James Franco bows out of UCLA commencement speech

Movie star and UCLA alumnus James Franco has withdrawn from a big real-life role at his alma mater in Westwood.

Franco will not be able to deliver the commencement speech he was supposed to give June 12 to UCLA’s College of Letters and Science graduates, officials announced.

"I deeply regret not being able to keep my commitment to giving the commencement speech at UCLA's graduation this year," Franco said in a prepared statement provided to UCLA. "Unfortunately the date conflicts with me needing to be on location to begin pre-production on my next film. I wish everyone in the 2009 class the best of luck in all of their future endeavors."

Franco, known for his roles in “Milk,” “Pineapple Express” and “Spider-Man,” attended UCLA for a year beginning in 1996 and left to pursue his acting career. He returned 10 years later to earn his bachelor’s degree in creative writing in 2008.

UCLA College of Letters and Science officials are reaching out to alternate speakers based on recommendations from a selection committee, but no substitute has been confirmed yet, a campus spokesperson said.

Other big-name speakers are scheduled for other campus UCLA graduation ceremonies that day. Arianna Huffington, editor in chief of the Huffington Post, is to speak to the School of Public Affairs commencement, and film director Oliver Stone is set to speak to the School of Theater, Film and Television.

-- Larry Gordon

Photo: James Franco last fall in New York City. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Steve S.]

I hate when those commencement ceremony dates creep up out of nowhere.

[independent skeptic]

How about Octomom?

[Nick Fortis]

Lordy. What about Me? A totally undistinguished, mediocre BA type from January, 1955? But a perfect example of what manic drive and determination can do when it possess someone. (Yes, like a demon of sorts.)

[Amil]

Dear Conan and Late Night Staff,

Ever since James Franco was chosen as UCLA's commencement speaker for my graduating class, there has been much dissent amongst the student body about selecting a peer (he just graduated), as opposed to someone who has accomplished a lifetime worth of achievements. (USC got Arnold Schwartzenegger, UC Merced got Michelle Obama, we got the pot dealer from Pineapple Express). There have even been facebook groups protesting his role. see: http://www.popcrunch.com/students-protest-james-franco-ucla-commencement-invitation/
Making sure not to disappoint the haters, James Franco bailed out on his committment to speak at my graduation. Yesterday. 1.5 weeks before commencement. ( http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/james-franco.html )
However, in this midst of letdowns and disappointments, the arrival of Conan O'Brien to Los Angeles has excited my peers, and definitely been the talk of the town. Everyone has a revived interest in his show, and many of my peers have gotten tickets to see his show being taped. I feel that with this new enthusiasm, having Conan as our commencement speaker would make my graduating class explode with excitement. There have even been facebook campaigns to make this happen. http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=87532391505

I'm sure your writing staff could find an awesome way to even make this a bit for the show, and it would be a great way to ingrain Conan in Los Angeles culture!

Please, do whatever you can, or let me know what I can do, to make Conan the commencement speaker for UCLA's graduating class of 2009!!!

Thank you,
Alex Miller

I'm sure your writing staff could find an awesome way to even make this a bit for the show, and it would be a great way to ingrain Conan in Los Angeles culture!

Please, do whatever you can, or let me know what I can do, to make Conan the commencement speaker for UCLA's graduating class of 2009!!!

Thank you,
Alex Miller

[stew]

yeah steve s. he should had his service get ahold of their service, so his people could have talked to their people, they coulda did a power lunch and postponed the graduation?
but nooooooooooooo......much too hip. I hate that when that happens.
dewd?

[D. M.]

How ridiculous that someone who attended UCLA for ONE year (in art school) and then attained fame as an actor, was considered a good candidate for commencement speaker AT ALL!? This shows UCLA's true colors - always style above substance.

[Eric Rosoff]

Did James Franco back out of a commencement speech because of a work commitment? Obama managed to make it to Wesleyan '08 during the height of his campaign!

[KS]

D. M. | June 04, 2009 at 04:35 PM: "How ridiculous that someone who attended UCLA for ONE year (in art school) and then attained fame as an actor, was considered a good candidate for commencement speaker AT ALL!? This shows UCLA's true colors - always style above substance."

This shows you can't read very well, article says he returned in 2006 to get his degree in 2008.

[Jim A.]

I deeply regret not being able to keep my commitment to see your movie.

[Zoey]

And they asked him because....there's not a wealth of other alumnus who could speak? He's a terrific actor but wait another ten years. And I mean, really, a work commitment? As if you couldn't have said, hey, I'm giving the commencement address and need to honor my commitment? What a knucklehead.