10 Actors Arrested Whilst Filming Movies

4. Sean Penn

Sean Penn was arrested by the LAPD whilst filming police drama Colors in 1998, where he ironically portrays a Los Angeles police officer in the midst of heavy gang activity. Penn was given first hand experience in how a real LAPD officer deals with assault after he was detained for attacking an extra on set who was attempting to obtain several photographs of the star.

Unfortunately for Penn, the fight was a violation of his year long probation that he had been awarded for punching a songwriter for trying to kiss his now ex-wife Madonna at a nightclub. The actor’s attorney, Howard L. Weitzman said Penn “has to learn that people are going to attempt to goad him into situations where he may react inappropriately. He needs to and does understand that incidents like this are inescapable and he can control and will control them."

As a result of the breach, the actor received a 60-day jail sentence, though the production continued without him.

It seems Penn didn't heed his attorney's warning as this run-in was just the first of many incidences where he reacted to what he deemed to be an invasion of his privacy. He was given a two-year’s suspended sentence for attacking British photographers for attempting to take Madonna's picture in Nashville.

In 2009, he assaulted a photographer on video and was sentenced to 300 hours of community service and three years of informal probation. In every case, Penn pleaded no contest.