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
- 2025 · The Man in My Basement as Anniston Bennett
- 2025 · The Phoenician Scheme as Knave
- 2025 · Grande Envie as Count
- 2025 · The Legend of Ochi as Maxim
- 2024 · Nosferatu: An Inside Look as Self
- 2024 · Nosferatu as Prof. Albin Eberhart von Franz
- 2024 · Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as Jackson
- 2024 · Kinds of Kindness as Raymond / George / Omi
- 2024 · Can Creativity Save the World? as Self
- 2023 · Poor Things as Godwin Baxter
- 2023 · Asteroid City as Saltzburg Keitel
- 2022 · Dead for a Dollar as Joe Cribbens
- 2022 · Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home as Self
- 2022 · The Northman as Heimir the Fool
- 2022 · Finding Satoshi as Narrator
- 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 · The Card Counter as Gordo
- 2021 · Zack Snyder's Justice League as Vulko
- 2020 · Wim Wenders, Desperado as Self
- 2020 · Roy's World: Barry Gifford's Chicago as
- 2020 · The Last Thing He Wanted as Richard McMahon
- 2019 · Togo as Leonhard Seppala
- 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
- 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
- 2015 · Fukushima: A Nuclear Story as Narrator
- 2015 · John Wick: Calling in the Cavalry as Self
- 2015 · Don't F*#% With John Wick as Self
- 2014 · Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- 2014 · John Wick as Marcus
- 2014 · Pasolini as Pier Paolo Pasolini
- 2014 · SPYMASTER: John le Carré in Hamburg as (archive footage)
- 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 · The Benaki Museum as Narrator (voice)
- 2013 · Nymphomaniac: Vol. II as L
- 2013 · Out of the Furnace as John Petty
- 2013 · Odd Thomas as Wyatt Porter
- 2012 · 4:44 Last Day on Earth as Cisco
- 2012 · John Carter as Tars Tarkas
- 2011 · The Hunter as Martin David
- 2010 · Conan as Self
- 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 · Farewell as Feeney
- 2009 · Antichrist as He
- 2008 · Fireflies in the Garden as Charles Waechter
- 2007 · To Each His Own Cinema as (segment "Occupations") (archive footage)
- 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 · Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal as Self
- 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 · 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 · The Spider-Man Story as Self
- 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 · The Boondock Saints as Paul Smecker
- 1999 · The Directors as Self
- 1998 · Lulu on the Bridge as Dr. Van Horn
- 1998 · 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
- 1995 · The Night and the Moment as Lo scrittore
- 1994 · The Kingdom as Grand Duc
- 1994 · Clear and Present Danger as John Clark
- 1993 · Faraway, So Close! as Emit Flesti
- 1993 · Body of Evidence as Frank Dulaney
- 1991 · Flight of the Intruder as Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole
- 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
- 1987 · Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as Elephant Grass (voice)
- 1986 · Platoon as Sergeant Elias Grodin
- 1985 · To Live and Die in L.A. as Rick Masters
- 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 · A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge
- 2026 · Werwulf as
- 2025 · Pet Shop Days as Francis
- 2025 · The Souffleur as Lucius
- 2025 · Late Fame as Ed Saxberger
- 2025 · The Birthday Party as Marcos Timoleon
- 2025 · Avrio Vrady as Dancing man
- 2025 · Zero as (voice)
- 2024 · Jesus Goes to Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 · run 002 as
- 2024 · Saturday Night as David Tebet
- 2024 · Finally Dawn as Rufo Priori
- 2023 · Interior (The Spectator) as Narrator
- 2023 · Willem Dafoe as
- 2023 · Gonzo Girl as Walker Reade
- 2023 · The Wild One as Narrator (voice)
- 2023 · Inside as Nemo
- 2022 · Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone as
- 2022 · Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus as Self / Grand Duc
- 2022 · Stasera c’è Cattelan su Raidue as Self
- 2022 · Mostra, Venise as Self
- 2022 · 7 Deaths of Maria Callas as Film Actor
- 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
- 2021 · River as Narrator
- 2021 · Maresco / Pasolini as Self
- 2020 · Wim Wenders - Von Filmen und Träumen as Self
- 2020 · Babenco: Tell Me When I Die as Self
- 2020 · Sportin' Life as Self
- 2020 · Siberia as Clint
- 2020 · The Lighthouse: A Dark & Stormy Tale as Self
- 2020 · Tommaso as Tommaso
- 2019 · Vincent van Gogh Superstar as Vincent van Gogh (archive footage)
- 2019 · Love, Antosha as Self
- 2018 · Opus Zero as Paul
- 2018 · Brothers in Arms as Self
- 2018 · Friedkin Uncut as Self
- 2018 · Vox Lux as Narrator (voice)
- 2018 · Theatron. Romeo Castellucci as
- 2018 · Under the Rainbow: Making The Florida Project as Self
- 2017 · Mountain as Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · NHK WORLD PRIME as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · Piazza Vittorio as Himself
- 2017 · Death Note as Ryuk (voice)
- 2017 · Ballad of a Righteous Merchant as Self
- 2017 · Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait as Self
- 2017 · Sanctuary as Narrator
- 2016 · Father as James Verdun
- 2016 · Sculpt as
- 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 · The Making of A Most Wanted Man as Self
- 2014 · Bad Country as Bud Carter
- 2013 · Love's Routine as Barry
- 2013 · The Smile Man as Willem
- 2013 · Saving Norman as Lionel Pembrooke
- 2012 · Tomorrow You're Gone as The Buddha
- 2012 · Bob Wilson's Life & Death of Marina Abramovic as Self
- 2010 · Miral as Eddie
- 2010 · A Woman as Max Oliver
- 2010 · The Making of Daybreakers as Self
- 2010 · Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World as Narrator
- 2009 · The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day as Paul Smecker
- 2008 · The Dust of Time as A
- 2008 · Adam Resurrected as Commandat Klein
- 2007 · Wintergasten as
- 2007 · Cannes: All Access as Self
- 2007 · Voom Portraits as Self
- 2007 · Anamorph as Stan Aubray
- 2007 · The Procedure as Christopher
- 2007 · Go Go Tales as Ray Ruby
- 2005 · Ripley Under Ground as Neil Murchison
- 2005 · Manderlay as Grace's Father
- 2005 · This Is an Adventure as Self
- 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 · 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 · The Clearing as Arnold Mack
- 2004 · Behind the Scenes of 'Spider-Man' as Self
- 2003 · Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.' as Self
- 2003 · Abel Ferrara: Not Guilty as
- 2003 · Overnight as Self
- 2003 · Rockets Redglare! 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 · 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
- 1999 · New Rose Hotel as X
- 1999 · Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle as Narrator
- 1997 · Wrong Guys as Jack Straw
- 1996 · Victory as Axel Heyst
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1994 · Tom & Viv as Tom Eliot
- 1993 · Brace Up! as Colonel Alexander Ignatyevich Vershinin
- 1992 · Light Sleeper as John LeTour
- 1991 · Fishing with John as Self
- Future · Tropico as Raymond
- 1992 · White Sands as Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal
- Future · Tenzing as Colonel John Hunt
- 1988 · Location Production Footage: The Last Temptation of the Christ as Self
- 1985 · O Panama as
- 1984 · New York Nights as Boyfriend
- Future · The Sleeping Shepherd as
- Future · Cuddle as Dante
- Future · American Nails as
- 1993 · White Homeland Commando as Karl
- 1993 · Rhyme 'Em to Death as
- 1992 · North on Evers as
- 1990 · Wild at Heart as Bobby Peru
- 1988 · Off Limits as Buck McGriff
- 1984 · Roadhouse 66 as Johnny Harte
- 1984 · Streets of Fire as Raven Shaddock
- 1984 · The Loveless as Vance
- 1984 · Atalanta Strategy as Immigration Staff