There had to be at least a few whoops of delight emanating from Palo Alto on Sunday night as hometown hero James Franco captured a Golden Globe for best performance by an actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical.
Franco, who was born and raised in Palo Alto, won the award for playing Tommy Wiseau in “The Disaster Artist.” Wiseau gained infamy for creating 2003’s “The Room,” a cult classic that came to be known as “the Citizen Kane of bad movies.”
Franco was the second actor with Bay Area ties to win Sunday night. He joined Sam Rockwell, a native of Daly City, who won best supporting actor in a motion picture for his role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
Upon accepting the award, Franco called Wiseau up to the stage to join him.
Franco, the son of parents who met while attending Stanford University, is a 1996 graduate of Palo Alto High School, where he got his acting start by appearing in school stage plays.
In his acceptance speech, Franco, who also directed the film, expressed gratitude to his brother, Dave, who acts alongside him in “The Disaster Artist.” Dave plays Greg Sestero, a Walnut Creek native who wrote the book that inspired the film.
“I love him more than anything,” James exclaimed. “Thanks to my mother for giving him to me.”
Franco won out over Steve Carell (“Battle of the Sexes”), Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”), Hugh Jackman (“The Greatest Showman”) and Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”).
Meanwhile, Rockwell took home the best film supporting actor award for his role as a small town cop starring alongside Frances McDormand. Rockwell called McDormand a “force of nature” in thanking her and director Martin McDonagh.
