 Complete the following phrase:  Penn began his acting career in television, with a brief appearance in episode 112 of Little House on the Prairie on December 4, 1974, and directed by his father Leo Penn. Following his film debut in the drama Taps 1981, and a diverse range of film roles in the 1980s, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High 1982 and Bad Boys 1983. Penn garnered critical attention for his roles in the crime dramas At Close Range 1986, State of Grace 1990, and Carlitos Way 1993. He became known as a prominent leading actor with the drama Dead Man Walking 1995, for which he earned his first Academy Award nomination and the Best Actor Award at the 