Sean Penn is an Academy Award Winner and director, known for his colourful roles in his film. When Penn was in school, he made short films with friends Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez. He made a brief appearance as an extra in episodes of Little House on the Prairie in 1974. Penn had an interest in filmmaking, and moved to New York in 1979 to pursue acting. His first film was alongside Tom Cruise in military school drama Taps (1981).