Willem Dafoe
William James "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) 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
- 2026 · Werwulf as
- 2025 · Pet Shop Days as Francis
- 2025 · The Man in My Basement as Anniston Bennett
- 2025 · Late Fame as Ed Saxberger
- 2025 · The Birthday Party as Marcos Timoleon
- 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 · run 002 as
- 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
- 2022 · Dead for a Dollar as Joe Cribbens
- 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 of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun as Albert 'the Abacus'
- 2021 · River as Narrator
- 2021 · The Card Counter as Gordo
- 2021 · Zack Snyder's Justice League as Vulko
- 2020 · Sportin' Life as Self
- 2020 · Siberia as Clint
- 2020 · Tommaso as Tommaso
- 2019 · Togo as Leonhard Seppala
- 2019 · Motherless Brooklyn as Paul Randolph
- 2019 · The Lighthouse as Thomas Wake
- 2019 · Love, Antosha as Self
- 2019 · Manou the Swift as Manou's Father (voice)
- 2018 · Opus Zero as Paul
- 2018 · Aquaman as Nuidis Vulko
- 2018 · Friedkin Uncut as Self
- 2017 · Murder on the Orient Express as Gerhard Hardman
- 2017 · The Florida Project as Bobby
- 2017 · What Happened to Monday as Terrence Settman
- 2016 · The Great Wall as Ballard
- 2016 · Dog Eat Dog as Mad Dog
- 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 · 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 · Out of the Furnace as John Petty
- 2013 · Saving Norman as Lionel Pembrooke
- 2012 · John Carter as Tars Tarkas
- 2011 · The Hunter as Martin David
- 2010 · Conan as Self
- 2010 · A Woman as Max Oliver
- 2010 · My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done as Detective Hank Havenhurst
- 2010 · Daybreakers as Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac
- 2009 · Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant as Gavner Purl
- 2009 · Fantastic Mr. Fox as Rat (voice)
- 2009 · Antichrist as He
- 2008 · Adam Resurrected as Commandat Klein
- 2008 · Fireflies in the Garden as Charles Waechter
- 2007 · Anamorph as Stan Aubray
- 2007 · The Procedure as Christopher
- 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
- 2007 · The Walker as Larry Lockner
- 2006 · Paris Je T'aime as Le cow-boy (Place des Victoires)
- 2006 · Inside Man as John Darius
- 2006 · American Dreamz as Chief of Staff
- 2005 · The Colbert Report as
- 2005 · Before It Had a Name as Leslie
- 2005 · Manderlay as Grace's Father
- 2005 · xXx: State of the Union as Gen. George Octavius Deckert
- 2004 · The Aviator as Roland Sweet
- 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
- 2004 · The Reckoning as Martin
- 2003 · Once Upon a Time in Mexico as Armando Barillo
- 2003 · Finding Nemo as Gill (voice)
- 2002 · Spider-Man as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
- 2001 · Pavilion of Women as Father Andre
- 2000 · Animal Factory as Earl Copen
- 2000 · Bullfighter as Father Ramirez
- 2000 · Shadow of the Vampire as Max Schreck
- 2000 · American Psycho as Donald Kimball
- 1999 · New Rose Hotel as X
- 1999 · The Boondock Saints as Paul Smecker
- 1998 · Lulu on the Bridge as Dr. Van Horn
- 1997 · The Wonderful World of Disney as
- 1997 · Speed 2: Cruise Control as Geiger
- 1996 · Victory as Axel Heyst
- 1996 · The English Patient as David Caravaggio
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1995 · The Night and the Moment as Lo scrittore
- 1994 · The Kingdom as Grand Duc
- 1994 · Clear and Present Danger as John Clark
- 1994 · Tom & Viv as Tom Eliot
- 1993 · Body of Evidence as Frank Dulaney
- 1992 · Light Sleeper as John LeTour
- 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
- 1986 · Platoon as Sergeant Elias Grodin
- 1985 · To Live and Die in L.A. as Rick Masters
- 1984 · Roadhouse 66 as Johnny Harte
- 1984 · Streets of Fire as Raven Shaddock
- 1984 · The Loveless as Vance
- 1984 · Atalanta Strategy as Immigration Staff
- 1983 · The Hitchhiker as Jeffrey Hunt
- 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 · Cuddle as Dante
- 2025 · Avrio Vrady as Dancing man
- 2025 · Grande Envie as Count
- 2024 · Can Creativity Save the World? as Self
- 2023 · Gonzo Girl as Walker Reade
- 2023 · The Wild One as Narrator (voice)
- 2023 · Inside as Nemo
- 2022 · Stasera c’è Cattelan su Raidue as Self
- 2022 · 7 Deaths of Maria Callas as Film Actor
- 2022 · Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home as Self
- 2021 · Maresco / Pasolini as Self
- 2020 · Babenco: Tell Me When I Die as Self
- 2020 · Wim Wenders, Desperado as Self
- 2020 · The Last Thing He Wanted as Richard McMahon
- 2018 · At Eternity's Gate as Vincent van Gogh
- 2017 · Mountain as Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · Death Note as Ryuk (voice)
- 2017 · Ballad of a Righteous Merchant as Self
- 2016 · Father as James Verdun
- 2016 · Sculpt as
- 2015 · Don't F*#% With John Wick as Self
- 2014 · Pasolini as Pier Paolo Pasolini
- 2014 · A Most Wanted Man as Tommy Brue
- 2013 · Love's Routine as Barry
- 2013 · The Smile Man as Willem
- 2013 · Odd Thomas as Wyatt Porter
- 2012 · Tomorrow You're Gone as The Buddha
- 2010 · Miral as Eddie
- 2010 · The Making of Daybreakers as Self
- 2009 · The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day as Paul Smecker
- 2007 · To Each His Own Cinema as (segment "Occupations") (archive footage)
- 2005 · Ripley Under Ground as Neil Murchison
- 2005 · Jiminy Glick in Lalawood as Willem Dafoe (uncredited)
- 2005 · On the Set: 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' as Self / Klaus D.
- 2004 · The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou as Klaus Daimler
- 2004 · Behind the Scenes of 'Spider-Man' as Self
- 2003 · Abel Ferrara: Not Guilty as
- 2003 · Rockets Redglare! as Self
- 2001 · Edges of the Lord as Priest
- 1999 · eXistenZ as Gas
- 1988 · The Last Temptation of Christ as Jesus
- Future · Tenzing as Colonel John Hunt
- 2012 · 4:44 Last Day on Earth as Cisco
- 2009 · Farewell as Feeney
- 2002 · The Spider-Man Story as Self
- 1999 · The Directors as Self
- 1997 · Affliction as Rolfe Whitehouse
- 1996 · Basquiat as The Electrician
- 1993 · Faraway, So Close! as Emit Flesti
- 1993 · Brace Up! as Colonel Alexander Ignatyevich Vershinin
- 1993 · Rhyme 'Em to Death as
- 1992 · North on Evers as
- 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
- 1988 · Off Limits as Buck McGriff
- 1987 · Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as Elephant Grass (voice)
- 1985 · O Panama as
- 1984 · New York Nights as Boyfriend
- 1980 · Heaven's Gate as Willy (uncredited)
- Future · Tropico as Raymond
- Future · A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge
- 2025 · The Souffleur as Lucius
- 2024 · Nosferatu: An Inside Look as Self
- 2024 · Jesus Goes to Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Interior (The Spectator) as Narrator
- 2023 · Willem Dafoe as
- 2022 · Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone as
- 2022 · Mostra, Venise as Self
- 2022 · Finding Satoshi as Narrator
- 2017 · Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait as Self
- 2008 · The Dust of Time as A
- Future · American Nails as
- 2022 · Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus as Self / Grand Duc
- 2022 · Il coraggio di essere Franco as Sé stesso
- 2022 · Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious as Self
- 2021 · Why Are We (Not) Creative? as Self
- 2020 · Wim Wenders - Von Filmen und Träumen 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 · Brothers in Arms as Self
- 2018 · Vox Lux as Narrator (voice)
- 2018 · Theatron. Romeo Castellucci as
- 2018 · Under the Rainbow: Making The Florida Project as Self
- 2017 · NHK WORLD PRIME as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · Piazza Vittorio as Himself
- 2017 · Sanctuary as Narrator
- 2016 · Nelson Algren Live as Role1 / Frankie Machine / Role2 / Blackie Cavanaugh
- 2016 · My Hindu Friend as Diego Fairman
- 2016 · Mind the Gap as Self
- 2015 · Fukushima: A Nuclear Story as Narrator
- 2015 · The Making of A Most Wanted Man as Self
- 2015 · John Wick: Calling in the Cavalry as Self
- 2014 · SPYMASTER: John le Carré in Hamburg as (archive footage)
- 2013 · The Benaki Museum as Narrator (voice)
- 2012 · Bob Wilson's Life & Death of Marina Abramovic as Self
- 2010 · Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World as Narrator
- 2007 · Wintergasten as
- 2007 · Cannes: All Access as Self
- 2007 · Voom Portraits as Self
- 2005 · This Is an Adventure as Self
- 2005 · Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal as Self
- 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)
- 2003 · Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.' as Self
- 2003 · Overnight as Self
- 2002 · Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure as Hunter (voice)
- 2002 · Auto Focus as John Carpenter
- 2002 · Spider-Mania as Self
- 2002 · Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man' as Self
- 2001 · A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting 'Platoon' as Self
- 1999 · Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle as Narrator
- 1997 · Wrong Guys as Jack Straw
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1993 · White Homeland Commando as Karl
- 1992 · White Sands as Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal
- 1991 · Fishing with John as Self
- 1983 · The Hunger as 2nd Phone Booth Youth
- Future · The Sleeping Shepherd as
- 1988 · Location Production Footage: The Last Temptation of the Christ as Self