Sean Penn was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Sean Justin Penn -LRB- born August 17 , 1960 -RRB- is an American actor , filmmaker , and political activist .. He has won two Academy Awards , for his roles in the mystery drama Mystic River -LRB- 2003 -RRB- and the biopic Milk -LRB- 2008 -RRB- .. Mystic River. Mystic River ( film ). Milk. Milk ( film ). Penn began his acting career in television with a brief appearance in episode 112 of Little House on the Prairie -LRB- December 4 , 1974 -RRB- , directed by his father Leo Penn. .. Leo Penn. Leo Penn. Little House on the Prairie. Little House on the Prairie ( TV series ). Following his film debut in the drama Taps -LRB- 1981 -RRB- and a diverse range of film roles in the 1980s , including Fast Times at Ridgemont High -LRB- 1982 -RRB- , Penn garnered critical attention for his roles in the crime dramas At Close Range -LRB- 1986 -RRB- , State of Grace -LRB- 1990 -RRB- , and Carlito 's Way -LRB- 1993 -RRB- .. Taps. Taps ( film ). Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. At Close Range. At Close Range. State of Grace. State of Grace ( film ). He became known as a prominent leading actor with the drama Dead Man Walking -LRB- 1995 -RRB- , for which he earned his first Academy Award nomination and the Best Actor Award at the Berlin Film Festival .. Academy Award. Academy Award for Best Actor. Dead Man Walking. Dead Man Walking ( film ). Best Actor Award. Best Actor Award ( Cannes Film Festival ). Berlin Film Festival. 46th Berlin International Film Festival. Penn received another two Oscar nominations for Woody Allen 's comedy-drama Sweet and Lowdown -LRB- 1999 -RRB- and the drama I Am Sam -LRB- 2001 -RRB- , before winning his first Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 for Mystic River and a second one in 2008 for Milk .. Academy Award. Academy Award for Best Actor. Mystic River. Mystic River ( film ). Milk. Milk ( film ). Woody Allen. Woody Allen. Sweet and Lowdown. Sweet and Lowdown. I Am Sam. I Am Sam. He has also won a Best Actor Award of the Cannes Film Festival for the Nick Cassavetes-directed She 's So Lovely -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , and two Best Actor Awards at the Venice Film Festival for the indie film Hurlyburly -LRB- 1998 -RRB- and the drama 21 Grams -LRB- 2003 -RRB- .. Best Actor Award. Best Actor Award ( Cannes Film Festival ). Cannes Film Festival. Cannes Film Festival. Nick Cassavetes. Nick Cassavetes. Best Actor Awards. Volpi Cup. Venice Film Festival. Venice Film Festival. Hurlyburly. Hurlyburly ( film ). 21 Grams. 21 Grams. Penn made his feature film directorial debut with The Indian Runner -LRB- 1991 -RRB- , followed by the drama film The Crossing Guard -LRB- 1995 -RRB- and the mystery film The Pledge -LRB- 2001 -RRB- .. The Indian Runner. The Indian Runner. The Crossing Guard. The Crossing Guard. The Pledge. The Pledge ( film ). Penn directed one of the 11 segments of 11 ' 09 `` 01 September 11 -LRB- 2002 -RRB- , a compilation film made in response to the September 11 attacks .. September 11 attacks. September 11 attacks. His fourth feature film , the biographical drama survival movie Into the Wild -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , garnered critical acclaim and two Academy Award nominations .. Academy Award. Academy Award for Best Actor. Into the Wild. Into the Wild ( film ). In addition to his film work , Penn is known for his political and social activism , including his criticism of the George W. Bush administration , his contact with the Presidents of Cuba and Venezuela , and his humanitarian work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina -LRB- 2005 -RRB- and the 2010 Haiti earthquake .. George W. Bush administration. George W. Bush administration. Cuba. Cuba. Venezuela. Venezuela. Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina. 2010 Haiti earthquake. 2010 Haiti earthquake. In January 2016 , Penn published an interview -LRB- conducted in October 2015 -RRB- with Mexican drug lord Joaquin `` El Chapo '' Guzman in Rolling Stone .. Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Mexican authorities dismissed the level of importance given by American media to Penn in regard to Guzman 's eventual recapture , instead placing importance on actress Kate del Castillo 's continued communications with Guzman .. American media. American media. Kate del Castillo. Kate del Castillo