Pudding Names Franco Man Of the Year

Golden Globe-winning actor James Franco will receive the Hasty Pudding Theatrical’s 2009 Man of the Year award next Friday, the group announced earlier today.

Franco is perhaps best know for his roles as Harry Osborn in the Spider-Man trilogy and actor James Dean in the biographical TNT movie, which earned him the 2001 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a miniseries or television film.

The 30-year-old California native also appeared in the 90s television series “Freaks and Geeks” and the films “Pineapple Express” and “Tristan & Isolde.” He can currently be seen in the biopic “Milk” along with Sean Penn.

“We thought he was really relevant to us as students—he’s one of the few people in Hollywood who hasn’t sacrificed his education for his career,” said Hasty Pudding Theatricals Press and Publicity Manager Talisa B. Friedman ’10.

Franco graduated from UCLA this spring with a degree in English and is currently working toward an MFA at Columbia University.

Hasty Pudding producers Pierce E. Tria ’10 and Charlotte E. Twaalfhoven ’10 will roast Franco at New College Theatre Friday evening before presenting the actor with the traditional “Pudding Pot.”

Friedman said she expected the roast to be “younger, maybe raunchier” than last year’s, when the group honored Christopher Walken.

“He’s a lot closer to our age than Christopher Walken was,” she said.

Following the ceremony, the Hasty Pudding will debut its 161th production, “Acropolis Now.”

Earlier in the day, Franco will take a tour of Harvard and meet with Hasty Pudding company members, Freidman said. After the show, he will be invited to attend the Pudding’s after-party at the Hasty Pudding Social Club.

The Man of the Year award was first presented in 1963, twelve years after the group established its Woman of the Year award.

The Hasty Pudding will honor 2009 Woman of the Year Renee Zellweger in a celebration this afternoon. The festivities will commence with a parade down Mass. Ave., which will begin at the Inn at Harvard at 2:30 p.m.

Following the parade, Hasty Pudding Theatricals President David J. Andersson ’09 and Vice President of the cast Thomas R. Compton ’09 will roast Zellweger at New College Theatre.

The Hasty Pudding cast will end the ceremony with a preview of “Acropolis Now.”

—Staff writer Lauren D. Kiel can be reached at lkiel@fas.harvard.edu.