
Willem Dafoe
William James "Willem" Dafoe is an American actor. Known for his prolific career portraying diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films, he is the recipient of various accolades, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor as well as nominations for four Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, four Golden Globe Awards, four Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and five Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has frequently collaborated with filmmakers Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Lars von Trier, Julian Schnabel, Wes Anderson, and Robert Eggers. Dafoe was a founding member of experimental theatre company The Wooster Group. He made his film debut with an uncredited role in Heaven's Gate (1980). Dafoe's early career includes credits for The Loveless (1982), Streets of Fire (1984), and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). He earned his first Academy Award nomination for the war drama Platoon (1986), followed by nominations for his roles in Shadow of the Vampire (2000), The Florida Project (2017), and the Vincent van Gogh biopic At Eternity's Gate (2018). He also gained acclaim and wide recognition for his roles as Jesus Christ in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and as the supervillain Norman Osborn 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). His other film appearance include roles in Mississippi Burning (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Wild at Heart (1990), Light Sleeper (1992), Body of Evidence (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), The English Patient (1996), Affliction (1997), New Rose Hotel(1998), Existenz (1999), The Boondock Saints (1999), American Psycho (2000), Auto Focus (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), Inside Man (2006), Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007), Antichrist (2009), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Nymphomaniac (2013), The Fault in Our Stars (2014), John Wick (2014), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Aquaman (2018), The Lighthouse (2019), Nightmare Alley (2021), Poor Things (2023), and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024).
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · The Phoenician Scheme as Knave
- 2025 · The Legend of Ochi as Maxim
- 2025 · Zero as (voice)
- 2024 · Nosferatu as Prof. Albin Eberhart von Franz
- 2024 · Saturday Night as David Tebet
- 2024 · Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as Jackson
- 2024 · Kinds of Kindness as Raymond / George / Omi
- 2024 · Finally Dawn as Rufo Priori
- 2023 · Poor Things as Godwin Baxter
- 2023 · Asteroid City as Saltzburg Keitel
- 2023 · Inside as Nemo
- 2022 · Dead for a Dollar as Joe Cribbens
- 2022 · Stasera c’è Cattelan su Raidue as Self
- 2022 · Mostra, Venise as Self - "Tapis Rouge" Guest
- 2022 · Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home as Self
- 2022 · The Northman as Heimir the Fool
- 2021 · Spider-Man: No Way Home as Norman Osborn / Green Goblin
- 2021 · Nightmare Alley as Clem Hoatley
- 2021 · The French Dispatch as Albert 'the Abacus'
- 2021 · The Card Counter as Gordo
- 2021 · Zack Snyder's Justice League as Vulko
- 2020 · Wim Wenders - Von Filmen und Träumen as Self
- 2020 · The Last Thing He Wanted as Richard McMahon
- 2019 · Togo as Leonhard Seppala
- 2019 · Celebrating Marvel's Stan Lee as Self / Norman Osborn/ Green Goblin (archive footage)
- 2019 · Motherless Brooklyn as Paul Randolph
- 2019 · The Lighthouse as Thomas Wake
- 2019 · Manou the Swift as Manou's Father (voice)
- 2018 · Aquaman as Nuidis Vulko
- 2018 · At Eternity's Gate as Vincent van Gogh
- 2018 · Vox Lux as Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · Mountain as Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · Murder on the Orient Express as Gerhard Hardman
- 2017 · NHK WORLD PRIME as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · The Florida Project as Bobby
- 2017 · Death Note as Ryuk (voice)
- 2017 · What Happened to Monday as Terrence Settman
- 2017 · Ballad of a Righteous Merchant as Self
- 2016 · The Great Wall as Ballard
- 2016 · Dog Eat Dog as Mad Dog
- 2016 · Father as James Verdun
- 2016 · A Family Man as Ed Blackridge
- 2016 · Finding Dory as Gill (voice)
- 2015 · Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- 2014 · Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- 2014 · John Wick as Marcus
- 2014 · Bad Country as Bud Carter
- 2014 · A Most Wanted Man as Tommy Brue
- 2014 · The Fault in Our Stars as Peter van Houten
- 2014 · The Grand Budapest Hotel as Jopling
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- 2014 · Off Camera with Sam Jones as Self
- 2013 · Nymphomaniac: Vol. II as L
- 2013 · Nymphomaniac: Vol. I as L
- 2013 · Out of the Furnace as John Petty
- 2013 · Odd Thomas as Wyatt Porter
- 2012 · John Carter as Tars Tarkas
- 2011 · The Hunter as Martin David
- 2010 · Conan as Self
- 2010 · Daybreakers as Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac
- 2009 · The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day as Paul Smecker
- 2009 · Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant as Gavner Purl
- 2009 · Fantastic Mr. Fox as Rat (voice)
- 2009 · Antichrist as He
- 2008 · Fireflies in the Garden as Charles Waechter
- 2007 · To Each His Own Cinema as (segment "Occupations") (archive footage)
- 2007 · Go Go Tales as Ray Ruby
- 2007 · Spider-Man 3 as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
- 2007 · Mr. Bean's Holiday as Carson Clay
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2006 · Paris Je T'aime as Le cow-boy (Place des Victoires)
- 2006 · Inside Man as John Darius
- 2005 · The Colbert Report as
- 2005 · Manderlay as Grace's Father
- 2005 · xXx: State of the Union as Gen. George Octavius Deckert
- 2004 · The Aviator as Roland Sweet
- 2004 · The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou as Klaus Daimler
- 2004 · Control as Dr. Michael Copeland
- 2004 · Kulturplatz as Self
- 2004 · The Clearing as Arnold Mack
- 2004 · Spider-Man 2 as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
- 2003 · Once Upon a Time in Mexico as Armando Barillo
- 2003 · Finding Nemo as Gill (voice)
- 2002 · Auto Focus as John Carpenter
- 2002 · Spider-Man as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
- 2000 · Animal Factory as Earl Copen
- 2000 · Shadow of the Vampire as Max Schreck
- 2000 · American Psycho as Donald Kimball
- 1999 · eXistenZ as Gas
- 1999 · New Rose Hotel as X
- 1999 · The Boondock Saints as Paul Smecker
- 1999 · The Directors as Self
- 1997 · Affliction as Rolfe Whitehouse
- 1997 · The Wonderful World of Disney as
- 1997 · Speed 2: Cruise Control as Geiger
- 1996 · The English Patient as David Caravaggio
- 1996 · Basquiat as The Electrician
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1994 · The Kingdom as Grand Duc
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1994 · Clear and Present Danger as John Clark
- 1993 · Body of Evidence as Frank Dulaney
- 1992 · Light Sleeper as John LeTour
- 1991 · Fishing with John as Self
- 1991 · Flight of the Intruder as Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole
- 1990 · Wild at Heart as Bobby Peru
- 1990 · Cry-Baby as Hateful Guard
- 1989 · Born on the Fourth of July as Charlie
- 1989 · The Simpsons as The Commandant / Jack Lassen (voice)
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Commandant (voice)
- 1989 · Triumph of the Spirit as Salamo Arouch
- 1988 · Mississippi Burning as Agent Alan Ward
- 1988 · The Last Temptation of Christ as Jesus
- 1986 · Platoon as Sergeant Elias Grodin
- 1985 · To Live and Die in L.A. as Rick Masters
- 1984 · Streets of Fire as Raven Shaddock
- 1983 · The Hitchhiker as Jeffrey Hunt
- 1983 · The Hunger as 2nd Phone Booth Youth
- 1980 · Heaven's Gate as Willy (uncredited)
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self - Presenter
- Future · Tropico as Raymond
- 2026 · Werwulf as
- 2025 · The Birthday Party as Marcos Timoleon
- 2024 · run 002 as
- 2023 · Gonzo Girl as Walker Reade
- 2023 · Pet Shop Days as Francis
- 2023 · The Wild One as Narrator (voice)
- 2022 · Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious as Self
- 2020 · Babenco: Tell Me When I Die as Self
- 2020 · Sportin' Life as Self
- 2020 · Wim Wenders, Desperado as Self
- 2020 · Siberia as Clint
- 2020 · Tommaso as Tommaso
- 2019 · Love, Antosha as Self
- 2018 · Opus Zero as Paul
- 2018 · Brothers in Arms as Self
- 2018 · Friedkin Uncut as Self
- 2017 · Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait as Self
- 2016 · My Hindu Friend as Diego Fairman
- 2015 · Fukushima: A Nuclear Story as Narrator
- 2015 · Don't F*#% With John Wick as Self
- 2015 · John Wick: Calling in the Cavalry as Self
- 2014 · Pasolini as Pier Paolo Pasolini
- 2013 · The Smile Man as Willem
- 2012 · Tomorrow You're Gone as The Buddha
- 2012 · 4:44 Last Day on Earth as Cisco
- 2010 · Miral as Eddie
- 2010 · My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done as Detective Hank Havenhurst
- 2010 · Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World as Narrator
- 2009 · Farewell as Feeney
- 2008 · The Dust of Time as A
- 2008 · Adam Resurrected as Commandat Klein
- 2007 · Wintergasten as
- 2007 · Voom Portraits as Self
- 2007 · Anamorph as Stan Aubray
- 2007 · The Walker as Larry Lockner
- 2006 · American Dreamz as Chief of Staff
- 2005 · Ripley Under Ground as Neil Murchison
- 2005 · Before It Had a Name as Leslie
- 2005 · This Is an Adventure as Self
- 2005 · Jiminy Glick in Lalawood as Willem Dafoe (uncredited)
- 2004 · The Reckoning as Martin
- 2003 · Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.' as Self
- 2003 · Overnight as Self
- 2003 · Rockets Redglare! as Self
- 2002 · Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure as Hunter (voice)
- 2001 · Edges of the Lord as Priest
- 2001 · Pavilion of Women as Father Andre
- 2001 · A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting 'Platoon' as Self
- 2000 · Bullfighter as Father Ramirez
- 1998 · Lulu on the Bridge as Dr. Van Horn
- 1995 · The Night and the Moment as Lo scrittore
- 1994 · Tom & Viv as Tom Eliot
- 1993 · Faraway, So Close! as Emit Flesti
- 1993 · Brace Up! as Colonel Alexander Ignatyevich Vershinin
- 1992 · White Sands as Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal
- 1988 · Off Limits as Buck McGriff
- 1987 · Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as Elephant Grass (voice)
- 1984 · Roadhouse 66 as Johnny Harte
- Future · The Sleeping Shepherd as
- Future · Late Fame as Ed Saxberger
- Future · American Nails as
- 1984 · The Loveless as Vance
- Future · A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge
- 2025 · Avrio Vrady as Dancing man
- 2025 · Grande Envie as Count
- 2025 · Willem Dafoe as
- 2024 · Nosferatu: An Inside Look as Self
- 2024 · Jesus Goes to Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 · Da Suisa - Tributo as Himself
- 2024 · Can Creativity Save the World? as Self
- 2023 · Interior (The Spectator) as Narrator
- 2022 · Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone as
- 2022 · Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus as Self / Grand Duc
- 2022 · 7 Deaths of Maria Callas as Film Actor
- 2022 · Il coraggio di essere Franco as Sé stesso
- 2022 · Finding Satoshi as Narrator
- 2021 · Why Are We (Not) Creative? as Self
- 2021 · River as Narrator
- 2021 · Maresco / Pasolini as Self
- 2020 · Roy's World: Barry Gifford's Chicago as
- 2020 · The Lighthouse: A Dark & Stormy Tale as Self
- 2019 · Vincent van Gogh Superstar as Vincent van Gogh (archive footage)
- 2018 · Theatron. Romeo Castellucci as
- 2017 · Piazza Vittorio as Himself
- 2017 · Sanctuary as Narrator
- 2016 · Nelson Algren Live as Role1 / Frankie Machine / Role2 / Blackie Cavanaugh
- 2005 · Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal as Self
- Future · The Souffleur as
- 2018 · Under the Rainbow: Making The Florida Project as Self
- 2016 · Sculpt as
- 2016 · Mind the Gap as Self
- 2015 · The Making of A Most Wanted Man as Self
- 2014 · SPYMASTER: John le Carré in Hamburg as (archive footage)
- 2013 · The Benaki Museum as Narrator (voice)
- 2013 · Love's Routine as Barry
- 2013 · Saving Norman as Lionel Pembrooke
- 2012 · Bob Wilson's Life & Death of Marina Abramovic as Self
- 2010 · A Woman as Max Oliver
- 2010 · The Making of Daybreakers as Self
- 2007 · Cannes: All Access as Self
- 2007 · The Procedure as Christopher
- 2005 · On the Set: 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' as Self / Klaus D.
- 2004 · Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart as
- 2004 · The Misbehavers as Self
- 2004 · Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate as Narrator (voice)
- 2004 · Behind the Scenes of 'Spider-Man' as Self
- 2003 · Abel Ferrara: Not Guilty as
- 2002 · Spider-Mania as Self
- 2002 · Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man' as Self
- 1999 · Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle as Narrator
- 1996 · Victory as Axel Heyst
- 1993 · White Homeland Commando as Karl
- 1992 · North on Evers as
- 1988 · Location Production Footage: The Last Temptation of the Christ as Self
- 1984 · New York Nights as Boyfriend
- Future · Cuddle as Dante
- 2002 · The Spider-Man Story as Self
- 1985 · O Panama as
- Future · The Man in My Basement as Anniston Bennett
- Future · Tenzing as Colonel John Hunt
- 1998 · Abel/Asia as Self (archival footage)
- 1997 · Wrong Guys as Jack Straw
- 1993 · Rhyme 'Em to Death as
- 1984 · Atalanta Strategy as Immigration Staff