Peter aka Spiderman's best friend Harry Osborn has turned a year older today. Yes, it is the birthday of James Franco.

Nicknamed "Ted," James Edward Franco was born in Palo Alto, California on April 19, 1978.  Franco had always secretly wanted to become an actor but feared rejection.  Franco took up a late-night job at McDonald's to support himself since his parents refused to do so and started taking acting lessons. After 15 months of training he began auditioning in Los Angeles, and started professionally acting in 1997 with guest roles on television shows. His first break came in 1999, after he was cast in a leading role on the short-lived but well-reviewed television series Freaks and Geeks. 

Franco made his film debut in a brief role in the 1999 Drew Barrymore-starring Never Been Kissed and his first major movie was the romantic teen comedy Whatever It Takes in 2000. He was subsequently cast for the title role in director Mark Rydell's 2001 TV biographical film James Dean. He received a Golden Globe Award and nominations for an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG). Franco achieved worldwide fame and attention in the 2002 superhero film Spider-Man, when he played Harry Osborn. He also received recognition for his film Rise of the Planet of Apes. 

Apart from acting, Franco has also produced and directed a documentary titled Saturday Night documenting a week in the production of an episode of SNL. In May, Franco made his dance-theater directorial debut at New York's Stella Adler studios.

Franco was named the Sexiest Man Living in 2009 by Salon.com. Franco has hosted Saturday Night Live twice, as well as the 83rd Academy Awards with Anne Hathaway. He volunteers for the Art of Elysium charity. Franco currently teaches a class at New York University about transferring poetry to film.

Fridaymoviez wishes James Franco a Very Happy birthday!