Dave Franco has built an impressive career over the past two decades but for much of it, he’s faced constant comparisons to his older brother, actor and filmmaker James Franco.
The Now You See Me and Neighbors star first broke into Hollywood in the mid-2000s, and while his last name opened doors, it also came with expectations. From the moment he arrived in Los Angeles, Dave’s rise was shadowed by assumptions that he was benefiting from his brother’s fame.
In the years since, Franco has quietly built a résumé that includes starring roles in comedies, thrillers, and dramas, along with producing and directing credits of his own. Yet questions about nepotism have continued to follow him, a topic he’s rarely addressed directly.
Life under his brother’s spotlight
The younger Franco’s early career was often intertwined with his brother’s orbit. His first film role came in 2007’s Superbad, co-written by Seth Rogen and produced by Judd Apatow, both longtime collaborators of James. He also appeared in 2008’s Milk, which featured James in a supporting role, and later portrayed a younger version of his brother’s character in James’s 2011 film The Broken Tower.
Dave Franco pictured in 2008, shortly after his acting debut in 'Superbad'. Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images.
By 2017, the two officially shared the screen again in The Disaster Artist, the cult hit chronicling the making of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. The film became their most high-profile collaboration, with James directing and starring while Dave played Wiseau’s friend and co-star Greg Sestero. Their final project together came two years later with the 2019 drama Zeroville.
Dave Franco rejects the “nepo-brother” label
Despite those overlaps, Dave Franco insists that his career has always been his own. In a recent interview with Bustle, the actor pushed back on claims that he owes his success to family ties.
“No one was going to hire me just because I was James Franco’s little brother,” he said, via Entertainment Tonight. “If I sucked, I would’ve disappeared very quickly.”
Franco added that his older brother remains supportive from afar. “At this point, I think he’s excited just to see me trying new things and to see me grow,” he said.
On working with Alison Brie and carving out his own identity
He also shrugged off suggestions that being linked to other famous figures (including his wife and frequent collaborator Alison Brie) might overshadow his work. “If the downside of working with my wife is that people are saying, ‘Oh, that’s just Alison Brie’s husband,’ that’s fine,” he said. “It’s worth it.”
Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.
Franco has kept a low profile when it comes to addressing his brother publicly, particularly since James was accused of sexual misconduct by two former acting students in 2019. That lawsuit was settled in 2021, and James has since shifted his career toward smaller independent and European projects.
Dave Franco’s growing success and new projects
Still, Dave Franco has continued to thrive in Hollywood. His latest projects include the romantic drama Regretting You alongside Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace, as well as the upcoming magic-heist sequel Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, set for release on November 14. He also earned his first Emmy nomination this year for his role in the Hollywood satire series The Studio.
Now in his 40s, Franco’s career stands as proof that persistence, versatility, and talent can speak louder than a last name.