashville in June 1985.[112] He was fined $50 on each of two misdemeanor charges of assault and battery.[112] In January 1986, Penn was charged for allegedly assaulting Leonel Borralho, Macau correspondent for the Hong Kong Standard newspaper, after he photographed Madonna and Penn as they arrived at their hotel room.[113] In June 1986, Penn was charged with misdemeanor battery for assaulting songwriter David Wolinski at Helena's nightclub in Los Angeles.[114] Wolinski said Penn accused him of trying to kiss Madonna. Penn pled not guilty to the charge.[115]

In April 1987, Penn violated probation and was arrested for punching a film extra, Jeffrey Klein, on set of the movie Colors.[116] Penn was sentenced to 60 days in jail for this assault and reckless driving in June 1987, of which he served 33 days.[117][118] According to Penn himself, he was incarcerated in the same jail holding Richard Ramirez, a serial killer awaiting trial. Ramirez wrote to Penn, to which Penn wrote back saying he had no kinship for his fellow inmate and hopes Ramirez receives capital punishment via the gas chamber.[119] In May 2010, Penn pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an altercation with photographer Frank Mateljan in October 2009.[120] He was sentenced to perform 300 hours of community service and undergo 36 hours of anger management counseling.[121]

In an interview published September 16, 2015, director and showrunner Lee Daniels responded to criticism about Terrence Howard's continued career in light of his domestic violence issues by referencing Penn's rumored history of domestic violence, saying: "[Terrence] ain't done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he's some f—in' demon."[122] In response, Penn launched a $10 million defamation suit against Daniels, alleging that he had never been arrested for or charged with domestic violence.[123] Penn dropped the lawsuit in May 2016 after Daniels retracted his statement and apologized.[124]

Political views and activism

[edit]
Penn in Tehran in June 2005

Penn has been outspoken in supporting numerous political and social causes.[125] On December 13–16, 2002, he visited Iraq to protest against the Bush administration's apparent plans for a military strike on Iraq.[citation needed] On June 10, 2005, Penn visited Iran, where, acting as a journalist on an assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle, he attended a Friday prayer at Tehran University.[126]

Penn's vocal progressive opinions and activism are parodied in the 2004 film Team America: World Police. In the film, a satirical puppet version of Penn makes outlandish claims about Baathist Iraq, claiming it was a utopia with "rainbow skies" and "rivers made of chocolate" before the US military and the Coalition of the Willing invaded and removed Saddam Hussein from power in 2003. In response to the film, Penn sent an angry letter to its creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, inviting them to tour Iraq with him and ending with the statement, "fuck you".[127]

On January 7, 2006, Penn was a special guest at the Progressive Democrats of America, where he was joined by author and media critic Norman Solomon and activist Cindy Sheehan at their "Out of Iraq Forum" in Sacramento, California, organized to support and promote the anti-Iraq War movement.[128] On December 18, 2006, Penn received the Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award from the Creative Coalition for his commitment to free speech.[129]

In August 2008, Penn attended one of Ralph Nader's "Open the Debates" super rallies, protesting against Nader and other third-party candidates's exclusion.[130] In October 2008, Penn visited Cuba, where he met with and interviewed then Cuban president Raúl Castro.[131]

In 2021, Penn denounced cancel culture, describing it as "ludicrous".[132]

George W. Bush administration

[edit]
Penn at the anti-Iraq War rally in Washington, D.C., in January 2007

On October 18, 2002, Penn placed a $56,000 advertisement in The Washington Post, publicly asking then President George W. Bush to end military hostilities in Iraq and elsewhere. The advertisement was written as an open letter and referred to the planned attack on Iraq and the War on terror.[133]

In the letter, Penn also criticized the Bush administration for its "deconstruction of civil liberties" and its "simplistic and inflammatory view of good and evil."[134] Penn visited Iraq briefly in December 2002.[133] The criticism drew praise from Penn's ex-wife Madonna, who said, "Sean is one of the few. Good for him. Most celebrities are keeping their heads down. Nobody wants to be unpopular. But then Americans, by and large, are pretty ignorant of what's going on in the world."[135]

The Post advertisement was cited as a primary reason for the development of his relationship with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. In one of his televised speeches, Chávez used and read aloud an open letter Penn wrote to Bush.[136] The letter condemned the Iraq War, called for Bush to be impeached, and also called then US Vice President Dick Cheney and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "villainously and criminally obscene people."[137]

On April 19, 2007, Penn appeared on The Colbert Report and had a "Meta-Free-Phor-All" versus Stephen Colbert that was judged by Robert Pinsky following Penn's criticisms of Bush. In the appearance, Penn said, "We cower as you point your fingers telling us to support our troops. You and the smarmy pundits in your pocket– those who bathe in the moisture of your soiled and blood-soaked underwear–can take that noise and shove it."[138] He won the contest with 10,000,000 points to Colbert's 1.[139]

On December 7, 2007, Penn said he supported Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich in the 2008 US presidential election, and again criticized Bush's handling of the Iraq War. Penn questioned whether Bush's daughters, Jenna and Barbara, supported the war in Iraq.[140]

Natural disasters

[edit]

In September 2005, Penn traveled to New Orleans, to aid Hurricane Katrina victims. He was physically involved in rescuing people,[141] although there was criticism that his involvement was a PR stunt as he hired a photographer to come along with his entourage.[142] Penn denied such accusations in an article he wrote for HuffPost.[143] Director Spike Lee interviewed Penn for Lee's documentary about Hurricane Katrina, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006).

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Penn founded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization,[144] which operated a 55,000 person tent camp.[145] Prior to founding the organization, Penn acknowledged he had never visited Haiti and did not speak French or Creole. When asked about critics who questioned his experience on Haiti, he said he hopes they "die screaming of rectal cancer".[146]

On January 31, 2012, due largely to his visibility as an on-the-ground advocate for rescue and aid efforts in the aftermath, Penn was designated by then Haitian president Michel Martelly as Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti, the first time a non-Haitian citizen has held the position in the country's history.[147] Also in 2012, at the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Penn was recognized with the Peace Summit Award.[148]

Gender and sexual orientation

[edit]

On February 22, 2009, Penn received the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film Milk. In his acceptance speech, he said: "I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone!"[149] In 2022, Penn expressed his position on masculinity, saying, "I am in the club that believes that men in American culture have become wildly feminised...I don't think that [in order] to be fair to women, we should become them." He later told The Independent that "I think that men have, in my view, become quite feminised...There are a lot of, I think, cowardly genes that lead to people surrendering their jeans and putting on a skirt."[150]

International affairs

[edit]

Penn gained significant attention in Pakistan media when he visited Karachi and Badin in 2012. On March 23, 2012, accompanied by US Consul General William J. Martin, Penn visited flood-stricken villages in Karim Bux Jamali, Dargah Shah Gurio, and Peero Lashari in the Badin District, where he distributed blankets, quilts, kitchen items, and other goods to flood survivors.[151][152]

On March 24, 2012, during his visit to Pakistan, Penn visited Bilquis Edhi Female Child Home and met Pakistani humanitarian worker Abdul Sattar Edhi and his wife Bilquis Edhi and laid floral wreaths at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in honor of him.[153][154]

Penn is also believed to have played a role in securing the release of American entrepreneur Jacob Ostreicher from a Bolivian prison in 2013, and was credited by Ostreicher for having personally nursed him back to health after his release.[155]

Penn is the founder of the nonprofit organization Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), which distributed aid in Haiti following the country's 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew and administered free COVID-19 diagnostic tests in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.[156]

In October 2021, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint that Penn and CORE violated US federal labor law, contending that Penn "impliedly threatened" his employees with reprisals after they complained about working conditions, which allegedly included 18-hour work days.[157]

In February 2012, during the Syrian civil war, Penn stood beside Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez as Venezuela supported the government of Syria, led by Bashar al-Assad.[158] In March 2010, Penn called for the imprisonment of journalists who referred to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez as a dictator.[159] Penn's was criticized by conservative and libertarian media sources, including National Review and Reason.[160][161][162]

Penn and Chávez maintained a friendship; when Chávez died in 2013, Penn said: "Venezuela and its revolution will endure under the proven leadership of Vice President Nicolás Maduro. Today the United States lost a friend it never knew it had. And poor people around the world lost a champion. I lost a friend I was blessed to have."[163] Penn's friendship with Chávez and his praise for Cuban dictator Raúl Castro have been criticized by human rights activist Thor Halvorssen and media, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The New Criterion, and The Advocate, each of which alleged that Castro and Chávez's strong anti-LGBT stances clashed with Penn's support for LGBT groups.[164][165][166][167] Actress María Conchita Alonso, who co-starred with Penn in Colors, also issued an "Open Letter to Sean Penn", attacking his views on Chávez.[168] In December 2011, Alonso and Penn began verbally fighting at an airport, during which Penn called her "a pig" and Alonso called Penn a communist.[169]

On January 9, 2016, a day after Mexican officials announced the capture of fugitive Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán in a militarized raid, Rolling Stone reported that Penn and actress Kate del Castillo had conducted a secret interview with El Chapo prior to his arrest.[170][171] Del Castillo was contacted by Guzmán's lawyer, who was then under CISEN surveillance, to discuss producing a biographical film about Guzmán, and communication between the two increased following Guzmán's escape from a Mexican prison in July 2015.[172] The deal for the interview was brokered by del Castillo.[173]

According to text messages released between Penn and del Castillo, El Chapo did not know who Sean Penn was.[174] CISEN released photographs of del Castillo at the meetings with Guzmán's lawyers and of Penn and del Castillo arriving in Mexico. The interview was criticized by White House, which called it "maddening".[175] Mexican authorities said they sought to question Penn over the interview, which had not been approved by either the American or Mexican government.[176] Penn and del Castillo's meeting with Guzmán was investigated by the Attorney General of Mexico.[177]

In October 2020, Penn tweeted support for Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He also criticized Turkey's involvement in the conflict and close Turkey–United States ties and simultaneously endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 US presidential election. Penn said, "Armenians are being slaughtered by Trump pal Erdogan with weapons WE provided. THIS is NOT America! Biden for America's new birth!".[178]

Ukraine

[edit]

In 2022, Penn visited Ukraine to film a documentary about the Russian invasion of that country.[179] Penn attended press briefings in Kyiv, met with officials and spoke to journalists and military personnel about the Russian invasion.[180][179] On February 25, 2022, Penn said, "If we allow it [Ukraine] to fight alone, our soul as America is lost."[180]

Penn also praised the response from the Ukrainian government and its citizens.[180] As Penn and his team prepared to leave Ukraine, they abandoned their car and walked with their luggage for miles to the Polish border.[181] Russia is sanctioning Penn over his Ukraine support.[182]

In Kyiv in November 2022, Penn lent an Oscar statuette to President Zelenskyy, saying, "This is for you. It's just a symbolic silly thing...When you win, bring it back to Malibu." Zelensky, in turn, awarded Penn the Ukrainian Order of Merit.[183]

Falkland Islands

[edit]
Penn and President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner during Penn's visit to Argentina in February 2012

In February 2012, Penn met with the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, in Buenos Aires, where he commented on the long-running dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, saying: "I know I came in a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands. And I hope that diplomats can establish true dialogue in order to solve the conflict as the world today cannot tolerate ridiculous demonstrations of colonialism. The way of dialogue is the only way to achieve a better solution for both nations."[184][185][186]

The comments were taken as support of Argentina's claim to the islands and evoked reactions in British media, including a satirical article in The Daily Telegraph requesting that Penn "return his Malibu estate to the Mexicans".[187]

In February 2012, Penn's comments on the Falklands dispute were criticized by Falklands War veteran and political activist Simon Weston, who said, "Sean Penn does not know what he is talking about and, frankly, he should shut up. His [Penn's] views are irrelevant and it only serves to fuel the fire of the Argentinians and get them more pumped up."[188] British Conservative MP Patrick Mercer called Penn's statement on the Falklands "moronic".[189] Lauren Collins wrote in The New Yorker, "As of today, Sean Penn is the new Karl Lagerfeld—the man upon whom, having disrespected something dear to the United Kingdom, the British papers most gleefully pile contempt".[190]

Penn later claimed his comments were misrepresented in British press and that his criticism of "colonialism" was a reference to the deployment of Prince William as an air-sea rescue pilot, describing it as a "message of pre-emptive intimidation". He claimed that the Prince's posting meant "the automatic deployment of warships", and stated: "My oh my, aren't people sensitive to the word 'colonialism', particularly those who implement colonialism."[191][192]

In an op-ed written in The Guardian, Penn wrote that "the legalisation of Argentinian immigration to the Malvinas/Falkland Islands is one that it seems might have been addressed, but for the speculative discovery of booming offshore oil in the surrounding seas this past year" and that it was "irresponsible journalism" to suggest "that I had taken a specific position against those currently residing in the Malvinas/Falkland Islands, that they should either be deported or absorbed into Argentine rule. I neither said, nor insinuated that".[192][193]

Acting credits and accolades

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See also: Sean Penn filmography and List of awards and nominations received by Sean Penn

Penn has appeared in over 50 films and won several awards during his career as an actor and director, including two Academy Awards for Best Actor for Mystic River in 2003 and Milk in 2008,[194] and was nominated three more times in the same category for Dead Man Walking (1995), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and I Am Sam (2001).[195] He also received a Directors Guild of America nomination for directing Into the Wild (2007).[196] In 2015, Penn received the Honorary César for lifetime achievement.[197]

Published works

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References

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Sean Penn

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Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an American actor and filmmaker recognized for his method acting approach and portrayals of complex, often volatile characters.
Penn achieved critical acclaim with two Academy Awards for Best Actor, first for his role as a grieving father in Mystic River (2003) and later for embodying gay rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk (2008).
Transitioning to directing, he helmed films such as The Indian Runner (1991), his debut, and Into the Wild (2007), an adaptation of Jon Krakauer's book that earned widespread praise for its visual storytelling and thematic depth.
Beyond cinema, Penn has engaged in high-profile activism, co-founding the Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, where he personally oversaw a large tent camp and long-term recovery initiatives amid challenges of coordination and sustainability.
His independent journalistic pursuits, including a 2015 clandestine interview with Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán published in Rolling Stone, sparked debate over ethics and unintended consequences, as communications surrounding the meeting reportedly facilitated Guzmán's recapture by Mexican authorities.

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Sean Justin Penn was born on August 17, 1960, in , to , an actor and television director of Jewish descent, and (née Annucci), an actress of Italian-American heritage. He was the middle child, with an older brother, , a musician, and a younger brother, , also an actor who died in 2006. Leo Penn's career was significantly impacted by the during the McCarthy era; he refused to testify before the in the late 1940s, leading to restricted opportunities in film , though he continued working in directing into the 1950s and beyond. This period of professional adversity shaped family discussions on resilience and industry politics, with Leo later directing episodes of shows like and , providing early on-set exposure for his sons. Eileen Ryan, born October 16, 1927, in , New York, to a family with a lawyer-dentist father, pursued acting after studying at the Actors Studio, appearing in Broadway productions and later television roles, which immersed the household in entertainment industry norms. The Penn family resided in ' progressive Hollywood milieu, where Leo's experiences and Eileen's stage work fostered an environment of creative ambition amid ideological scrutiny from the era's anti-communist purges.

Initial interests in acting

Penn developed an early fascination with performance through collaborative filmmaking projects during his time at , where he graduated in 1978 alongside peers such as , , and ; the group produced amateur short films that foreshadowed his creative inclinations. These efforts, rooted in the informal, peer-driven environment of Southern California's coastal , emphasized practical experimentation over academic preparation, reflecting Penn's preference for amid the gritty, self-reliant ethos of Santa Monica's street life. Opting against college—despite initial considerations of —Penn pursued via direct immersion in professional theater circles, joining the Group Repertory Theater shortly after high school to take on backstage roles and observe performers up close. This hands-on approach underscored his independent drive, as he rejected conventional trajectories in favor of self-taught techniques, wary that formal instruction might constrain his innate, unrefined intensity derived from personal hardships and odd jobs in the local scene. While familial ties—his father Leo Penn's directing career and mother Eileen Ryan's background—offered peripheral access to industry networks, Penn's entry hinged on persistent , including hustling for theater gigs without reliance on elite pedigrees. His raw style, unpolished by institutional polish, emerged from this autodidactic phase, prioritizing visceral authenticity over structured pedagogy.

Acting career

Debut and early television roles (1970s–1980s)

Penn made his professional acting debut in a minor role as a schoolboy in the Little House on the Prairie episode "The Voice of Tinker Jones," which aired on December 4, 1974, and was directed by his father, Leo Penn. This uncredited appearance marked his entry into the industry at age 14, though subsequent early television work remained sporadic and secondary to his emerging film interests. Transitioning to feature films, Penn secured his screen debut as Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer in Taps (1981), portraying a disciplined yet fervent student at a military academy facing closure, alongside co-stars Timothy Hutton and Tom Cruise. The role highlighted his capacity for portraying youthful defiance under pressure, contributing to his honing of intense, character-driven performances amid ensemble dynamics. Penn's breakthrough arrived with the comedic role of Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer and class slacker, in (1982), adapted from Cameron Crowe's nonfiction book about high school life. Spicoli's irreverent antics, including clashes with authority figures and carefree worldview, earned critical notice for Penn's improvisational flair and cemented his early as an anarchic teen rebel, influencing perceptions of his on-screen persona for years. Building on this image, Penn tackled a more volatile character in Bad Boys (1983), as Mick O'Brien, a Chicago gang leader navigating juvenile detention and turf wars, which allowed him to explore psychological depth and physical confrontations. Critics, including , praised the performance for its visceral authenticity, though Penn's immersive method approach—staying in character off-set—began drawing commentary on its demanding nature, foreshadowing his reputation for rigorous preparation at the expense of set dynamics. These roles collectively fostered his skill in embodying alienated youth, while reinforcing industry expectations that limited his range during the decade.

Breakthrough films and leading man status (1980s–1990s)

Penn's breakthrough came with his portrayal of the laid-back surfer Jeff Spicoli in (1982), a role that showcased his comedic timing and established him as a rising talent amid the film's ensemble cast. The movie grossed $27 million domestically against a $4.5 million budget, marking a commercial success that highlighted Penn's ability to steal scenes. This performance transitioned him from supporting roles to leading man prospects, though his early dramatic turns in films like Bad Boys (1983) and (1985) received mixed reviews for their intensity but limited box-office draw. His marriage to on August 16, 1985, amplified a tabloid-driven "bad boy" image, intertwining his personal volatility—marked by multiple arrests for assaulting photographers and others—with his on-screen personas. Penn faced charges including a 1987 jail sentence for and violations from prior incidents, which both fueled publicity for tough-guy roles and deterred some studio collaborations due to perceived risks. This persona suited action-oriented films like Colors (1988), where he played a volatile LAPD officer alongside , earning praise for authenticity while the picture grossed $46 million on a $6 million budget. By the early 1990s, Penn leaned into complex antiheroes, as in State of Grace (1990), an Irish mob drama where his undercover cop role drew critical acclaim for emotional depth amid the ensemble's strong reception. The film underperformed commercially but solidified his dramatic range. Mid-decade shifts to nuanced villains, such as the death-row inmate in Dead Man Walking (1995)—praised for raw vulnerability and contributing to the film's 97% critical approval—and the erratic drifter in (1997), garnered acclaim despite inconsistent grosses, like $37 million for the former on an $11 million budget. These roles balanced his leading status with artistic credibility, even as off-screen incidents occasionally overshadowed box-office potential.

Acclaimed dramatic roles and Oscar wins (2000s)

In the 2000s, Sean Penn transitioned toward intense dramatic roles in prestige films, earning critical recognition for portraying complex, emotionally charged characters often informed by his own life experiences as a father and his commitment to method acting. His performance as Jimmy Markum, a grieving father seeking vengeance after his daughter's murder in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River (2003), garnered widespread acclaim for its raw intensity and depth, culminating in Penn's first Academy Award for Best Actor at the 76th Oscars on February 29, 2004. The film, adapted from Dennis Lehane's novel, achieved commercial success with a worldwide gross of approximately $156 million against a $25 million budget, though its dark themes limited broader audience appeal compared to mainstream blockbusters. Penn followed with the role of Paul Rivers, a professor awaiting a heart transplant in Alejandro González Iñárritu's (2003), where his portrayal of physical frailty and existential despair was highlighted by critics for its emotional authenticity amid the film's nonlinear narrative. The ensemble drama received an 80% approval rating on , with Penn's performance contributing to its praise as a visceral exploration of loss, though it underperformed at the box office, earning about $60 million worldwide. Similarly, in The Assassination of (2004), Penn embodied Samuel Bicke, a disillusioned salesman spiraling into obsession, delivering a compelling study of quiet desperation that lauded for its riveting execution, yet the indie film's limited release yielded modest earnings under $1 million domestically, underscoring Penn's draw for niche critical audiences over mass appeal. Penn's pinnacle in the decade came with his transformative depiction of , the pioneering gay rights activist, in Gus Van Sant's (2008), for which he won his second Oscar at the on February 22, 2009. To prepare, Penn slimmed down significantly, studied archival footage, and immersed himself in Milk's mannerisms, achieving a nuanced portrayal that balanced flamboyance with political resolve, as noted by observers who witnessed his on-set metamorphosis. This commitment reflected a pattern where Penn's personal intensity—honed through life events like parenthood and relational strains—fueled believable and in roles demanding profound , though 's $54 million global gross highlighted its selective resonance despite eight Oscar nominations.

Character-driven and ensemble work (2010s–present)

In the 2010s, Sean Penn shifted toward selective, character-driven roles often within ensemble frameworks, prioritizing depth over prolific output as he balanced acting with directing pursuits. His performance in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life (2011) featured him as adult Jack O'Brien, an architect reflecting on familial trauma and existential themes, bookending the film's alongside Brad Pitt's portrayal of the protagonist's father. This role exemplified Penn's affinity for introspective, abstract characters in auteur-driven projects, contributing to the ensemble's on grace versus nature. Penn's ensemble work continued with the antagonist Mickey Cohen in Gangster Squad (2013), a period crime drama directed by , where he embodied the real-life mobster's brutal dominance over postwar through a physically transformed, menacing presence marked by prosthetics and a accent. The film assembled a large cast including and to depict the LAPD's off-the-books efforts against , with Penn's Cohen serving as the volatile central threat driving the plot's conflicts. By the 2020s, Penn's acting appearances grew rarer, averaging fewer than two major releases per year post-2015, underscoring a deliberate emphasis on roles offering substantive character arcs amid his producing and directorial focus. In Paul Thomas Anderson's (2021), he delivered a supporting turn as Jack Holden, a bombastic, aging parodying Hollywood archetypes in a brief but vivid sequence involving a botched desert stunt and awkward flirtation, injecting satirical bite into the coming-of-age ensemble. Recent efforts include his lead as Clark, a philosophical cab driver engaging in existential banter with a passenger in (2023), a emphasizing raw dialogue over action. In (2023), Penn portrayed Gene Rutkovsky, a jaded veteran EMT guiding a novice through New York City's harrowing emergencies, highlighting the toll of frontline medical work in an ensemble of facing moral and physical strain. This phase culminated in One Battle After Another (2025), another Anderson collaboration, where Penn played Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, a ruthless military adversary resurfacing to threaten ex-revolutionaries led by Leonardo DiCaprio's character, leveraging his intensity for the film's tense, paranoia-fueled confrontations. Such choices reflect Penn's maturation into portrayals of flawed authority figures and antiheroes, favoring collaborative, narrative-rich environments over conventional leads.

Directing and producing career

Feature film directorial debut and early efforts (1990s–2000s)

Penn's feature film directorial debut came with The Indian Runner (1991), which he also wrote, adapting Bruce Springsteen's short story "Highway Patrolman." The film centers on two estranged brothers—one a stable deputy sheriff (David Morse) and the other a volatile drifter prone to violence (Viggo Mortensen)—exploring fraternal bonds strained by irreconcilable worldviews amid late-1960s rural America. Featuring his brother Chris Penn in a supporting role, the project reflects Penn's early thematic preoccupation with troubled masculinity, depicting men ensnared by impulsive aggression and familial dysfunction without resolution. Technically, Penn employed deliberate pacing and symbolic imagery, such as slow-motion sequences, to underscore emotional extremes, though critics noted an overbearing '60s aesthetic that occasionally veered into dated pretension. Roger Ebert lauded it as a "thoughtful, surprisingly effective" debut, highlighting Penn's intimacy with raw human emotion drawn from his acting experience. Despite positive festival reception, including at the San Francisco Film Festival, it achieved modest commercial returns as an indie production. In The Crossing Guard (1995), Penn again wrote and directed, casting as a grieving jeweler consumed by vengeance against the drunk driver () who killed his daughter years earlier. The narrative probes masculine grief's corrosive path, with Nicholson's character embodying stalled rage and moral ambiguity, supported by and in key roles. Penn's actor-centric approach, informed by his performance background, elicited potent, method-infused portrayals, prioritizing character depth over plot momentum, which Ebert praised as evidence of Penn's directorial authenticity despite the film's dramatic unevenness. Visually stark and introspective, it favored intimate close-ups to capture psychological unraveling, though some found its pretentious tone limiting. Released to mixed reviews and underwhelming box office, it reinforced Penn's pattern of favoring substantive ensemble dynamics over broad appeal. The Pledge (2001), adapted from Friedrich Dürrenmatt's novella and again starring Nicholson as a retiring fixated on fulfilling a promise to a child's victim, extended Penn's exploration of obsessive male psyches haunted by unyielding commitments. The film's noir-infused atmosphere, with and Klaus Badelt's score enhancing rural isolation, earned acclaim for atmospheric tension and Nicholson's restrained intensity, yet drew criticism for protracted pacing and a contrived resolution that undermined its tragic realism. Penn's direction emphasized behavioral authenticity, leveraging his acting insight to guide nuanced performances amid procedural grit, but the solemn tone contributed to poor commercial viability, opening to $5.7 million before fading quickly. These early works collectively reveal causal ties to Penn's performer roots: a focus on flawed, introspective men grappling with internal chaos, often at the expense of tighter narratives or market success, yielding critical nods for emotional verity over populist polish.

Later directorial projects and style evolution (2010s–present)

In 2016, Penn directed , a drama set amid the crisis and in and , focusing on the romance between two aid workers played by and . The film, which Penn also produced, aimed to highlight the moral dilemmas of but received widespread criticism for its perceived self-importance and prioritization of the protagonists' relationship over the depicted atrocities. It holds an 8% approval rating on based on 48 reviews, with detractors including cast member , who later described it as a "great disaster" due to execution flaws despite good intentions. Commercially, it underperformed as a , reflecting challenges in translating Penn's activist-driven vision into accessible narrative drama. Penn's next directorial effort, Flag Day (2021), marked a pivot to a more intimate, semi-autobiographical adaptation of Jennifer Vogel's memoir Flim-Flam Man, starring Penn as a fraudulent father alongside his daughter Dylan Penn in her acting debut as the narrator-daughter. The film explores intergenerational deception and family bonds through a con artist's schemes across decades, employing a fragmented timeline to underscore causal links between parental failures and child resilience. Released amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it earned a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score from 86 reviews, with some praising the familial authenticity but others faulting nepotistic casting and sentimental excess that diluted dramatic tension. Box office results were modest, grossing $424,667 domestically on a limited release, indicating niche appeal rather than broad resonance despite Penn's dual role as director and lead. By the 2020s, Penn's style evolved toward documentary forms emphasizing unfiltered causality in real-world crises, as seen in (2023), which he co-directed with . This HBO-released film intercuts Penn's 2022 interviews with Ukrainian President —conducted before and after Russia's invasion—with raw footage of the war's onset, probing leadership decisions and human agency under existential threat. Reflecting Penn's on-the-ground reporting ethos, it prioritizes empirical immediacy over polished , though critics noted its uneven pacing and reliance on Penn's . This shift from scripted to direct observational cinema underscores a maturation in risk-taking, favoring causal realism in geopolitical trauma over fictional accessibility, yet his projects have consistently prioritized artistic over commercial viability, as evidenced by persistent low audience turnout.

Producing ventures and collaborations

Sean Penn has served as an on select independent projects, emphasizing support for emerging talent and narratives with limited commercial appeal. In this capacity, he has backed films involving personal connections or international underdogs, often accepting financial uncertainties in favor of artistic potential. For instance, he executive produced (1997), a low-budget drama scripted by his then-wife , which screened at and garnered critical notice despite modest box office returns of approximately $7,500 domestically. A more recent venture includes his involvement with Manas (2025), the debut feature of Brazilian director Marianna Brennand, where Penn joined as in September 2025. The film, centered on themes of resilience in underserved communities, premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and was shortlisted among six candidates to represent for the Academy Award for Best International Feature. This role underscores Penn's pattern of partnering with novice directors on regionally specific stories, providing endorsement and resources to amplify voices outside mainstream Hollywood pipelines, even as such investments carry high risks of limited distribution and . Penn's producing extends to nonprofit-adjacent collaborations that indirectly bolster film production infrastructure. As co-founder of CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), established in 2010 and expanded during crises, he enabled on-set COVID-19 testing services for Los Angeles-based film and television productions starting September 2020, charging fees to cover operations while prioritizing rapid, reliable results to sustain shoots amid health disruptions. This initiative supported the resumption of over 100 projects by addressing logistical barriers, though CORE's for-profit testing arm drew scrutiny for operational overlaps with its relief mandate.

Personal life

Marriages

Sean Penn's first marriage was to singer , whom he wed on August 16, 1985, in a private ceremony at a clifftop mansion in . The union, lasting until their divorce in 1989, was characterized by intense public scrutiny and volatility, including Penn's 1986 in Macau for assaulting a paparazzo who intruded into their hotel room during the filming of , a project they co-starred in. Penn's second marriage, to actress Robin Wright, began on April 23, 1996, after a long-term relationship. The couple experienced multiple separations, including filings for divorce in December 2007 and May 2009—both later withdrawn—before Wright filed again in August 2009, citing irreconcilable differences; the divorce was finalized in 2010. His third marriage was to Australian actress in July 2020, following a relationship that began in 2016. George filed for divorce in October 2021, and it was finalized on April 22, 2022, after less than two years of marriage. Across these unions, Penn's marriages exhibited patterns of rapid formation amid high-profile careers, followed by dissolutions marked by legal separations and public tensions.

Relationships and family

Penn dated actress starting in late 2013, with their relationship confirmed publicly by early 2014. Reports indicated an in December 2014 during a trip, but Theron clarified in that no engagement took place and they had simply dated. The partnership ended in June 2015, coinciding with tensions from their collaborative film (2016), which highlighted scheduling conflicts and professional divergences as factors in the instability. After his 2022 divorce from , Penn began a relationship with model Valeria Nicov, publicly confirmed in September 2024 via affectionate displays in . With Nicov aged 30 to Penn's 65, the couple debuted on the red carpet at the in November 2024 and attended the Lumiere Film Festival opening in October 2025. This lower-key dynamic, relative to prior unions, aligns with patterns post-multiple divorces, where integration into established family structures has posed challenges amid Penn's history of relational turbulence. Penn's upbringing in an entertainment-oriented family featured parents , an actor and director who died of on September 5, 1998, at age 77, and , an actress who died on October 9, 2022, at age 94. Siblings include older brother , a , and younger brother , an actor who died on January 24, 2006. Sean and Chris co-starred as siblings in the 1986 crime drama , a rare professional collaboration that reinforced familial bonds and resilience amid Hollywood's demands.

Children and legacy

Sean Penn and his ex-wife share two children: daughter Dylan Frances Penn, born April 13, 1991, and son Hopper Jack Penn, born August 6, 1993. After their 2010 , the former couple maintained co-parenting arrangements, with Wright later describing challenges stemming from differing styles—Penn's stricter discipline clashing with his prolonged absences for film work, which she said created inconsistencies affecting the children's development into adulthood. Penn has actively facilitated his children's forays into acting, most prominently by directing and starring opposite Dylan in the 2021 drama , where she portrayed his onscreen daughter in a story of familial deception; Dylan initially rejected the role citing discomfort with nepotistic optics but ultimately participated after script revisions. Such involvement highlights intergenerational Hollywood pipelines, where parental connections provide early opportunities amid industry-wide —evident in Hopper's own roles and his public rejection of "nepo baby" critiques, emphasizing that while access exists, sustained viability demands competence and collegiality. Penn's views on fatherhood draw from his relationship with his father, Leo Penn, an actor and director whose career was derailed by the 1940s–1950s Hollywood blacklist for alleged communist ties, leading to years of unemployment despite his World War II service. In interviews, Sean has reflected on Leo's stoic response to betrayal by peers and institutions as a model of resilience, yet one that underscored emotional distance; he annually plays a pre-death video of Leo narrating his life for Dylan and Hopper on Father's Day to instill familial continuity, countering what he perceives as his own intermittent paternal shortcomings amid career demands. This practice ties into broader legacy efforts, as both children have pursued entertainment careers echoing Leo's and Sean's paths, perpetuating a family lineage in an industry where such dynasties empirically yield disproportionate breakthroughs despite merit-based counterarguments.

Assault allegations and arrests

In 1986, Penn was charged with misdemeanor battery after allegedly pushing songwriter David Wolinski off a chair and kicking him at Helena's in , following a perceived flirtation with Penn's then-wife . Wolinski reported the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on , stemming from Penn's accusation that Wolinski had kissed . Penn pleaded no contest to the charge in February 1987 and received one year of probation along with a $1,700 fine. During his 1985–1989 marriage to , multiple allegations of emerged, including claims of Penn tying her up and striking her, documented in police reports and filings. In December 1988, Madonna filed an assault complaint against Penn, alleging hours of abuse, but withdrew it shortly thereafter. No charges resulted from these incidents, and Madonna later denied physical assault claims in affidavits, stating in 2015 that while arguments were heated, Penn never struck her. Penn has rejected specific accusations, such as hitting her with a . On April 2, 1987, while filming Colors, Penn was arrested for assaulting an extra who was photographing him on set without authorization, violating prior terms from the Wolinski case. He was sentenced in June to 60 days in jail—serving 33 days—plus additional for the assault and related . This marked his only recorded incarceration. In October 2009, Penn engaged in a physical altercation with Frank Mateljan in , involving kicks, punches, and camera damage, leading to misdemeanor battery and charges. He pleaded no contest in May 2010, receiving three years' , 300 hours of , and 36 hours of counseling. These episodes, concentrated in the with a recurrence in , consistently yielded misdemeanor-level resolutions including fines ranging from $50 to $1,700, suspended sentences, , , and brief jail time, but no convictions or long-term imprisonment. The pattern reflects reactive physical responses to interpersonal or intrusions, contributing to early-career reputational scrutiny despite legal leniency.

Paparazzi confrontations and lawsuits

Sean Penn has engaged in numerous physical confrontations with photographers throughout his career, frequently citing invasions of as provocation, though such actions have led to arrests, charges, and civil suits emphasizing that public figures cannot resort to violence despite aggressive media tactics. In June 1985, Penn was charged with two counts of assault and battery after attacking two British news photographers outside a where he was staying with fiancée ; he paid a $100 fine after pleading guilty. In 1986, he was arrested for allegedly dangling a photographer over a balcony in response to intrusive filming near his room. That same year, Penn faced misdemeanor battery charges for assaulting a songwriter who photographed him. In 1987, he assaulted two photographers in Nashville, pleading no contest and receiving a fine, and was later sentenced to 60 days in jail for punching a extra who snapped photos on the set of Colors. A prominent later incident occurred on October 29, 2009, when Penn confronted photographer Jordan Dawes outside a restaurant; Dawes alleged Penn kicked and punched him repeatedly, damaged his camera, and threatened his life, prompting misdemeanor battery and charges. Penn pleaded no contest to in May 2010, receiving three years' , 300 hours of , and 36 hours of counseling. He settled Dawes's civil in March 2011 for an undisclosed sum, avoiding further litigation over claimed knee injuries. These episodes, spanning decades, underscore ongoing conflicts between celebrities' assertions of privacy rights and paparazzi's pursuit of marketable images, often involving or trespassing by photographers; however, legal outcomes consistently affirm that even provoked public figures must rely on law enforcement rather than , balancing First Amendment protections for newsgathering against prohibitions on .

Professional disputes and public feuds

Sean Penn has publicly acknowledged his tendency to clash with directors during production, stating in a 2020 interview that he is "aware" he can be "difficult to like from afar" when engaging in such conflicts, attributing it to a "great love affair with difficulty on a movie set." This reputation for being challenging to collaborate with has persisted throughout his career, with industry accounts describing him as a "nightmare" on sets due to intense and confrontational style. In May 2025, Penn defended director amid ongoing industry avoidance of the filmmaker over unproven allegations from Dylan Farrow, declaring on the Podcast that he would work with Allen "in a heartbeat" and views him as "innocent" absent conviction, expressing distrust in the accusers including , whom he said he "would not trust with a dime." This position directly contravened the professional ostracism faced by Allen in Hollywood, where few actors have publicly endorsed collaboration since the allegations resurfaced in the . Penn has also voiced sharp criticism of major industry institutions, slamming the Academy Awards in December 2024 at the Marrakech International Film Festival for "extraordinary cowardice" in failing to recognize The Apprentice, a biopic depicting Donald Trump's early career, which he praised as a "great film" deserving contention. He accused the Oscars of "limiting different cultural expressions" through fear of controversy, arguing that such avoidance constrains filmmaking imagination and funding. These remarks highlighted his broader frustration with Hollywood's risk aversion, echoing prior critiques of peers for prioritizing safe, formulaic projects over bold storytelling. His interpersonal tensions extend to fellow actors, including an on-again, off-again feuding dynamic with , described by Cage in as positioning himself as the "anti-Sean Penn" amid their shared competitive history. Despite these disputes, Penn has maintained a selective but prominent career trajectory, though his self-admitted abrasiveness has contributed to perceptions that limit broader casting opportunities beyond high-profile roles.

Political activism and views

Opposition to U.S. foreign policy (Bush era and Iraq)

In October 2002, Penn spent $56,000 on a full-page advertisement in , publishing an to President George W. Bush that accused the administration of fostering fear, suppressing debate on , and rushing toward war without sufficient evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The letter urged Bush to prioritize and UN inspections over action, arguing that preemptive risked broader regional instability without verifiable justification. From December 13 to 15, 2002, Penn traveled to on a self-funded, three-day fact-finding mission, where he visited a and a plant damaged in the 1991 , and held a criticizing U.S. policy as escalatory. He emphasized personal observations of civilian suffering under sanctions and warned that would be "frightening," while explicitly stating he did not support but questioned the undisclosed intelligence basis for invasion. Iraqi misrepresented his comments, claiming he had verified the absence of WMDs, a distortion Penn later rejected as he had no access to restricted sites and relied on guided tours. Penn's actions drew sharp rebukes from war supporters, who dubbed him "Baghdad Sean" in analogy to anti-Vietnam activist Jane Fonda's visit, accusing him of lending value to Saddam's regime by appearing in controlled settings that downplayed its atrocities. Critics, including conservative commentators, argued his stance ignored contemporaneous intelligence assessments of Iraq's WMD programs—later proven overstated but not fabricated pre-invasion—and potentially demoralized U.S. troops by amplifying regime narratives amid ongoing UN inspections that obstructed. Penn countered in a May 2003 New York Times advertisement, defending his trip as an exercise in independent against media , while decrying the war's human cost and alleging Bush-era suppression of . Despite Penn's high-profile interventions, they exerted no discernible influence on U.S. policy, as the proceeded in March 2003 following congressional authorization and coalition formation; his emphasis on inspections aligned with skeptical views but overlooked empirical evidence of Iraq's non-compliance with UN resolutions, such as undeclared chemical stockpiles documented post-. The episode highlighted risks of celebrity diplomacy in opaque regimes, where personal exposure yielded anecdotal insights but no causal shift in geopolitical outcomes.

Humanitarian disaster responses

Sean Penn participated in immediate operations following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on August 29, 2005, arriving in New Orleans where he operated an to evacuate stranded residents from floodwaters, reportedly rescuing approximately 40 individuals. His hands-on approach facilitated rapid extractions in areas where official responses lagged, though it drew contemporaneous scrutiny for perceived self-promotion, including the presence of media crews. In response to the January 12, , Penn co-founded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization (later rebranded as CORE with Ann Lee), which managed the Petion-Ville displacement camp housing up to 55,000 people and provided essentials like water filtration systems—initially delivering 1,000 units to affected villages. The effort employed hundreds of local for camp operations, emphasizing and prevention amid broader coordination failures among international aid groups, where only 2% of pledged reconstruction funds had materialized by mid-2010. While Penn's direct involvement enabled swift camp setup and aid distribution, critics alleged inefficiencies in fund allocation and over-reliance on celebrity-driven , though mismanagement claims remained unsubstantiated and were contested by Penn as misrepresentations of complex post-disaster realities. CORE expanded its disaster response during the starting in 2020, partnering with local governments to establish testing and vaccination sites across the , administering millions of free tests and doses—particularly in high-need areas like where it became a primary response arm. Penn's advocacy accelerated site deployments by leveraging his networks for regulatory access and funding, yet operational critiques emerged over internal financial controls and staff reimbursements, contributing to later deficits exceeding $20 million amid donor pullbacks. These efforts highlighted how celebrity-led initiatives could bypass bureaucratic delays for tangible outputs like test kits delivered but often at the cost of scalable, institutionalized efficiency.

Interactions with authoritarian figures and regimes

Sean Penn conducted multiple interviews and meetings with Venezuelan President during the 2000s, including a notable encounter in 2007 where Penn applauded Chávez's criticism of the U.S. administration and calls to end the . In 2008, Penn engaged in conversations with Chávez that he later described in media appearances, portraying the leader positively amid Chávez's socialist policies. Penn praised Chávez as an "inspiration" in 2012 and, following Chávez's death in March 2013, mourned him publicly as a lost friend whose revolution would endure, despite the regime's suppression of dissent and media. These endorsements overlooked empirical indicators of policy failure under Chávez, such as Venezuela's real GDP contracting by over 75% from 2013 to 2021—the largest peacetime economic collapse recorded—and reaching 800% in 2016, which precipitated a mass exodus of nearly 8 million by 2024 due to shortages, , and regime mismanagement. Penn's alignment with Chávez, whom he defended against dictator labels in 2010 by suggesting critics deserved , reflected a selective sympathy for leftist that disregarded causal links between nationalizations, , and resultant humanitarian crises. Penn also met Cuban leader , with interactions including a 2008 discussion alongside on U.S. policy, , and regional issues. In October 2009, Penn traveled to seeking an interview with the aging for Vanity Fair, aiming to explore impacts of the Obama administration, though no public transcript emerged from the effort. These engagements occurred under Castro's regime, marked by decades of one-party rule, political imprisonments exceeding 15,000 documented cases by monitors, and economic stagnation from centralized planning, yet Penn framed them as deepening his interest in Latin American politics without addressing the suppression of freedoms that sustained Castro's power. In October 2015, Penn interviewed Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, head of the , for , published in 2016 after Guzmán's January 8 recapture. The clandestine meeting, facilitated via actress , provided Guzmán a platform to justify his operations as meeting drug demand, but intelligence from communications surrounding it aided Mexican and U.S. authorities in locating and rearresting him, marking a rare positive outcome from Penn's self-styled journalistic forays. Critics, including Mexican officials, condemned for glamorizing a figure responsible for thousands of deaths through , and Penn later expressed regret in 2016, admitting a sense of failure despite the unintended facilitation of Guzmán's capture. This episode highlighted risks of engaging criminal authoritarians without rigorous oversight, as the logistics potentially endangered participants and delayed justice while amplifying Guzmán's narrative before his 2017 and life sentence. Overall, Penn's pattern of direct interactions yielded mixed empirical results—Guzmán's versus unheeded warnings on Chávez-era decay—but consistently prioritized access to figures exercising unchecked power, often sidelining data on their human costs.

Stances on international conflicts (Ukraine, Falklands)


Sean Penn traveled to Ukraine in late 2021 and remained during the Russian invasion beginning February 24, 2022, documenting events for his 2023 film Superpower, which profiles President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wartime leadership and Ukraine's resistance.
Zelenskyy praised Penn as a friend during their November 8, 2022, meeting in Kyiv, where Penn gifted him one of his Academy Awards for Mystic River (2003) as a pledge of solidarity, offering to have it melted into ammunition against Russian forces if the war persisted.
Penn advocated for escalated U.S. military aid to Ukraine, linking his second Oscar's potential destruction to Zelenskyy's exclusion from the 2023 Academy Awards ceremony, which he attributed to institutional hesitation amid the conflict. In February 2012, amid renewed Argentina- tensions over the , Penn endorsed Argentina's sovereignty claim, dubbing the archipelago the "Malvinas Islands" and urging Britain to engage in UN-brokered negotiations rather than maintain military presence.
He criticized the February 2012 deployment of Prince William for a six-week RAF search-and-rescue stint as militaristic intimidation, positioning Britain's hold as repugnant colonialism antithetical to 21st-century diplomacy.
British veterans, including , condemned Penn's intervention as ignorant of islanders' —evidenced by their overwhelming British identity and the 2013 referendum's 99.8% vote to retain status—yielding no discernible shift in policy or negotiations.

Domestic political commentary and evolving perspectives

Sean Penn's domestic political commentary has increasingly emphasized the need for vigorous debate and compromise amid polarization, diverging from his earlier staunch opposition to Republican administrations. While he vociferously criticized George W. Bush's policies in the 2000s, Penn's views on subsequent presidents showed variances: he offered limited public critique of domestically, focusing more on foreign policy alignments, but intensified attacks on , likening the latter's reelection to a "dangerous clown show" in December 2024 and warning in May 2025 that Trump "might try to destroy the world before he ages out of life." In a notable shift challenging progressive norms, Penn delivered a speech at the on November 30, 2024, advocating for artists and individuals to "be as as their heart desires" to foster true diversity of thought, rather than conforming to stifling correctness. He specifically defended the biopic The Apprentice, accusing the of "extraordinary cowardice" for shunning films that provoke discomfort and limit cultural expression, arguing this reluctance hampers broader artistic freedom. This evolving stance extended into 2025, when, following the assassination of conservative activist on September 24, 2025, Penn remarked in a New York Times interview that the U.S. requires "people like Charlie Kirk" to drive essential political debate and compromise, stating, "We've gotta fight it out and find the middle," despite disagreeing with "almost everything" Kirk espoused. He distinguished Kirk's killing from other targeted deaths, underscoring the value of ideological opponents in a . Observers have noted inconsistencies in Penn's positions, such as his past vehement anti-Bush activism contrasting with these recent nods toward right-leaning figures and anti-PC rhetoric, yet Penn has framed such engagements as pragmatic necessities for national cohesion rather than ideological purity, as reflected in interviews emphasizing over division. This perspective aligns with his broader calls for transcending partisan fractures, informed by personal experiences that have tempered absolutism into advocacy for contentious exchange.

Awards, honors, and cultural impact

Academy Awards and nominations

Sean Penn has received five nominations for the , with two wins. His first win came at the on February 29, 2004, for his portrayal of Jimmy Markum, a father grappling with the murder of his daughter in (2003), directed by . In his speech, Penn referenced the , dedicating the award to soldiers and expressing hope for peace. His second win occurred at the on February 22, 2009, for depicting gay rights activist in the biopic (2008), directed by . Penn's performance involved a notable physical transformation and vocal adjustment to embody Milk, contributing to the film's critical acclaim for its historical portrayal. Prior nominations include Dead Man Walking (1995) at the for his role as death row inmate Matthew Poncelet; (1999) at the 72nd for the fictional guitarist Emmet Ray; and (2001) at the 74th for Sam Dawson, a man with an fighting for custody of his daughter.
YearFilmRoleResult
1996Dead Man WalkingMatthew PonceletNominated
2000Emmet RayNominated
2002Sam DawsonNominated
2004Jimmy MarkumWon
2009Won
Analyses of Penn's Oscar success highlight his strength in intense, character-driven dramatic roles, particularly those involving emotional depth and moral ambiguity, as in his winning performances. However, some critics argue that preferences for "serious" prestige films and factors like studio promotion influence voting outcomes, potentially favoring such roles over his work in comedies or less conventional projects where nominations were not forthcoming.

Other recognitions and industry influence

Penn received the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Mystic River in 2004. He earned additional Golden Globe nominations, including for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Sweet and Lowdown in 2000 and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for One Battle After Another in 2026. He was also nominated for Supporting Actor of the Year at the 2026 London Critics' Circle Film Awards for One Battle After Another and for Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 Satellite Awards for the same film, with the ceremony scheduled for March 8, 2026, as well as for Best Supporting Actor in Film at the 2026 AACTA International Awards (as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw), with the ceremony scheduled for February 6, 2026. At the Cannes Film Festival, Penn won the Best Actor Award for She's So Lovely in 1997. He later served as president of the Cannes jury in 2008, influencing selections for that year's Palme d'Or winner, Entre les murs. Penn extended his industry influence through directing, helming films like The Indian Runner (1991), The Crossing Guard (1995), The Pledge (2001), and Into the Wild (2007), the latter earning two Academy Award nominations for its adaptation and editing. These works showcased his ability to guide ensembles, including mentoring emerging talent through collaborations, as seen in his production label Projected Picture Works launched in 2021. Post-2010, Penn adopted a selective approach to output, prioritizing roles in projects like (2021, IMDb rating 7.1/10) and One Battle After Another (2025, IMDb rating 7.8/10), reflecting a focus on quality over volume amid industry shifts. In a 2025 appearance at The Hollywood Reporter's Social Impact Summit, he likened his role to that of a "," expressing readiness to address systemic breakdowns, underscoring his hands-on perspective on broader fixes applicable to creative sectors.

Critical reception and legacy debates

Sean Penn's has elicited for its raw intensity and commitment to method techniques, often drawing from the Strasberg system to embody characters with visceral authenticity, as seen in roles that demand emotional extremity without overt theatricality. Critics have highlighted his evolution from early volatile portrayals to more nuanced depths in the , where performances showcased versatility across dramas, though some contend this intensity sometimes borders on mannerism, limiting his range to brooding or explosive archetypes rather than broader comedic or subtle fare. Debates over Penn's legacy center on his dual role as actor and director, positioning him as a hybrid figure who bridged indie grit with mainstream acclaim through films like Into the Wild (2007), yet facing scrutiny for inconsistent directorial output and a perceived shift away from acting passion in later years. Proponents argue his career longevity—spanning over four decades amid personal upheavals—demonstrates resilience and influence, enabling him to mentor emerging talents and pivot to directing amid Hollywood's evolving dynamics. Detractors, including some industry observers, suggest his early "bad boy" reputation and on-set volatility constrained collaborations, contributing to a filmography marked by peaks rather than sustained dominance. Activism intersects these discussions, with left-leaning outlets often framing Penn's humanitarian interventions—such as post-earthquake efforts—as elevating his cultural stature, enhancing his authenticity in roles tackling social issues. Right-leaning critiques, however, decry these pursuits as naive endorsements of authoritarian figures, potentially alienating audiences and diverting focus from artistic pursuits, though of career detriment remains anecdotal amid his continued projects. Recent emphases on directing, including documentaries, are viewed by some as a redemptive arc, refocusing on craft over controversy and underscoring causal links between personal evolution and professional reinvention.

Published works and writings

[Published works and writings - no content]

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  149. https://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/13/sean_penn_on_haiti_six_months
  150. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/beyond-relief-how-the-world-failed-haiti-242928/
  151. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/sean-penn-responds-to-rolling-stones-haiti-story-242088/
  152. https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2021/08/19/coronavirus-relief-efforts-with-core-co-founders-sean-penn-ann-young-lee/
  153. https://www.jnj.com/personal-stories/core-co-founders-sean-penn-and-ann-lee-on-covid-19
  154. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12894585/Sean-Penn-charity-CORE-layoffs.html
  155. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-02-05/sean-penns-right-covid-vaccination-work
  156. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/penn-applauds-venezuelas-chavez-146277/
  157. https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/4006/
  158. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmA7--9egaQ
  159. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hugo-chavez-dead-sean-penn-426205/
  160. https://www.elibrary.imf.org/downloadpdf/view/journals/087/2022/019/article-A001-en.pdf
  161. https://www.unrefugees.org/news/venezuela-crisis-explained/
  162. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/11/sean-penn-hugo-chavez-venezuela
  163. https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/10/americas/sean-penn-latin-america
  164. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/27/sean-penn-fidel-castro-vanity-fair
  165. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35275070
  166. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/15/sean-penn-on-el-chapo-interview-i-have-a-terrible-regret
  167. https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/entertainment/sean-penn-zelensky-superpower-review
  168. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/sean-penn-ukraine-documentary-superpower-youtube-1236058256/
  169. https://www.reuters.com/world/sean-penn-visits-ukraines-zelenskiy-loans-him-an-oscar-2022-11-08/
  170. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-63561236
  171. https://people.com/sean-penn-gave-ukraine-oscars-fight-russia-7969224
  172. https://deadline.com/2023/02/sean-penn-oscar-ukraine-president-zelensky-inspired-shame-towards-motion-picture-academy-1235264020/
  173. https://www.stanforddaily.com/2024/01/24/sean-penn-reveals-ukraines-superpower-and-calls-for-military-aid/
  174. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/14/sean-penn-argentina-falkland-islands
  175. https://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2012/feb/14/sean-penn-backs-argentina-falklands-video
  176. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/23/sean-penn-falklands-malvinas-diplomacy-interrupted
  177. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/sean-penn-prince-william-argentina-britain-291909/
  178. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-17065995
  179. https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/world-now/story/2012-02-15/sean-penn-stokes-falklands-furor-critic-says-his-films-are-turkeys
  180. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jul/11/openly-neglected-by-an-obscene-administration-sean-penn-criticises-trumps-handling-of-pandemic
  181. https://www.aol.com/sean-penn-calls-trump-reelection-140000364.html
  182. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/sean-penn-says-donald-trump-might-try-to-destroy-world-1236207739/
  183. https://deadline.com/2024/11/sean-penn-challenges-political-correctness-marrakech-1236190343/
  184. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/sean-penn-we-need-charlie-kirk-in-politics-1236533068/
  185. https://www.thewrap.com/sean-penn-charlie-kirk-death-different-need-debate/
  186. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/22/opinion/sean-penn-profile.html
  187. https://tribunecontentagency.com/article/sean-penn-says-we-need-people-like-charlie-kirk-in-politics-to-inspire-debate-and-compromise-we-gotta-fight-it-out/
  188. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esqwP4wN7gc
  189. https://cbs8.com/article/entertainment/sean-penn-wins-best-actor-oscar-for-milk/509-7d1ac26d-f6ab-4304-ba2c-8a6b112c2e5f
  190. https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/sean-penn-wins-best-actor-oscar-for-milk-idUSTRE51M1PL/
  191. https://people.com/sean-penn-says-milk-was-his-last-good-time-making-a-movie-8669480
  192. https://live.worldbank.org/en/experts/s/sean-penn
  193. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000576/awards/
  194. https://oscars.fandom.com/wiki/Sean_Penn
  195. https://www.goldderby.com/film/2024/oscars-sean-penn-won-mystic-river/
  196. https://goldenglobes.com/person/sean-penn/
  197. https://goldenglobes.com/nominations/2026
  198. https://criticscircle.org.uk/one-battle-after-another-hamnet-and-sinners-lead-nominations-for-46th-annual-london-critics-circle-film-awards/
  199. https://www.pressacademy.com/news/ipa-set-to-celebrate-the-30th-annual-satellite-awards/
  200. https://www.aacta.org/our-news/media-room/aacta-international-award-nominees-announced/
  201. https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/sean-penn/
  202. https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2008/sean-penn-president-of-the-jury-of-the-61st-festival-de-cannes/
  203. https://deadline.com/2021/10/sean-penn-projected-picture-works-john-ira-palmer-john-wildermuth-black-flies-1234855835/
  204. https://x.com/THR/status/1948862460083228889
  205. https://mcantil.com/in-appreciation-sean-penn/
  206. https://www.quora.com/How-is-Sean-Penns-acting-style-defined
  207. https://www.goldderby.com/gallery/best-sean-penn-movies/
  208. https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/9/27/nyt
  209. https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/peaks-and-valleys-the-career-of-sean-penn/
  210. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35276897
  211. https://variety.com/2016/film/features/sean-penn-activism-acting-el-chapo-1201679179/
  212. https://www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/20100405_0-3.pdf
  213. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/sean-penn-one-battle-after-another-interview
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