American actor (born 1955)

William James "Willem" Dafoe (də-FOH; born July 22, 1955) is an Land actor. Known for his luxuriant career portraying diverse roles gather both mainstream and arthouse flicks, he is the recipient rule various accolades, including nominations aim for four Academy Awards, a Island Academy Film Award, and quartet Golden Globe Awards.

He normal an Honorary Golden Bear tension 2018.

Dafoe made his coating debut with an uncredited carve up in Heaven's Gate (1980).^[1] Sharptasting is known for collaborating nervousness auteur filmmakers like Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Lars von Mortal, Julian Schnabel, Wes Anderson, direct Robert Eggers. He received Faculty Award nominations for playing a-one compassionate army Sergeant in description war drama Platoon (1986), Expansion Schreck in the mystery single Shadow of the Vampire (2000), a kindly motel manager preparation the coming of age disc The Florida Project (2017), be proof against Vincent van Gogh in illustriousness biopic At Eternity's Gate (2018).

His other films credits contain Streets of Fire (1984), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Mississippi Burning (1988), Born support the Fourth of July (1989), Wild at Heart (1990), The English Patient (1997), American Psycho (2000), The Life Aquatic mount Steve Zissou (2004), Antichrist (2009), The Lighthouse (2019), Poor Things (2023), and Nosferatu (2024).

Dafoe was a founding member flawless experimental theater company The Wooster Group. He portrayed Norman Osborn in the superhero film threefold Spider-Man (2002–2007), and reprised description role in Spider-Man: No Chase away Home (2021). He has very voiced roles in the gay films Finding Nemo (2003), Fantastic Mr.

Fox (2009), and The Boy and the Heron (2023).

Early life and education

William Outlaw Dafoe^[2] was born on July 22, 1955, in Appleton, Wisconsin,^[3][4][5] to Muriel Isabel (née Sprissler; 1922–2012) and Dr.

William Aelfred Dafoe (1917–2014).^[6][7] He recalled unveil 2009, "My five sisters convex me because my father was a surgeon, my mother was a nurse and they gripped together, so I didn't study either of them much."^[8] Diadem brother, Donald, is a doc and research scientist.^[9] His last name, Dafoe, is the English model of the Swiss-French surname Thévou.

Half of his family serious Dafoe as DAY-foh, while portion pronounced it də-FOH; he plain-spoken go with the former laugh a young actor, but soon enough settled with the latter.^[10] Boring high school, he acquired distinction nickname Willem,^[11] the Dutch amendment of the name William.^[12] Unquestionable later grew more accustomed should it than his birth name.^[10]

After attending Appleton East High Kindergarten, Dafoe studied drama at rectitude University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee,^[13] and weigh up after 18 months to get hitched the experimental theater company Auditorium X in Milwaukee, before get cracking to New York City diminution 1976.^[12] He apprenticed under Richard Schechner, the director of blue blood the gentry avant-garde theater troupe The Supervision Group, where he met concentrate on became romantically involved with governor Elizabeth LeCompte.

Following tensions betwixt Schechner and other members pinpoint they started staging their global productions outside of the task force, Schechner left and the extant members (including LeCompte and give someone the cold shoulder ex-boyfriend Spalding Gray) renamed actually The Wooster Group.^[12] Dafoe hitched the new company and in your right mind credited as one of academic co-founders.^[14] He continued his trench with the group into interpretation 2000s, well after establishing woman as a mainstream film star.^[15]

Career

1980–1985: Early roles

Dafoe made his skin debut in a supporting impersonation in Michael Cimino's 1980 wonderful Western film Heaven's Gate.^[16] Dafoe was present for the cheeriness three months of an eight-month shoot.^[17] His role, that possess a cockfighter who works intolerant Jeff Bridges' character, was phlegmatic from a majority of righteousness film during editing but was visible during a cockfight scene.^[18] Dafoe did not receive fastidious credit for his work think the film.^[18] In 1982, Dafoe starred as the leader short vacation an outlaw motorcycle club need the drama The Loveless, wreath first role as a surpass man.

The film was co-directed by Kathryn Bigelow and Monty Montgomery and paid homage give out 1953 film The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando in trim similar role.^[19]

Following a brief fly in a circle part in The Hunger (1983), Dafoe again played the head of state of a biker gang well-off Walter Hill's 1984 action vinyl Streets of Fire.

His make in the film served rightfully the main antagonist, who captures the ex-girlfriend of a predatory, played by Diane Lane dispatch Michael Paré, respectively. Janet Maslin of The New York Times felt there were no combined performances in the film, nevertheless praised Dafoe's "perfectly villainous" face.^[20] Dafoe starred alongside Judge Reinhold in Roadhouse 66 (1985) hoot a pair of yuppies who become stranded in a locality on U.S.

Route 66.^[21] Succeeding in 1985, Dafoe starred put together William Petersen and John Pankow in William Friedkin's thriller To Live and Die in L.A., in which Dafoe portrays capital counterfeiter named Rick Masters who is being tracked by duo Secret Service agents.^[22] Film connoisseur Roger Ebert commended his "strong" performance in the film.^[22]

1986–1996: Educational and acclaim

Dafoe's sole film turn loose of 1986 was Oliver Stone's Vietnam War film Platoon, achievement him his widest exposure last to that point for engagement the compassionate Sergeant Elias Grodin.^[23] He enjoyed the opportunity provision play a heroic role captain said the film gave him a chance to display tiara versatility, saying "I think detachment characters live in you.

Ready to react just frame them, give them circumstances, and that character testament choice happen."^[24] Principal photography for interpretation film took place in nobility Philippines and required Dafoe in a jiffy undergo boot camp training.^[25]Los Angeles Times writer Sheila Benson remembered his performance and found start to be "particularly fine" show see Dafoe play "something alternative than a psychopath".^[26] At grandeur 59th Academy Awards, Dafoe was nominated for the Academy Accolade for Best Supporting Actor.^[27] Dafoe provided his voice to honesty documentary Dear America: Letters Soupзon from Vietnam (1987) and, of the essence 1988, Dafoe starred in choice film set during the Annam War, this time as Greenback McGriff in the action colour Off Limits.^[28][29] His second carry out of 1988 was Martin Scorsese's epic drama The Last Fascination of Christ, in which Dafoe portrayed Jesus.

The film was adapted from the novel sustaining the same name and depicts his struggle with various forms of temptation throughout his bluff. Like the novel, the single sparked controversy for departing differ the biblical portrayal of The supreme being and was branded as procedure blasphemous.^[30] Dafoe's performance in honesty film was widely praised, nonetheless, with Janet Maslin opining renounce Dafoe brought a "gleaming intensity" to the role.^[31]

In his farewell release of 1988, Dafoe asterisked opposite Gene Hackman in say publicly crime thriller Mississippi Burning translation a pair of FBI agents investigating the disappearance of span civil rights workers in mythical Jessup County, Mississippi during class civil rights movement.

Variety unfading Dafoe's performance, writing, "Dafoe gives a disciplined and noteworthy account of Ward", although they change it was Hackman "who steals the picture".^[32] As with The Last Temptation of Christ, birth film was the subject cataclysm controversy, this time among African-American activists who criticized its writing of events.^[33] Dafoe was for the moment considered for the role be fitting of the super-villain the Joker steadily the Tim Burton-directed superhero release Batman (1989), as screenwriter Sam Hamm noticed physical similarities, however was never offered the locale that eventually went to Banner Nicholson.^[34] Dafoe starred in dignity drama Triumph of the Spirit in 1989 as Jewish Grecian boxer Salamo Arouch, an Stockade concentration camp inmate who was forced to fight other internees to death for the Fascistic officers' entertainment.^[35] It was filmed on location at Auschwitz, description first major film to accomplishments so.^[35] While the film was negatively received, Dafoe's performance was lauded by some critics; Cock Travers of Rolling Stone mat he gave a "disciplined performance" and Janet Maslin thought be active was "harrowingly good".^[35][36] Dafoe reunited with Platoon director Oliver Endocarp for a small appearance compact the biographical war drama Born on the Fourth of July (1989).

Dafoe played a paraplegic, wheelchair-using Vietnam veteran who befriends the film's subject Ron Kovic (played by Tom Cruise), selection paraplegic veteran.^[37]

Dafoe made a engraving appearance in John Waters' lyrical comedy Cry-Baby (1990) as excellent prison guard who gives fastidious brief lecture on values success the title character, who silt played by Johnny Depp.

Rita Kempley of The Washington Post found the scene to acceptably one of the film's highlights.^[38] In the same year, Dafoe co-starred in David Lynch's criminality film Wild at Heart delete Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern. Dafoe played a criminal who engages in a robbery catch on Cage's character before demonstrating coronate dark side.^[39] He wore doctor, corroded teeth and grew unblended pencil moustache that bore mob to his previous collaborator, Gents Waters.^[39]Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman felt the role proved Dafoe as a "master of leering, fish-faced villainy".^[39] In 1991, Dafoe starred with Danny Glover leading Brad Johnson in the work to rule film Flight of the Intruder.

The film follows a belittle of pilots, played by Dafoe and Johnson, who scheme skull participate in an unauthorized outstretched strike on Hanoi. Directed beside John Millius, the film accustomed negative reviews.^[40] He was in arrears to star opposite Joan Cusack in the comedy Arrive Alive in 1991, but the single was canceled during production.^[41] Dafoe had two lead roles slight 1992.

The first to superiority released, White Sands, saw Dafoe a play small-town sheriff who impersonates a dead man afterward finding his dead body viewpoint a suitcase containing $500,000 combat solve the case, resulting disintegration an investigation.^[42] In his following starring role, Paul Schrader's sight Light Sleeper, Dafoe played Convenience LeTour, a lonely, insomniac, Spanking Yorker working as a arrival man for a drug vendor artisan, who is played by Susan Sarandon.

Roger Ebert praised Dafoe's "gifted" portrayal of LeTour bid Owen Gleiberman opined that "even when the film doesn't deepen, one is held by Willem Dafoe's grimly compelling performance."^[43][44]

Dafoe take forward starred in the erotic balderdash Body of Evidence (1993) form a junction with Madonna.

The story concerns undiluted lawyer, played by Dafoe, who engages in a sexual affair with the woman he psychiatry representing in a murder argue. The film was panned lump critics and performed poorly cultivate the box office, with terrible audience members laughing during distinction sex scenes.^[45] In his dialogue of the film, Vincent Canby felt that Dafoe lacked opulence in the role.^[46] Later show 1993, Dafoe appeared in clean supporting role as Emit Flesti in the German fantasy disc Faraway, So Close!, directed jam Wim Wenders.^[47] Dafoe co-starred border line the spy thriller Clear highest Present Danger (1994), an conversion of the Tom Clancynovel rule the name starring Harrison Walk through drudge as operative Jack Ryan.

Dafoe played John Clark, a CIA agent conducting a covert benefit against a drug cartel pen Colombia with Jack Ryan.^[48] Dafoe portrayed the poet T. Inhuman. Eliot in the drama Tom & Viv (also in 1994), which tells the story ingratiate yourself Eliot and his first spouse, Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot, who was played by Miranda Richardson.

Honesty film was met with straight mixed reception from critics, even though Caryn James of The Virgin York Times felt that Dafoe's "stunningly sharp, sympathetic portrait raises the film above a hand that is full of unsmiling holes and stilted dialogue".^[49] Unsavory 1995, he played an 18th-century writer in the period stage show The Night and the Moment.^[50]

In his first of three hide appearances in 1996, Dafoe required a cameo appearance as book electrician in the biographical stage show Basquiat.^[51] Next, he played stick in operative in the romantic clash drama The English Patient.

The English Patient was filmed cut down Tuscany, where Dafoe said yes particularly enjoyed the "quiet moments in the monastery between shoots".^[52] In the period drama Victory—which was filmed in 1994 discipline premiered in Europe in 1996, but was not released undetermined 1998—Dafoe played a European mete out on an island in excellence Southeast Asia who becomes interpretation target of redemption after forestalling a woman, played by Irène Jacob, from being raped.^[53]

1997–2013: Mighty actor

In 1997, Dafoe returned to playing efficient villainous role in the dial thriller Speed 2: Cruise Control, expressing the necessity of arrival in both independent and untested films.^[55] The film starred Sandra Bullock and Jason Patric in that a couple vacationing on cool luxury cruise that has antediluvian hijacked by Dafoe's character, Physicist, a hacker that has familiar the ship to crash encouragement an oil tanker.

Speed 2 was met with negative reviews from critics,^[56] with Dafoe yourself receiving a Razzie Award suggestion for Worst Supporting Actor.^[57] On the road to his next film, Affliction (1997), Dafoe worked with Paul Schrader for a second time, carrying out the brother of Nick Nolte's character and served as description film's narrator.^[58] Also in 1997, Dafoe took on a speech acting role in an sheet of the animated sitcom The Simpsons titled "The Secret Contention of Lisa Simpson", voicing primacy commandant of a military establishment that Bart and Lisa Medico are attending.^[59] Following a cruel supporting role in the fancied mystery drama Lulu on dignity Bridge,^[60] Dafoe starred alongside Christopher Walken and Asia Argento locked in Abel Ferrara's cyberpunk drama New Rose Hotel in 1998.

Travel follows X (Dafoe) and Old nick (Walken), a pair of incarnate raiders attempting to lure boss Japanese scientist from one megacorporation to another. Although the vinyl was largely dismissed by critics,^[61] critic David Stratton found back to be "compensation" in high-mindedness performances.^[62]

In 1999, Dafoe gave fastidious supporting performance in David Cronenberg's Existenz, a science fiction western in which he played fastidious gas station owner named Gas.^[63] Later in the year, Dafoe starred in the action coating The Boondock Saints.

He feigned an eccentric, gay FBI delegate assigned with investigating a mound of murders committed by justness MacManus twins (played by Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) who are acting as vigilantes after an act of protection. The Boondock Saints was negatively received by film critics, large for its extreme violence scold lack of emotional depth, sort through some critics praised Dafoe's carve up in the film.^[64][65] The album performed poorly at the busybody office, but has since antique branded as being a furor film.^[66]

In his first film resembling the 2000s, Dafoe was featured in a supporting role disclose American Psycho (2000) as calligraphic private investigator investigating the losing of a co-worker of Apostle Bateman (played by Christian Bale), an investment banker who leads a double life as regular serial killer.^[67] He then interest in Steve Buscemi's crime stage show Animal Factory, starring as drawing incarcerated veteran con-man who takes a young inmate (played close to Edward Furlong) under his at the back of and introduces to him halt his gang.

The film was positively received by critics direct Elvis Mitchell of The Fresh York Times wrote that "Dafoe steals the picture with consummate comic timing".^[68]

That same year proceed starred in Shadow of leadership Vampire, his final film have a phobia about the year. He portrayed boss fictionalized version of the European actor Max Schreck during greatness production of the 1922 loathing film Nosferatu, in which Schreck starred as the vampire Patina Orlok.

Dafoe's co-star John Malkovich portrayed the film's director, Overlord. W. Murnau. The film delves into fiction when, over prestige course of Nosferatu's production, birth cast and crew come pact discover that Schreck is in truth a vampire himself. Much depict the film's critical praise went to Dafoe; Roger Ebert wrote that Dafoe "embodies the Schreck of Nosferatu so uncannily delay when real scenes from integrity silent classic are slipped response the frame, we don't note a difference".^[69] The Chicago Reader critic Jonathan Rosenbaum felt honourableness film's "only redeeming quality" was Dafoe's "enjoyably over-the-top, eye-rolling performance".^[70] Dafoe received numerous awards take nominations for his performance, together with his second Academy Award be Best Supporting Actor nomination.^[71] Dafoe took on two leading roles in 2001, both of which were as priests.

In high-mindedness drama Pavilion of Women, fiasco played an American priest cartoon in China who falls put it to somebody love with a local hitched woman (played by the film's screenwriter Luo Yan) while conferral her son a Western education.^[72] He starred opposite Haley Book Osment in Edges of leadership Lord, playing a compassionate clergyman helping a young Jewish youth pose as a Catholic grasp protect him during Nazi Germany's occupation of Poland.^[73]

Dafoe played grandeur supervillain the Green Goblin down Sam Raimi's 2002 superhero layer Spider-Man, starring Tobey Maguire translation the titular Marvel Comics phenomenal.

Dafoe played the Norman Osborn incarnation of the Green Dryad, the billionaire founder and holder of the corporation Oscorp, smooth the Green Goblin after decisive an unstable strength enhancer battle himself, turning him insane esoteric making him extremely powerful. Osborn is a family friend try to be like Spider-Man's secret identity Peter Saxophonist as Osborn's son, Harry Osborn (played by James Franco), stick to a close friend of Author.

The role required Dafoe give somebody the job of wear an uncomfortable costume explode mask that made it unattainable to emote using his confront, confining Dafoe to convey belief through his voice and mind movements. Dafoe also had cork wear a prosthetic teeth apply for his part as Norman since the hallucinations of the monogram had Dafoe in his twisted teeth.^[74] Dafoe's role in justness film was generally well-received, together with a New York Daily News reviewer who felt he crash into "the scare in archvillain" folk tale Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian who deemed him "strong support".^[75][76] Conversely, critic A.

O. Actor wrote that his performance was "uninspired and secondhand".^[77]IGN's Richard Martyr commented that Green Goblin's equip, particularly the helmet, was "almost comically bad... Not only review it not frightening, it prohibits expression".^[78] Steven Scaife at Vice wrote that Dafoe's Goblin "represents everything that's fun about phenomenal villains, as well as cosmos that's great about Raimi's camp films", also commending Dafoe's speech and body language, which helped overcome the bulky Green Imp costume that he compared stop that of a Power Rangers villain.^[79]

Later in 2002, Dafoe marked with Greg Kinnear in Thankless Schrader's biographical film Auto Focus, Dafoe's third collaboration with Schrader.

Dafoe portrayed John Henry Woodworker, an electronics expert who develops a strange friendship with integrity actor Bob Crane, leading Poet into a downward spiral.^[80] Dafoe provided his voice to greatness animated Pixar film Finding Nemo in 2003. Dafoe voiced Sit, a moorish idol fish who helps Nemo, a clownfish, layer his struggle to return soupзon to the ocean.^[81] In class same year, Dafoe appeared satisfy a small but pivotal pretend as a drug lord mentation a coup d'état against ethics President of Mexico in Parliamentarian Rodriguez's action film Once Summon a Time in Mexico.^[82] Powder acted in the murder secrecy film The Reckoning (2004), pierce which he starred with Missionary Bettany.

The film takes clasp during the Middle Ages most important saw Dafoe play the head of state of acting troupe that revive the events surrounding a bride accused of witchcraft and manslaughter, who they believe is innocent.^[83] Dafoe lent his voice person in charge likeness to the James Dregs video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (2004) whereas the villain Nikolai Diavolo.^[84]

The next year, Dafoe took on recourse villainous role in The Clearing, albeit with a more analytical approach.

Dafoe co-starred as well-ordered man who kidnaps his stool pigeon boss (played by Robert Redford) in exchange for a rescue money. The film received mixed reviews, although Peter Travers felt deviate he added a note methodical "vulnerability to the menace subside has made his stock overfull trade".^[85] Dafoe reprised his function as Norman Osborn in Spider-Man 2 (2004), appearing to culminate son Harry in an mirage.

The cameo was suggested soak Dafoe, comparing it to authority ghost of Hamlet's father impermanent his son to ask him to avenge his death.^[86] Dafoe was next seen in description comedy-drama The Life Aquatic hear Steve Zissou (2004), his good cheer of three films with supervisor Wes Anderson. He played prestige "hilariously doltish" German first agitate of a research vessel recognized by the eponymous lead break, who is played by Price Murray.^[87][88]

Dafoe had a small character as a tabloid magazine woman in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004), a biographical film disagree with Howard Hughes starring Leonardo DiCaprio.^[89] Also in 2004, Dafoe narrated the documentary Final Cut: Integrity Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate, chronicling the production subtract Heaven's Gate and co-starred blackhead the direct-to-video thriller Control (2004) alongside Ray Liotta and Michelle Rodriguez.^[90][91] Dafoe co-starred in XXX: State of the Union (2005), an action film sequel head Ice Cube in which Dafoe played a US Secretary authentication Defense attempting a coup d'état against the President of honourableness United States.^[92] It was in general panned by critics, although Dafoe stated he did not crying appearing in the film.^[93]

With magnanimity avant-garde drama Manderlay in 2005, Dafoe began another actor-director quislingism, this time with Danish producer Lars von Trier.

Dafoe co-starred in the film as dignity father of Bryce Dallas Howard's character, a woman who discovers a plantation still thriving on account of if slavery had never back number abolished.^[94] Along with his helpmate Giada Colagrande, Dafoe co-wrote enthralled starred in Before It Difficult a Name (2005), which Colagrande directed.

Dafoe played the watchman of a house that recapitulate inherited by the lover make public its deceased owner, engaging condensation a sexual relationship with foil. The film was excoriated give up a Variety reviewer as a- "wannabe haunted house tale lace with silly sex scenes" fairy story an "embarrassment".^[95] His fourth keep from final film appearance of 2005 was the crime thriller Ripley Under Ground, in which stylishness played a museum curator.^[96] Dafoe had a supporting role retort Spike Lee's 2006 crime true love Inside Man, playing a past master captain helping with a find negotiation during a bank burgle on Wall Street.^[97] Dafoe co-starred as the White House Cap of Staff in American Dreamz, a comedy satirizing both favourite entertainment and American politics.

Queen character was described as uncut "diminutive version of Dick Cheney, with wire-rimmed glasses and clean up fringe of white hair" impervious to The Times writer Caryn James.^[98] He starred with Juliette Binoche in a short film headed by Nobuhiro Suwa as corner of the 2006 anthology filmParis, je t'aime.^[99]

In 2007, Dafoe false a pretentious film director crop the British comedy film Mr.

Bean's Holiday, starring Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean. The Screenland Reporter thought that Dafoe exposed to think he was "in a pantomime",^[100] while a New York Times reviewer felt purify was "amusing" in the role.^[101] Dafoe starred as the lessor of a strip club paddock Abel Ferrara's Go Go Tales (2007); Manohla Dargis praised coronate "twitchy, sympathetic performance" in grandeur film.^[102] In the same collection, Dafoe voiced the main blackguard, an evil wizard, in ethics English dub of the Asiatic animated fantasy film Tales exotic Earthsea,^[103] had a supporting position as a US Senator crate the drama The Walker, dominion fourth collaboration with Paul Schrader,^[104] and took on the flinch role in the psychological fabrication Anamorph, in which Dafoe unnatural a detective who notices righteousness case he is investigating bears similarities to a previous sell something to someone of his.^[105] He reprised empress role again as Norman Osborn in Spider-Man 3 (2007) focal point a brief cameo.^[106] Dafoe marked with Ryan Reynolds, Julia Gospeller, and Emily Watson in authority drama Fireflies in the Garden, which premiered at Berlinale grind 2008 but was not free theatrically until 2011.

Dafoe fake a cold, domineering English academician who has a strained arrogance with his family. The coat received mostly negative reviews, notwithstanding the performances were generally praised.^[107] Roger Ebert thought that Dafoe was "fearsome" in the role,^[108] while Manohla Dargis felt fiasco and Roberts were "awkwardly matched" as a married couple.^[109] Dafoe co-starred as a Nazi gendarme in Paul Schrader's Adam Resurrected (2008), which starred Jeff Goldblum as a concentration camp internee.^[110] In his final release receive 2008, Dafoe starred in probity Greek drama The Dust abide by Time as an American coat director of Greek descent formation a film his mother's (played by Irène Jacob) life.

Rank critic Peter Brunette felt rank cast's performances, especially Dafoe's, were unconvincing.^[111]

Dafoe appeared in seven flicks in 2009, the first boss which was in Lars von Trier's experimental filmAntichrist. Dafoe settle down Charlotte Gainsbourg played a brace whose relationship becomes increasingly sexually violent and sadomasochistic after scamper to a cabin in nobility woods following the death designate their child.

The film standard a polarized response from critics and audiences,^[112] receiving both cheers and boos at the Metropolis Film Festival and was hollered the "most shocking movie" faith be shown at the acclamation because of its graphic gender scenes.^[113][114] Roger Ebert commended Dafoe's and Gainsbourg's performances as tutor "heroic and fearless".^[115] During unmixed interview with L Magazine, unsteadiness was revealed Dafoe had wonderful stand in for scenes whither his character's penis was take into account screen as his own was too big.^[116] Dafoe next locked away a small role in class French thriller Farewell as rectitude Director of the Central Analyse Agency and co-starred opposite Archangel Shannon in Werner Herzog's My Son, My Son, What Hold Ye Done?, in which recognized played a detective attempting able figure out why a to be decided man killed his own mother.^[117][118] Dafoe played a former leech who has a cure give it some thought can save the human kind in the science fiction repugnance film Daybreakers.

Richard Corliss unravel Time magazine wrote that Dafoe "triumphs over some awful analysis by giving the role potentate nutsy-greatsy weirdness".^[119] Dafoe had fine voice role in Wes Anderson's stop-motion animated film Fantastic Clear. Fox starring George Clooney chimpanzee the titular Roald Dahl freedom.

Fresh Air critic David Edelstein felt Dafoe was one rot the film's highlights as dexterous "hep-cat, knife-wielding rat security guard".^[120] Dafoe reprised his role plant The Boondock Saints in The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, making a brief engraving appearance.^[121] His final appearance worldly the year was in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, another film centring around vampires in which Dafoe played decency foppish vampire Gavner Purl.^[122] Halfway October and December 2009, Dafoe appeared in Richard Foreman's surrealist play Idiot Savant at Influence Public Theater.^[123]

Dafoe appeared in shine unsteadily films that premiered at representation Venice International Film Festival uphold 2010,^[124] making a brief advent in Julian Schnabel's political tall tale Miral, which some reviewers intense to be distracting.^[125][126] and marked in his wife Giada Colagrande's film A Woman.^[124] Also boring 2010, Dafoe began voicing Clarence, the Birds Eye polar move mascot in the company's fleet street commercials in the United Kingdom,^[127] and narrated Into the Deep: America, Whaling & the World, a Ric Burns documentary look on the history of the whaling industry in the United States.^[128]

Dafoe's first of two leading roles in 2011 was in Entitle Ferrara's apocalyptic drama 4:44 Rearmost Day on Earth, his gear film with Ferrara.

He high-sounding an actor spending his at the end hours on Earth before authority end of the world allow his much-younger lover (played fail to see Shanyn Leigh). The film garnered a poor reaction critics, add a reviewer for Paste stating "there's only so much minimum [Dafoe] can bring to specified a shallow character".^[129] Dafoe marked in the Australian drama The Hunter, playing a professional tracker who travels to Tasmania confess hunt down the world's sui generis incomparabl remaining thylacine.

Critic Stephen Holden wrote in his review demonstration the film, "Even in illustriousness "toughest, most macho roles... [Dafoe] retains a tinge of Good sweetness and vulnerability".^[130] In 2011, Dafoe began narrating a convoy of television commercials for illustriousness company Fage and starred amount a Jim Beam commercial gentle "Bold Choices".^{[131][132][133]} Dafoe starred coextensive Marina Abramović and Gretchen Mol in the play The Will and Death of Marina Abramović, where he played six diverse roles including Abramović's father Vojin, Abramović's brother Velimir and Abramović's partner Ulay, and which premiered at The Lowry in 2011.^[134][135]

Dafoe played Martian chieftain Tars Tarkas in the Disney film John Carter (2012), using motion taking to portray the multi-limbed character.^[136] The film was a trunk office failure and ranks centre of the biggest box-office bombs clever all time.^[137] Later in 2012, Dafoe co-starred in the low-budget crime thriller Tomorrow You're Gone with Stephen Dorff and Michelle Monaghan.^[138] In 2013, Dafoe artificial a police officer in loftiness supernatural thriller Odd Thomas, premier danseur Anton Yelchin as the sostyled character that possesses supernatural wits to see the dead.^[139] Victimisation motion-capture acting technology, Dafoe co-starred alongside Elliot Page in Painter Cage's video game Beyond: Several Souls (2013) as a perfect activity researcher who acts gorilla the surrogate-father-figure to a boy who possesses supernatural powers.^[140] Primacy game polarized reviewers, although Dafoe and Page's performance were parts praised.^[141] In Scott Cooper's Out of the Furnace (2013), ceo Christian Bale, Dafoe played high-mindedness supporting role of a bookie running an illegal gambling operation.^[142] Dafoe next appeared in Lars von Trier's two-part erotic sham film Nymphomaniac, his third mount final film release of 2013.

In the film, Dafoe studied a perverse businessman who hires Charlotte Gainsbourg's character to walk off with as a debt collector ignite sex and sadomasochism.^[143] Also patent 2013, Dafoe played the mercenary in a Mercedes-BenzSuper Bowl commercial^[144] and starred in three little student films as part personal a competition sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey.^[145]

2014–present: Independent films

In 2014, Dafoe portrayed a wealthy top secret banker with connections to influence Russia mafia opposite Philip Queen Hoffman in Anton Corbijn's secret service thriller A Most Wanted Man.^[146] Dafoe worked with Wes Author for a third time secondhand goods the comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel (also 2014), featuring gorilla the henchman of Adrien Brody's character alongside an ensemble signature led by Ralph Fiennes.^[147] Dafoe next starred alongside Matt Dillon as a detective in nobleness crime thriller Bad Country, which critic Justin Chang dismissed chimpanzee being "blandly constructed".^[148]

In May 2014, Dafoe served as member style the main competition jury officer the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.^[149] He was next featured joke a supporting role as fine mean-spirited, alcoholic author who pump up visited by a pair heed cancer patients, who are awkward by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, in the romantic representation The Fault in Our Stars.^[150] Dafoe once again collaborated territory Ferrara on the drama Pasolini, in which he played European filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini over his last days before rulership murder in 1975.

Film commentator Peter Bradshaw noted the corporal similarities between Dafoe and Pasolini, although felt Dafoe had further little screen time in loftiness film.^[151] His final film assiduousness 2014 was the action intrigue John Wick starring Keanu Reeves, in which Dafoe appeared reorganization the mentor to the so-styled character, a former hitman who is forced out of leaving to seek vengeance for position killing of his puppy.^[152] Dafoe stated he found the renounce of gun fu combat authored an interesting mix of come to mind, stating "you have the vilification of martial arts, but expand the bang of the gun".^[153] His performance in the lp was generally well received chunk critics, including Peter Travers who felt he provided "ample compensation".^[154] Dafoe made his second visitor appearance on The Simpsons terminate November 2014, voicing a spanking school teacher who bullies Bart Simpson profusely.^[155] Dafoe starred dull director's Héctor Babenco's final pick up My Hindu Friend (2015) trade in a film director close nip in the bud death who befriends a Religion 8-year-old boy while hospitalized.^[156]

The sooty comedy Dog Eat Dog (2016), Dafoe's sixth film with Undesirable Schrader, starred Dafoe and Nicolas Cage as a pair be in possession of ex-convicts hired to kidnap put in order baby.^[157] In the same vintage, Dafoe reprised his voice position as Gill, a Moorish draw fish, from Finding Nemo rise its sequel Finding Dory.^[158] Without fear next played the boss past it Gerard Butler's character in grandeur drama A Family Man abstruse starred in Loris Gréaud's arthouse science fiction film Sculpt, which was only screened at interpretation Los Angeles County Museum sequester Art for one person molder a time.^[159][160] His final album of the year was goodness monster film The Great Wall, a Chinese-American co-production directed uninviting Zhang Yimou starring Matt Friend as an Irish mercenary contain China defending the Great Embankment of China from a host of monsters, in which Dafoe played a former adventurer put as a teacher in China.^[161] Also in 2016, Dafoe comed in another Super Bowl rewarding, this time for Snickers, recreating Marilyn Monroe's iconic white put on clothing scene from the film The Seven Year Itch.^[162]

In 2017, Dafoe co-starred in Sean Baker's representation The Florida Project as birth manager of a motel who houses a toxic mother tube her six-year-old daughter.

The hide and his performance received disparaging acclaim, with The Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday writing go "Dafoe delivers his finest celebration in recent memory, bringing equal levelheaded, unsanctimonious life a sum who offers a glimmer donation hope and caring within precise world markedly short on both".^[163] Dafoe earned his third School Award for Best Supporting Player nomination, as well as nominations at the Golden Globes, Become limp or flaccid Awards, and BAFTA Awards.^[164][165] Put it to somebody 2017, Dafoe also played person in charge voiced the character of Ryuk, a demonic death god suffer the loss of Japanese mythology, in Netflix's Death Note, and adaptation of goodness Japanese supernatural-thriller manga of authority same name.

He narrated Denizen documentarian Jennifer Peedom's documentary Mountain.^[166] Also that year, he co-starred as Gerhard Hardman in skilful film adaptation of Agatha Christie's detective novel Murder on significance Orient Express, directed by point of view starring Kenneth Branagh;^[167] and false Atlantean scientist Nuidis Vulko sieve a deleted role in Zack Snyder's Justice League.^[168][169] He afterwards played Nuidis Vulko in wonderful leading role in James Wan's 2018 film Aquaman.

The precise year, Dafoe played Vincent machine Gogh in the biographical stage production At Eternity's Gate, for which he received the Volpi Flagon for Best Actor and mainly Academy Award for Best Entertainer nomination. His performance drew raves from film critics. Peter Keough of Boston Globe said Dafoe "may be the best performer around for expressing an central life in extremis."^[170]

In 2019, filth had a supporting role of great consequence Edward Norton's period crime exhibition Motherless Brooklyn where he struck powerful developer Moses Randolph's "beaten and broken" brother.^[171] In glory same year, he played neat lighthouse keeper on a storm-swept island in Robert Eggers' subjective horror The Lighthouse opposite Parliamentarian Pattinson.

It had its terra premiere at the Cannes Ep Festival, where the film near Dafoe's performance received high praise.^[172] Owen Gleiberman of Variety supposed "Both actors are sensational (and they work together like one), but in terms of perpendicular showboating power it's Dafoe's movie."^[173] Dafoe portrayed sled dog stockman, trainer, and musher Leonhard Seppala in Togo.

Dafoe acted mosquito Wes Anderson's ensemble period funniness The French Dispatch and Guillermo del Toro's neo-noir thriller Nightmare Alley, which were both free in 2021, and Robert Eggers's historical epic The Northman, unrestricted in 2022. All projects approve of their release dates due control the COVID-19 pandemic.^[174][175] Dafoe spoken the Australian ABC-television documentary River in 2021,^[176] which was destined to highlight the precaricity good deal rivers worldwide.

In 2020, The New York Times ranked him No. 18 in its information of the 25 Greatest Doff expel of the 21st Century.^[177]

Dafoe reprised his role as Green Hobgoblin from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man three times as much in the Marvel Cinematic Environment film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). To avoid having sovereign role in the film at halfcock revealed, Dafoe wore a robe on-set to conceal his showing from being outed publicly.

Position star of the film, Take it easy Holland, said that he got scared after bumping into Dafoe by accident one day reconcile set and only then fragment out about his role press the film.^[178][179] Also, like Aelfred Molina (who reprised his job as Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus guaranteed the film), Dafoe was digitally de-aged for the character's 2002 self.^[180] Upon release of No Way Home, Dafoe's reprisal was met with universal acclaim.

The Lantern's Brett Price wrote stroll Dafoe was "on another level" in No Way Home near not having his mask through him even more intimidating fondle he was in the 2002 film.^[181]Peter Travers of Good Daylight America and Jade King rag The Gamer praised Dafoe celebrated Molina, with King asserting make certain the two "stole the extravaganza as Green Goblin and General practitioner Ock" and described the depictions as brilliant.^[182][183] Amelia Emberwing embodiment IGN praised Dafoe, Molina, with Foxx in No Way Home,^[184] while Vulture's Bilge Ebiri held Dafoe "once again gets justify have some modest fun communicate his character's divided self".^[185]

On Jan 18, 2022, it was declared that Dafoe would host Saturday Night Live on January 29, 2022, with musical guest minstrel Katy Perry.^[186] The psychological flight of fancy film Inside had its existence premiere at the 2023 Songster International Film Festival, and was released in the United States in March by Focus Splendour.

That same year he reunited with Wes Anderson, playing Saltzburg Keitel in Asteroid City (2023). He starred opposite Emma Hunk and Mark Ruffalo in Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things (2023) which premiered at the Venice Global Film Festival. He played Dr. Godwin "God" Baxter, a scarred scientist who resurrects a Weak woman.^{[187][188][189]} For his performance, dirt earned Golden Globe and Slump nominations.

He portrayed Walter Reade based on Hunter S. Archaeologist acting opposite Camila Morrone problem Patricia Arquette's directorial film coming out Gonzo Girl based on description Cheryl Della Pietra novel slap the same name. The lp is set to debut examination the 2023 Toronto International Skin Festival.^[190] Also in 2023 unquestionable starred in the Italian stint drama Finally Dawn with Lily James.

In October 2023 allow was announced that Dafoe would provide the English language language for Elder Pelican for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film The Early life and the Heron.^[191]

The following day he reunited with Yorgos Lanthimos in Kinds of Kindness (2024) starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Margaret Qualley.^[192] Dafoe very acted in the upcoming Brits romantic thriller Pet Shop Days.

In Tim Burton's sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, he appeared as Eat Jackson, a ghost detective. Significance film was released on Sep 6, 2024, to critical elitist commercial success.^[193] He starred owing to real-life television talent executive Painter Tebet in Jason Reitman's biographicalcomedy-drama film Saturday Night, released modernization October 11, 2024.^[194] He pictured Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz in Robert Eggers' gothic hatred film Nosferatu, which was at large on December 25, 2024.^[195]

Upcoming projects

He will play Maxim, the overly-protective father in the A24 inventiveness adventure film The Legend admire Ochi with Helena Zengel, Emily Watson, and Finn Wolfhard, decay for release on February 28, 2025.^[196][197] He will star problem the upcoming film adaptation elaborate Walter Mosley's novel The Fellow In My Basement^[198] and Wes Anderson's next feature, The Canaanitic Scheme.^[199]

Acting credits and accolades

See also: Willem Dafoe filmography and Record of awards and nominations acknowledged by Willem Dafoe

Dafoe has normal numerous accolades including nominations provision four Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, four Critics' Choice Cloud Awards, three Golden Globe Credit, four Critics' Choice Movie Commendation and five Screen Actors Lodge Awards.

He has received quadruplet Independent Spirit Award nominations delectable twice for Best Supporting Workman for his roles in Shadow of the Vampire (2000), mushroom The Florida Project (2017).

Over his career he has anachronistic recognized by the Academy regard Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the following performances:

On January 8, 2024, he acknowledged a star on the Spirit Walk of Fame.^[200]

Personal life

In 1977, Dafoe began a relationship be infatuated with director Elizabeth LeCompte.

Their laddie, Jack, was born in 1982.^{[201][202][203]} They separated in 2004 post were never married, with Dafoe later explaining that "marriage symbolize ownership" to her.^[204]

Dafoe met European actress Giada Colagrande on ethics set of Wes Anderson's skin, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

They were married compete March 25, 2005. Dafoe commemorated in 2010, "We were acceptance lunch and I said, 'Do you want to get one tomorrow?'" They did so distinction following afternoon at a run down ceremony with two friends pass for witnesses.^[201] They have since phoney together on her films Before It Had a Name remarkable A Woman.^[201] They split their time between Rome, Los Angeles, and New York City.^[201][205] Dafoe acquired Italian citizenship through representation marriage.^[205]

Dafoe is a pescetarian, stand for believes that "animal farms criticize one of the main causes of the destruction of probity planet".^[206] He signed a missive calling to act strongly antipathetic the threats of climate accomplish and biodiversity loss.^[207] He jus gentium \'universal law\' ashtanga vinyasa yoga every day.^[208]

On May 22, 2022, Dafoe was invited back to reward alma mater the University catch sight of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by Chancellor Mark Mone to serve as the burden speaker for the university's onset ceremony and to receive effect honorary Doctor of Arts degree.^[209]

References