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• Writer-director Sean Penn first gained recognition for his roles in the films Taps and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He won an Oscar for best actor for Mystic River and won Best Actor for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the film Milk.

  According to reports in June of 2009, Penn is taking a break from acting in order to "focus more on his family." Penn dropped out of his upcoming films Three Stooges and Cartel.Kansas City: Sean Penn taking a break: No 'Stooges' for him (June 19, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Sean Justin Penn
  2. Born: August 17, 1960
  3. Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
  4. Spouse: Robin Wright
  5. Child: Dylan Penn
  6. Oscars: 2, Mystic River and Milk
  7. Golden Globe Awards: 1 for Mystic River
  8. Was married to Madonna from 1985-1989
  9. Brother, Michael Penn, is a musician
  10. Brother, Chris Penn, died in 2006

• The Three Stooges

  Penn was cast by directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly to star as Larry Fine in their upcoming film adaptation of The Three Stooges. Jim Carrey will gain 40 pounds to portray Jerome "Curly" Howard in the film, and the studio is rumored to be pursuing Benicio Del Toro to play Howard's brother, Moe.Variety: MGM gets its Stooges (March 25, 2009) The film is scheduled to be released in 2010.

  Penn dropped out of the film in June of 2009 "to focus on his family."Kansas City: Sean Penn taking a break: No 'Stooges' for him (June 17, 2009)

• Harvey Milk Day

  Penn joined politicians and activists in California on March 3, 2009, to call for a statewide day to honor equal rights activist Harvey Milk. May 22, or Harvey Milk Day, would provide Californians with the opportunity to celebrate Milk's memory. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar proposal in September 2008, but is not expected to veto the proposal a second time.People: Sean Penn Seeks Statewide Harvey... (March 3, 2009)

• Thanking Robyn Wright

  Penn told Access Hollywood after his Oscar win on February 22, 2009, that he had left his wife, actress Robin Wright, out of his acceptance speech on purpose. Penn said that his wife had agreed that he should use his time during his acceptance speech to address the injustices that continue to face the gay community.Perez Hilton: Sean Penn Left Wife Out... (February 23, 2009)

• Fair Game?

  Variety reported on February 23, 2009, that Penn is in talks to play the role of ambassador Joseph Wilson in the upcoming film Fair Game. The film is based on a memoir of the same name by former CIA agent Valerie-Plame Wilson.Variety: Sean Penn in talks... (February 23, 2009)

• Leaked Text

  During the heated awards race at the end of the year 2008, Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke (for his work in The Wrestler) were both often talked about as contenders for awards. On December 29, 2008, the website The Daily Beast reported that Rourke sent a text message to a friend disparaging his fellow actor's performance. The text read: "Look Seans an old friend of mine and I didn't buy his performance at all—thought he did an average pretend acting like he was gay besides he's one of the most homophobic people I know..."The Daily Beast: Rourke Trashes Penn (December 29, 2008) Rourke's publicity team denied the text existed.

• Acting Roles

  Penn's roles in Dead Man Walking, Mystic River and The Game earned him the reputation as a hard-nosed and dispirited character. Though he frequently plays intense, emotionally disturbed characters, he made an effort to appear more sympathetic in I Am Sam and Sweet and Lowdown.

• Penn Behind The Camera

  Penn has directed four feature films, most notable The Pledge, starring Jack Nicholson, and 2007's Into The Wild.

• Political Activism

  Penn has been a frequent critic of President George W. Bush and his administration's policies. In October 2002, Penn wrote an "open letter" to Bush in the form of an advertisement in the Washington Post, asking Bush not to proceed with what he considered a planned invasion of Iraq.

  Penn has visited both Iraq and Iran after the start of the Iraq War and met with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in 2007. Before he dropped out of the race, Penn voiced his support for Dennis Kucinich for President in 2008.

• Divorce and Reconciliation

  Perez Hilton reported on April 29, 2009, that Penn and wife Robin Wright are divorcing. The couple previously announced that they were divorcing in 2007, but reconciled instead.PerezHilton: Sean Penn Divorcing Again (April 29, 2009) Media sources reported in late May of 2009, that the couple have once again called off their divorce. Penn was said to have filed to have his legal separation application dismissed.Daily Mail: Sean Penn calls off divorce (May 22, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Sean Penn Oscar Speech | James Franco Out Magazine | Sean Penn Robin Wright | Robin Wright | Jessica White | Sean Penn Jessica White | Into the Wild | Madonna | Dakota Fanning | Naomi Watts | Nicole Kidman | Tim Robbins | Clint Eastwood | Jennifer Lopez | Crossing Over Movie | Milk Movie | Milk Trailer | 21 Grams | 2009 Golden Globe Nominations | SAG Award Nominations | Melissa Leo | Milk Soundtrack | Best Actor Oscar Winner 2009 | Sean Penn Oscar Speech | You're Welcome America A Final Night With George W Bush

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