When someone says the name James Franco, one thinks about films, Hollywood, and art. But there is a story behind every celebrity. One such significant chapter in the story of James Franco is his grandmother Marjorie Franco. Although not as well-known as her grandson, Marjorie was instrumental in developing the family’s artistic aspect.
Quick Facts About Marjorie Franco
| Full Name | Marjorie J. Peterson (later Marjorie Franco) |
| Birthdate | N/A |
| Age | N/A |
| Occupation | Author of children’s and young adult books |
| Husband/Wife | Daniel Franco Jr. |
| Education | N/A |
| Parents | Claus Fredolph Peterson & Martha Louise Rehn |
| Grandchildren | James Franco, Tom Franco, Dave Franco |
| Children | Douglas Eugene Franco (James Franco’s father) |
| Net Worth | <$1 million |
| Birthplace | Illinois, United States |
Who Was Marjorie Franco?
Marjorie Franco was James Franco’s father’s mother, making her the mother of James’s father. She was born Marjorie J. Peterson in Illinois, United States.
Her background was Swedish. Her parents, Claus Fredolph Peterson and Martha Louise Rehn, were both born in Illinois, but their parents had immigrated there from Sweden. That made Marjorie a second-generation Swedish-American.
Her Career as a Writer
Marjorie enjoyed stories and books. She became a published writer. She wrote children’s and teen books. These types of books are designed for kids and adolescents. Although her books were not very popular, they contributed to the creative vigor of the Franco family.
Marjorie’s writing indicated that she loved to assist youngsters in learning and growing through reading. Her love for ideas and words could have encouraged her family, as well as James.
A Creative Family
Marjorie’s son, Douglas Franco, was intelligent and thoughtful, too. He attended Stanford University. He wed Betsy Lou, who was equally creative. Together, they had three sons: James, Dave, and Tom Franco.
All three brothers Franco were raised in a household that was saturated with books, ideas, and art. James is a famous actor. Dave is an actor. Tom is an artist. All of this love of learning and creativity traces back to individuals such as Marjorie.
Fun Moments in the Spotlight
Although Marjorie was not an actress, she did have a little time in the limelight. In 2010 and 2011, she appeared on humorous videos created to assist with promoting James’s films. These were produced by Funny or Die, a comedy web site.
In one of the videos, Marjorie boasted about James’s movie 127 Hours. She also created a fun video endorsing his film Spring Breakers. Fans enjoyed witnessing her humor and affection.
Her brief videos made her somewhat of an online celebrity. Fans enjoyed witnessing the sweet relationship between James and his nana.
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A Quiet but Strong Influence
There aren’t many public facts about Marjorie Franco’s life. We can’t say exactly when she was born or died, and there are no extended interviews with her. But the things we do understand reveal that she was a tough and compassionate person.
She passed on to her family something very special—a love of reading, writing, and being creative. That legacy can still be found in James Franco and his brothers today.
