After he dangled a photographer over a nine-story building in 1986, Sean Penn was charged with attempted murder and faced criminal charges. He first escaped from jail by breaking out, and then he made his way to Hong Kong by jetfoil. Penn has a protracted past filled with acts of violence and brushes with the law.
After attacking a photographer working on the set of a movie in 1988, he was arrested and charged with assault. In 1991, he was jailed for beating a background actor while filming The Indian Runner. The incident occurred on the set of the movie.
After Penn got into a confrontation with a security guard at a nightclub in 1994, he was detained for disorderly behaviour and charged with the offence. In 1997, Penn was arrested for attacking a photographer who was attempting to take a picture of Penn and his then-wife Robin Wright. The photographer was attempting to capture a picture of Penn and his wife at the time, Robin Wright.
Madonna, who was previously married to Penn, has also levelled allegations of domestic violence against him.