TheTVObserver: Sean Penn "Best Actor"

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We had planned a comprehensive Startspread on the 81st Annual Academy Awards Red Carpet Fashion report, but we decided to honor a man who we strongly believe deserves the “Best Actor” honor. If you have the privileged of meeting Sean Penn you will understand why we would want to honor him. The guy is amazing and is not an easy star to talk to, but since we are equally difficult, we could totally relate.

Fast Facts

• Full name: Sean Justin Penn
• Born: August 17, 1960
• Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
• Spouse: Robin Wright
• Child: Dylan Penn
• Oscars: 2, Mystic River and Milk
• Golden Globe Awards: 1 for Mystic River
• Married to Madonna from 1985-1989
• Brother, Michael Penn, is a musician
• Brother, Chris Penn, died in 2006

Picture Credit: ©A.M.P.A.S.

This is not the first Oscar he’s won, even thou he has earned a reputation as one of the most difficult stars to work with, we find his acting talent impressive. Sean Penn won the “Best Actor” award for his performance in MILK, as Harvey Milk. Here is a trailer of the motion picture:

Sean Penn won because he is by far the most straight of guys and he managed to become this believable gay guy on-screen. If you assess his performance against his real persona, especially if you had the opportunity of meeting him, you would know how amazing his acting was. It’s the last thing we ever thought Sean Penn will do in his acting career. This role required Sean to go outside of his comfort zone and he managed to convince viewers and the academy that he was Milk and as gay as sunshine.

Movie Reviews

One of the most amazing performances by Sean was in “I Am Sam”, that whole movie is like “the most memorable event”. He played a disabled father to wonderful and cute Dakota Fanning. When I watched it again on SABC2 this past week, I still enjoyed his performance and I think it was "UNBELIEVABLE". I was convinced that he was disabled and he played the role excellently. He also won an Oscar for his part as Sam Dawson on that movie (I Am Sam).

The scene that made me pay attention on "Mystic River" - also aired on SABC3 recently-, was when a team of police officers held him back soon after he was told his daughter had been murdered. He cried with such passion it was moving, not to mention the fact that it looked like those police officers were having trouble "in real life" keeping him still. He also took the crown for his smashing delivery Jimmy Markum and won the following awards for the role:

• Oscar: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Mystic River (2003)
• Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for Mystic River (2003)

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Labeled "a human tempest and an actor of sizable gifts" by The New York Times, Sean Justin Penn is probably the only actor of Hollywood to gain such contrasting remark due to his bad temper and extraordinary acting talent. Aside from the ruckus he had caused toward the media, he is really one of America's best thespians for his capability of presenting any kind of roles in convincing manner so that his characters really go deep into the mind and heart of every audience. Lots of prestigious awards along with considerable recognition he has acquired throughout his career are the sufficient proof to point out that he indeed deserves all the huge accolades addressed to him.

• His brother Chris was found dead because of enlarged heart in his Santa Monica condominium on January 24, 2006.
• Partially owns a Parisian restaurant-bar named Man Ray alongside Johnny Depp and Mick Hucknall.
• Had a lawsuit and counter suit against Steve Bing when he left the set of "Why Men Shouldn't Marry" (2006) that Bing produced.

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• Visited Iran in June 2005 under the disguise of a journalist on an assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle and even attended Friday prayer ceremony at Tehran University.
• Directed Jewel's music video, "You Were Meant For Me," in 1997.
• Was tricked by his co-star, Woody Harrelson, during a break from filming "The Thin Red Line" (1998) in Australia and got his revenge by leaving Harrelson alone in the middle of the night after he tricked him to get out from their car.
• Is a close friend and drinking buddy of non-proliferation expert Joseph Cirincione as reported by The Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, on October 19, 2005.
• Rescued 40 people during his visit to New Orleans, Louisiana to aid Hurricane Katrina victims in September 2005 and also brought a shotgun for self-protection during his time there.
• His limited-edition 1987 Buick Grand National along with two firearms in the trunk were stolen in Berkeley, California in April 2003.

A unique blend of Irish, Lithuanian, Russian, and Jewish ancestry, Sean was born on August 17, 1960 in Santa Monica, California as the second son of late director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan. He was raised along with his two brothers, Chris Penn and Michael Penn, in different parts of California's San Fernando Valley before the family ultimately settled in Malibu. Being familiar to entertainment industry since he was merely a child, this blue-eyed boy gradually developed a deep love for acting which later led to a decision to enter the Los Angeles Repertory Theater Company, skipping his study of Auto Mechanics and Speech at Santa Monica College for two years. Conducted some physical works in the backstage, such as cleaning and carrying things, he eventually managed to be an assistant to actor/director Pat Hingle and even had the chance to direct a one-act play entitled "Terrible Jim Fitch."

• Took the executive producer seat, in association with the Helicon Theatre Company, in a Los Angeles stage production of Graham Reid's "Remembrance" by 1997.
• Was placed in number 76 of The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list compiled by Empire Magazine U.K edition in October 1997.
• Lost his home in Malibu because of fire happened in November 1993.
• "The Indian Runner" (1991), the first film he wrote and directed, was inspired by a Bruce Springsteen's song.
• Starred together with his former wife, Madonna, in "Shanghai Surprise" (1986).
• Starred alongside his brother, Chris Penn and his mother, Eileen Ryan in "At Close Range" (1986).
• His marriage ceremony with Madonna in August 1985 was attended by Andy Warhol.
• Was chosen as one of 12 Promising New Actors of 1984 according to John Willis' Screen World Vol. 36.
• Relocated to Marin County, an area located north of San Francisco, for he did not want to raise his children in Hollywood.
• Established a production company named Clyde Is Hungry Productions.
• Is the best friend of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen and Rob Lowe.
• Named his son Hopper Jack after his friends' name, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson.
• Has the same birthday with Robert De Niro.
• His name inspired an indie-band in The Netherlands to call their group as Seanpenn.
• His grandparents established a Jewish deli in New York.
• Is Aimee Mann's brother-in-law.

Picture Credit: ©A.M.P.A.S.

However, what definitely enhanced Sean's status as a versatile and accomplished actor in Hollywood was his superb achievement to earn Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for two times, which were in 1996 and 2000, through "Dead Man Walking" (1995) and "Sweet and Lowdown" (1999). Within three years after the release of "Lowdown", he again gained the same nomination at the 2002 event for his amazing portrayal as a mentally disabled father fighting for custody of his daughter, played by Dakota Fanning, in "I Am Sam" (2001). It was not until the year of 2004 that he finally brought home the prestigious award through Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River" (2003) along with a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama.

The 81st Academy Awards® telecast was broadcast live on ABC from the Kodak Theatre, in Hollywood, CA Sunday, February 22, 2009. The host of this year’s ceremony was Hugh Jackman

Picture Credit: ABC/Brett Ratner

Hugh Jackman pictured above was the host for the 81st Academy Awards® telecast.

Oprah's After Oscar Party!

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As usual the queen of talk held her annual Oscar show which was sold out weeks before taping. This is one of my favorite shows from Oprah. If you have not been to the Kodak Theatre during this event….trust me you are missing out. Do not attend as a spectator; you must be invited as a guest of one of the stars. Then you will appreciate the whole event. Here is a promo of Oprah’s Oscar Show:

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.

Picture Credit: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Penn told Access Hollywood after his Oscar win on February 22, 2009 that he had left his wife, actress Robin Wright Penn, 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.

Picture Credit: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Oscar® winners Kate Winslet (left), Sean Penn, and Penelope Cruz backstage during the live ABC Telecast of the 81st Annual Academy Awards® from the Kodak Theatre, in Hollywood, CA Sunday, February 22, 2009.

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