| Full Name | David John Franco |
| Born | June 12, 1985 (age 38) |
| Birthplace | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Producer |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | Alison Brie (m. 2017) |
| Social Media |
Instagram, Facebook, |
Background
David John Franco, popularly known as Dave Franco, was born on June 12, 1985 in Palo Alto, California. His mother, Betsy Franco, is a poet, author and editor while his father, Douglas Eugene Franco, runs a Silicon Valley business. Dave has two older brothers – acclaimed actor James Franco and artist Tom Franco.
Dave had a Jewish upbringing, celebrating his Bar Mitzvah in 1999. He attended and graduated from Palo Alto High School in 2003, where he played basketball on the varsity team. As a teenager, Dave was passionate about magic and worked as a magician at children‘s birthday parties. He was also a drive-thru cashier at McDonald‘s for over 3 years.
Acting Career
Early Roles
Dave Franco‘s journey as an actor began by starring in short films directed by his brother James in high school. His first major on-screen role came in 2006 at age 21 when he appeared briefly as a bully named Greg in the hit comedy Superbad.
Over the next few years, Franco guest-starred on television shows like Do Not Disturb, Greek, Privileged and had minor film roles in Charlie St. Cloud, Fright Night, and 21 Jump Street.
Mainstream Success
Dave‘s breakthrough into mainstream success came in 2013 when he was cast as street magician Jack Wilder in the popular heist thriller Now You See Me. His charming performance as part of the Four Horsemen illusionist group generated significant buzz and established Franco as an exciting young actor to watch.
This paved the way for Dave to star in a string of commercially successful feature films like the zombie romance Warm Bodies (2013), Seth Rogen comedy Neighbors (2014) playing a loud and obnoxious fraternity leader, sequel 22 Jump Street (2014), and the magician sequel Now You See Me 2 (2016).
Franco often portrayed humorous, mischievous characters in these blockbuster hits. Other noteworthy movies he has appeared in include Oscar-winning drama If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), indie comedy The Little Hours (2017), and Michael Bay‘s action thriller 6 Underground (2019) on Netflix.
Acclaim for The Disaster Artist
One of Dave‘s most acclaimed performances came in 2017 when he portrayed actor Greg Sestero in the Golden Globe winning comedy-drama The Disaster Artist. Directed by his brother James, the film chronicles Sestero‘s turbulent friendship with the eccentric Tommy Wiseau (played by James) while making the cult classic The Room.
Dave‘s hilarious yet poignant portrayal of Greg Sestero earned him widespread praise and a handful of Best Supporting Actor nominations from various critics associations. It remains one of his proudest acting achievements.
Directing and Producing
In recent years, Dave has expanded into directing and producing. He made his directorial debut in 2016 with The Rooftop Christmas Tree, a Christmas romance film for Lifetime starring his wife Alison Brie.
In 2018, Franco co-directed the horror thriller The Rental along with producing the film through his production company Ramona Films. The Rental earned strong reviews with critics praising Franco‘s confident direction.
As a producer, Franco has worked on films like The Disaster Artist (2017), Zeroville (2019) and the upcoming Somewhere starring his wife Alison Brie who will also direct.
Personal Life
Dave Franco dated actress Ahna O‘Reilly from 2006 to 2011. He began a relationship with actress Alison Brie in 2012 after meeting at Mardi Gras. They became engaged in August 2015 and tied the knot in March 2017. Franco and Brie currently reside together in Los Angeles.
In his free time, Dave enjoys reading fiction novels, rock climbing, taking photographs and painting. He is an avid basketball and football fan, supporting the San Francisco 49ers.
Franco stays fit with a routine of weightlifting, jogging and hiking. He is also interested in learning foreign languages and speaks broken French and Spanish.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Dave can solve a Rubik‘s cube in under 30 seconds.
- He was a breakdancer during high school and performed at school events.
- Franco is left-handed.
- He worked as a McDonald‘s drive-thru cashier for over 3 years as a teenager.
- Dave played guitar and sang in a band called The Speck of Dust.
- His first ever acting gig was in a Coca Cola commercial when he was 15.
- Before acting, Dave worked at an art gallery in Los Angeles for 3 years.
- He is only 5 feet 7 inches tall.
- Franco‘s net worth is estimated at around $10 million.
- His brother James occasionally calls him "Little Davey" as a nickname.
"I always wanted to work with my brother and the fact that it‘s taken this long is ridiculous." – Dave Franco
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Dave Franco‘s first movie role?
Dave Franco‘s first major movie role was a small part as bully Greg in the 2006 comedy Superbad. He was 21 years old at the time.
How did Dave Franco meet his wife Alison Brie?
Dave Franco met actress Alison Brie at the 2011 Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. They started dating the following year in 2012.
What TV shows has Dave Franco been in?
Some of Dave Franco‘s TV credits include guest roles on Do Not Disturb, Greek, Scrubs, Privileged, The Mindy Project and Young Justice. He also appeared in an episode of his brother‘s show James Franco Presents.
Is Dave Franco on social media?
Yes, Dave Franco is active on Instagram and Twitter with verified accounts. He also has an official Facebook page that he occasionally posts on.
What was Dave Franco‘s breakthrough role?
Dave Franco‘s breakthrough role came as street magician Jack Wilder in the popular 2013 heist thriller film Now You See Me. This established him as a charismatic Hollywood star.
What languages does Dave Franco speak?
Dave Franco can speak broken conversational French and Spanish. He is not fluent but studied both languages briefly in school.