CINEFILER

Willem Dafoe

Born
July 22, 1955
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
William James "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor, in addition to receiving nominations for four Academy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. He frequently collaborates with filmmakers Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Lars von Trier, Julian Schnabel, Wes Anderson, and Robert Eggers. Dafoe was an early member of experimental theater company The Wooster Group. He made his film debut in Heaven's Gate (1980), but was fired during production. He had his first leading role in the outlaw biker film The Loveless (1982) and then played the main antagonist in Streets of Fire (1984) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). He received his first Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actor) for his role as Sergeant Elias Grodin in Oliver Stone's war film Platoon (1986). In 1988, Dafoe played Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ and costarred in Mississippi Burning, both of which were controversial. After receiving his second Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actor) for portraying Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire (2000), Dafoe portrayed the supervillain Norman Osborn / Green Goblin in the superhero film Spider-Man (2002), a role he reprised in its sequels Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) earning him the Guinness World Record for the "longest career as a live-action Marvel character". He also portrayed the villains in Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) and XXX: State of the Union (2005), as well as Carson Clay in the film Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007). In 2009, he starred in the experimental film Antichrist, one of his three films with Lars von Trier. Dafoe then appeared in The Fault in Our Stars, John Wick, The Grand Budapest Hotel (all 2014), The Great Wall (2016), Murder on the Orient Express (2017), The Florida Project (2017) (for which he received his third Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category), The Lighthouse (2019), The French Dispatch, and Nightmare Alley (both 2021). He portrayed Nuidis Vulko in the DC Extended Universe films Aquaman (2018), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2022). Dafoe has portrayed several real-life figures, including T. S. Eliot in Tom & Viv (1994), Pier Paolo Pasolini in Pasolini (2014), Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate (2018) (for which he received an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination, his first in that category), and Leonhard Seppala in Togo (2019).
Known For
Poor Things
(2023)
Godwin Baxter
Spider-Man: No Way Home
(2021)
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin
Dead for a Dollar
(2022)
Joe Cribbens
Zack Snyder's Justice League
(2021)
Nudis Vulko
Spider-Man
(2002)
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Finding Nemo
(2003)
Gill (voice)
Aquaman
(2018)
Nuidis Vulko
Spider-Man 3
(2007)
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
(2024)
Wolf Jackson
American Psycho
(2000)
Detective Donald Kimball
The Northman
(2022)
Heimir the Fool
Platoon
(1986)
Sergeant Elias Gordon
The Great Wall
(2016)
Ballard
The Grand Budapest Hotel
(2014)
J.G. Jopling
John Wick
(2014)
Marcus
xXx: State of the Union
(2005)
Gen. George Octavius Deckert
Full Filmography
Acting
Heaven's Gate
(1980)
Willy (uncredited)
The Loveless
(1981)
Vance
The Hunger
(1983)
2nd Phone Booth Youth
Roadhouse 66
(1984)
Johnny Harte
Atalanta Strategy
(1984)
Immigration Staff
Streets of Fire
(1984)
Raven Shaddock
New York Nights
(1984)
Boyfriend
O Panama
(1985)
To Live and Die in L.A.
(1985)
Eric Masters
Platoon
(1986)
Sergeant Elias Gordon
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
(1987)
Elephant Grass (voice)
The Last Temptation of Christ
(1988)
Jesus
Off Limits
(1988)
Buck McGriff
Location Production Footage: The Last Temptation of the Christ
(1988)
Self
Mississippi Burning
(1988)
Ward
Triumph of the Spirit
(1989)
Salamo Arouch
Born on the Fourth of July
(1989)
Charlie
Wild at Heart
(1990)
Bobby Peru
Cry-Baby
(1990)
Hateful Guard
Flight of the Intruder
(1991)
Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole
Light Sleeper
(1992)
John LeTour
White Sands
(1992)
Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal
North on Evers
(1992)
Body of Evidence
(1993)
Frank Dulaney
Rhyme 'Em to Death
(1993)
White Homeland Commando
(1993)
Karl
Faraway, So Close!
(1993)
Emit Flesti
Brace Up!
(1993)
Colonel Alexander Ignatyevich Vershinin
Tom & Viv
(1994)
Tom Eliot
Clear and Present Danger
(1994)
John Clark
The Night and the Moment
(1995)
Lo scrittore
Victory
(1996)
Axel Heyst
The English Patient
(1996)
David Caravaggio
Basquiat
(1996)
The Electrician
Speed 2: Cruise Control
(1997)
Geiger
Lulu on the Bridge
(1998)
Dr. Van Horn
Abel/Asia
(1998)
Himself (archival footage)
Affliction
(1998)
Rolfe Whitehouse
The Boondock Saints
(1999)
Paul Smecker
Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle
(1999)
Narrator
New Rose Hotel
(1999)
X
eXistenZ
(1999)
Gas
Animal Factory
(2000)
Earl Copen
American Psycho
(2000)
Detective Donald Kimball
Shadow of the Vampire
(2000)
Max Schreck
Bullfighter
(2000)
Father Ramirez
Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure
(2000)
Hunter (voice)
Pavilion of Women
(2001)
Father Andre
Edges of the Lord
(2001)
Priest
A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting 'Platoon'
(2001)
Self
Spider-Man
(2002)
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Auto Focus
(2002)
John Carpenter
Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man'
(2002)
Himself
Spider-Mania
(2002)
Self
Rockets Redglare!
(2003)
Self
Finding Nemo
(2003)
Gill (voice)
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
(2003)
Barillo
Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'
(2003)
Himself
Abel Ferrara: Not Guilty
(2003)
Overnight
(2003)
The Reckoning
(2004)
Martin
Control
(2004)
Dr. Michael Copeland
The Clearing
(2004)
Arnold Mack
The Misbehavers
(2004)
Self
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
(2004)
Klaus Daimler
Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate
(2004)
Narrator (voice)
Spider-Man 2
(2004)
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
The Aviator
(2004)
Roland Sweet
Before It Had a Name
(2005)
Leslie
xXx: State of the Union
(2005)
Gen. George Octavius Deckert
Manderlay
(2005)
Grace's Father
Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal
(2005)
Self
This Is an Adventure
(2005)
Self
On the Set: 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'
(2005)
Self / Klaus D.
Ripley Under Ground
(2005)
Neil Murchison
Jiminy Glick in Lalawood
(2005)
Self
Paris Je T'aime
(2006)
Le cow-boy (Place des Victoires)
American Dreamz
(2006)
Chief of Staff
Inside Man
(2006)
John Darius
Anamorph
(2007)
Stan Aubray
Go Go Tales
(2007)
Ray Ruby
The Procedure
(2007)
Christopher
Voom Portraits
(2007)
Self
Mr. Bean's Holiday
(2007)
Carson Clay
Cannes: All Access
(2007)
Self
The Walker
(2007)
Larry Lockner
Spider-Man 3
(2007)
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
To Each His Own Cinema
(2007)
(segment "Occupations") (archive footage)
The Dust of Time
(2008)
A
Fireflies in the Garden
(2008)
Charles Waechter
Adam Resurrected
(2008)
Commandat Klein
Antichrist
(2009)
He
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
(2009)
Detective Hank Havenhurst
Fantastic Mr. Fox
(2009)
Rat (voice)
Farewell
(2009)
Feeney
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
(2009)
Gavner Purl
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
(2009)
Paul Smecker (uncredited)
Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World
(2010)
Narrator
A Woman
(2010)
Max Oliver
The Making of Daybreakers
(2010)
Self
Miral
(2010)
Eddie
Daybreakers
(2010)
Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
The Hunter
(2011)
Martin David
4:44 Last Day on Earth
(2012)
Cisco
Bob Wilson's Life & Death of Marina Abramovic
(2012)
Himself
Tomorrow You're Gone
(2012)
The Buddha
John Carter
(2012)
Tars Tarkas
Saving Norman
(2013)
Lionel Pembrooke
Love's Routine
(2013)
Barry
The Smile Man
(2013)
Willem
The Benaki Museum
(2013)
Narrator (voice)
Odd Thomas
(2013)
Wyatt Porter
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II
(2013)
L
Out of the Furnace
(2013)
John Petty
Pasolini
(2014)
Pier Paolo Pasolini
A Most Wanted Man
(2014)
Tommy Brue
Bad Country
(2014)
Bud Carter
SPYMASTER: John le Carré in Hamburg
(2014)
(archive footage)
John Wick
(2014)
Marcus
The Grand Budapest Hotel
(2014)
J.G. Jopling
The Fault in Our Stars
(2014)
Peter van Houten
The Making of The Grand Budapest Hotel
(2014)
Self / Jopling
My Hindu Friend
(2015)
Diego Fairman
Fukushima: A Nuclear Story
(2015)
Narrator
The Making of A Most Wanted Man
(2015)
Self
John Wick: Calling in the Cavalry
(2015)
Self
Don't F*#% With John Wick
(2015)
Self
Mind the Gap
(2016)
himself
Nelson Algren Live
(2016)
Role1 / Frankie Machine / Role2 / Blackie Cavanaugh
Dog Eat Dog
(2016)
Mad Dog
Father
(2016)
James Verdun
The Great Wall
(2016)
Ballard
A Family Man
(2016)
Ed Blackridge
Finding Dory
(2016)
Gill (voice)
Mountain
(2017)
Narrator (voice)
Piazza Vittorio
(2017)
Himself
Sanctuary
(2017)
Narrator
What Happened to Monday
(2017)
Terrence Settman
The Florida Project
(2017)
Bobby Hicks
Death Note
(2017)
Ryuk (voice)
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait
(2017)
Self
Murder on the Orient Express
(2017)
Gerhard Hardman
Ballad of a Righteous Merchant
(2017)
Self
At Eternity's Gate
(2018)
Vincent van Gogh
Opus Zero
(2018)
Paul
Brothers in Arms
(2018)
Self
Aquaman
(2018)
Nuidis Vulko
Theatron. Romeo Castellucci
(2018)
Vox Lux
(2018)
Narrator (voice)
Under the Rainbow: Making The Florida Project
(2018)
Friedkin Uncut
(2018)
Self
Manou the Swift
(2019)
Manou's Father (voice)
Togo
(2019)
Leonhard Seppala
The Lighthouse
(2019)
Thomas Wake
Motherless Brooklyn
(2019)
Paul Randolph
Love, Antosha
(2019)
Self
Vincent van Gogh Superstar
(2019)
Vincent van Gogh (archive footage)
Celebrating Marvel's Stan Lee
(2019)
Self / Norman Osborn/ Green Goblin (archive footage)
Siberia
(2020)
Clint
Tommaso
(2020)
Tommaso
Babenco: Tell Me When I Die
(2020)
Self
Roy's World: Barry Gifford's Chicago
(2020)
Sportin' Life
(2020)
Self
Wim Wenders, Desperado
(2020)
Self
The Last Thing He Wanted
(2020)
Richard McMahon
The Lighthouse: A Dark & Stormy Tale
(2020)
Self
River
(2021)
Narrator
Why Are We (Not) Creative?
(2021)
Self
Maresco / Pasolini
(2021)
Himself
Nightmare Alley
(2021)
Clem Hoatley
The Card Counter
(2021)
Gordo
Spider-Man: No Way Home
(2021)
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin
Zack Snyder's Justice League
(2021)
Nudis Vulko
The French Dispatch
(2021)
Albert 'the Abacus'
Finding Satoshi
(2022)
Narrator
7 Deaths of Maria Callas
(2022)
Film Actor
Dead for a Dollar
(2022)
Joe Cribbens
Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious
(2022)
Himself
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home
(2022)
Self
Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone
(2022)
Il coraggio di essere Franco
(2022)
The Northman
(2022)
Heimir the Fool
Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus
(2022)
Self / Grand Duc
Inside
(2023)
Nemo
The Wild One
(2023)
Narrator (voice)
Gonzo Girl
(2023)
Walker Reade
Poor Things
(2023)
Godwin Baxter
Pet Shop Days
(2023)
Asteroid City
(2023)
Saltzburg Keitel
Kinds of Kindness
(2024)
Nosferatu
(2024)
Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
(2024)
Wolf Jackson
Finally Dawn
(2024)
Rufo Priori
Production
Writing
Crew
Data provided by TMDB