Sean Penn

Sean Penn (born August 17, 1960 in Santa Monica, California) is an American film actor. Penn is the son of the late director Leo Penn (who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for refusing to testify) and actress, Eileen Ryan. He has two brothers: actor Chris Penn and musician Michael Penn. His father was Jewish and his mother is Italian and Irish with a Catholic background.

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August 17 - 1960 - Santa Monica, California - American - Film - Actor - Leo Penn - Blacklist - The McCarthy era - Eileen Ryan - Chris Penn - Michael Penn - Jewish - Italian - Irish - Catholic

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Penn launched his career in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High in the role of Jeff Spicoli, and has since starred in over 40 movies and won an Oscar for Mystic River. He has also been nominated for three other Academy Awards for his roles in the films I Am Sam, Sweet and Lowdown and Dead Man Walking.

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Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Movies - Oscar - Mystic River - I Am Sam - Sweet and Lowdown - Dead Man Walking

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In 1991, Penn made his directorial debut with The Indian Runner, a film based on Bruce Springsteen's song Highway Patrolman from the Nebraska album. He has since directed two more films, both starring Jack Nicholson, The Crossing Guard in 1995 and The Pledge in 2001.

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1991 - The Indian Runner - Bruce Springsteen - Highway Patrolman - Nebraska - Jack Nicholson - The Crossing Guard - 1995 - The Pledge - 2001

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Penn's personal life began to attract much media attention when he married pop star Madonna in 1985. The relationship was marred by violent outbursts against the press intrusion into his life, including one incident for which he was arrested. Later in the marrige, Penn was charged with felony domestic assault. He later pleaded to a misdemeanor charge. After a divorce in 1989, Penn started a relationship with Robin Wright, with whom he had two children before they married in 1996. They live in Marin County, California

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Pop star - Madonna - 1985 - 1989 - Robin Wright - Marin County, California

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On October 18, 2002, Penn placed a $56,000 advertisement in the Washington Post asking President George W. Bush to end a cycle of violence. It was written as an open letter and referred to the planned attack on Iraq and the War on Terror. 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." Penn visited Iraq briefly in December 2002, largely eschewing meetings with the press.

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October 18 - 2002 - Washington Post - President - George W. Bush - Planned attack on Iraq - War on Terror - December

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On April 10, 2003, Penn's limited-edition 1987 Buick Grand National, with two firearms in the trunk, was stolen in Berkeley, California.

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April 10 - 2003 - 1987 - Buick - Grand National - Berkeley, California

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On June 10, 2005, Penn made a visit to Iran. Acting as a journalist on an assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle, he attended Friday prayer ceremony at Tehran University'. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=peopleNews&storyID=8756527

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June 10 - 2005 - Iran - San Francisco Chronicle - Friday prayer - Tehran University

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In September of 2005, Penn traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to aid Hurricane Katrina victims.

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New Orleans - Louisiana - Hurricane - Katrina

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He successfully rescued 40 people, including John Brown, age 73, who had told his sister over the phone: "Guess who come and got me out of the house? Sean Penn, the actor. The boys were really nice." The actor then gave some rescuees an unspecified amount of money to tide them over, and then took those who were in need of medical attention to the hospital. Penn carried a shotgun for self-protection during his time in New Orleans.

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