A darling of those against the establishment, Sean Penn is widely seen as one of the finest actors and directors of his generation.
A darling of those against the establishment, famous for tackling challenging roles, Sean Penn is widely seen as one of the finest actors and directors of his generation.
Penn, 48, has seen his stock rise since the mid-1990s, with his second Academy Award following Mystic River in 2003.
Milk director Gus van Sant, who describes Penn as “the Brando of our generation”, said he was his first choice for the role.
It was the latest milestone in a glittering career for Penn, a member of the 1980s “brat pack” who, despite great success and critical acclaim, remains a Hollywood outsider, something he acknowledged at Sunday’s ceremony.
“Thank you, you commie, homo-loving sons-of-a-gun. I did not expect this,” Penn said. “I wanted to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often,” he added, to laughter.
Only last year, Penn appeared to disparage the Oscars in an interview with French daily Le Monde, saying “manipulation and very good marketing are rewarded”. Penn’s disdain for the marketing game is legendary; he rarely grants interviews and was a noticeable absentee at last month’s Golden Globes.
As Penn’s career has flourished he has also become a vocal political activist, enraging conservative pundits for his criticism of former US president George W Bush.
On Sunday he praised the election of Barack Obama, saying: “I’m very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president and a country who (sic) for all its toughness creates courageous artists.”
He also urged those who have voted against gay marriage to rethink their position, urging them “to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support”.
Born in August 1960 in Los Angeles to director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan, Penn grew up in the industry that he has so often infuriated by refusing to play its game. He abandoned his dream of being a lawyer to study acting.
In 1981 he made his Broadway debut in Heartland and his movie debut in Taps (1981). He married ‘Material Girl’ Madonna in 1985. After four turbulent years, during which he served 32 days in jail in 1987 for hitting a movie extra, the pair divorced. But his bad boy image began to wear off as his acting career progressed.
Since early 1990s, Penn has been with his second wife, Forest Gump actress Robin Wright Penn, with whom he has two children.
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