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Willem Dafoe

American actor (1955-)

AI overview

Willem Dafoe is an American actor born in 1955 who has had a long career in film and theater. He is notable for his distinctive appearance and intense performances in a wide variety of roles across different genres.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Born: 1955-07-22
Works: 4

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

William James "Willem" Dafoe (/dəˈfoʊ/ də-FOH; 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 a Volpi Cup Award for Best Actor, with nominations for four Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and four Golden Globe Awards. He received an Honorary…

Known for

Late Fame — Ed Saxberger2026
The Birthday Party — Marcos Timoleon2026
The Souffleur — Lucius2026
Werwulf2026
The Resurrection of Christ2026
Pet Shop Days — Francis2025
The Legend of Ochi — Maxim2025
The Man in My Basement — Anniston Bennett2025
Zero — (voice)2025

Article

William James "Willem" Dafoe (/dəˈfoʊ/ də-FOH; 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 a Volpi Cup Award for Best Actor, with nominations for four Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and four Golden Globe Awards. He received an Honorary Golden Bear in 2018.

Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Dafoe made his film debut with an uncredited role in Heaven's Gate (1980). He is known for collaborating with both mainstream and auteur filmmakers such as Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Sam Raimi, Yorgos Lanthimos, Lars von Trier, Julian Schnabel, Andrew Stanton, Wes Anderson, and Robert Eggers. He received Academy Award nominations for playing a compassionate army sergeant in the war drama Platoon (1986), Max Schreck in the mystery film Shadow of the Vampire (2000), a kindly motel manager in the coming of age film The Florida Project (2017), and Vincent van Gogh in the biopic At Eternity's Gate (2018).