Timeline of events in the screen career and life of Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn

A timeline of events spotlighting the screen career, personal life and political activism of Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn:

— Aug. 17, 1960 — Born in Santa Monica, California, to actor-director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan.

— 1974 — Penn appears as an extra in episode of the TV show “Little House on the Prairie,” a show his father directed.

— Dec. 18, 1981 — Penn launches film career in “Taps,” playing role of cadet captain Alex Dwyer. The film also stars George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton.

— Aug. 13, 1982 — Penn stars in cult classic “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” playing surfer-stoner Jeff Spicoli.

— Aug. 1985 — Marries pop star Madonna in a Malibu ocean-bluff ceremony buzzed by photographers in helicopters.

— Aug. 29, 1986 — Penn and Madonna star in “Shanghai Surprise,” which received negative reviews.

— June 24, 1987 — Penn serves more than half of a 60-day jail sentence for punching an extra on a film set. He was on probation then for punching another man he accused of trying to kiss Madonna in a nightclub in April 1986.

— 1988 — Penn charged with misdemeanour assault for allegedly kicking a photographer and breaking his camera.

— 1989 — Madonna and Penn divorce.

— April 13, 1991 — Has first child, Dylan Penn, with actress Robin Wright.

— Sept. 20, 1991 — Makes directorial debut with crime drama “The Indian Runner,” which he also wrote. The film is based on Bruce Springsteen’s song “Highway Patrolman.”

— Aug. 6, 1993 — Penn and Wright have their second child, Hopper Jack Penn, named after actors Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson.

— 1995 — Picks up his first Academy Award nomination for best actor for his role in “Dead Man Walking.”

— April 1996 — Marries Robin Wright in Santa Monica, California.

— Oct. 2002 — Penn buys $56,000 advertisement in the Washington Post and publishes an open letter to President George W. Bush asking him to end the Iraq War. The letter is credited with sparking his friendship with Venezuela’s leftist president, Hugo Chavez.

— Dec. 2002 — Spends three days in Baghdad and meets with then Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, an associate of Saddam Hussein, shortly before U.S. war with Iraq.

— 2003 — Wins Academy Award for best actor in a leading role for performance in 2003 Boston crime-drama “Mystic River.”

— Jan. 24, 2006 — His younger brother, actor Chris Penn, dies accidentally from an enlarged heart and the effects of multiple medications. His brother is known for film roles in “Rush Hour” and “Footloose.”

— Aug. 2007 — Tours Venezuela with Chavez, who praises Penn for urging Americans to impeach Bush.

— Jan. 22, 2009 — Earns second Academy Award for best actor, for portraying gay rights icon and politician Harvey Milk in “Milk.”

— April 2009 — Files for divorce from Wright.

— Jan. 2010 — Flies to Haiti to help with relief efforts after massive earthquake.

— Feb. 2012 — Stands beside Chavez when Venezuela expresses support for Syrian government during 2011-2012 Syrian uprising.

— March 2015 — Stars in his latest film “The Gunman.”

— Jan. 9, 2016 — Rolling Stone publishes a story from an October 2015 interview involving Penn and fugitive Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who was recently captured after escaping from prison. Penn says his first-ever interview with Guzman was arranged with the help of Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, known for her TV portrayal of a female drug lord.