Monday Morning Man: Sean Penn!

I picked Sean Penn especially for today because it’s his birthday!

The two-time Academy Award winner turns 49 years old today and won every gay man’s heart with his performance as slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk which won him his second Oscar. While accepting that award, he used the occasion to speak out as Harvey Milk surely would have: “I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”

From Milk all the way back to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Sean has amassed one of the most impressive film resumes of any actor. He won his first Oscar for Mystic River after being being nominated for I Am Sam, Sweet and Lowdown, and Dead Man Walking.

Some of my other Penn faves are 21 Grams, Colors, The Interpreter and Taps. His forays behind the camera have also been impressive – particularly the superb Into the Wild.