Willem Dafoe

William James "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor, in addition to receiving nominations for four Academy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. He frequently collaborates with filmmakers Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Lars von Trier, Julian Schnabel, Wes Anderson, and Robert Eggers. Dafoe was an early member of experimental theater company The Wooster Group. He made his film debut in Heaven's Gate (1980), but was fired during production. He had his first leading role in the outlaw biker film The Loveless (1982) and then played the main antagonist in Streets of Fire (1984) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). He received his first Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actor) for his role as Sergeant Elias Grodin in Oliver Stone's war film Platoon (1986). In 1988, Dafoe played Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ and costarred in Mississippi Burning, both of which were controversial. After receiving his second Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actor) for portraying Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire (2000), Dafoe portrayed the supervillain Norman Osborn / Green Goblin 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) earning him the ...

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Finding Nemo (2003)

CuteFunnyEnjoyableFun

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Stanton
CAST:  Albert Brooks  •  Ellen DeGeneres  •  Alexander Gould  •  Willem Dafoe

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Stanton
CAST:  Albert Brooks  •  Ellen DeGeneres  •  Alexander Gould  •  Willem Dafoe

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

CleverCharmingFunnyBeautiful

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wes Anderson
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Meryl Streep  •  Jason Schwartzman  •  Bill Murray

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wes Anderson
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Meryl Streep  •  Jason Schwartzman  •  Bill Murray

Antichrist (2009)

SuspensefulViolentDisturbingDark

A grieving couple retreats to their cabin 'Eden' in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lars von Trier
CAST:  Willem Dafoe  •  Charlotte Gainsbourg  •  Storm Acheche Sahlstrøm

A grieving couple retreats to their cabin 'Eden' in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lars von Trier
CAST:  Willem Dafoe  •  Charlotte Gainsbourg  •  Storm Acheche Sahlstrøm

Inside Man (2006)

BrilliantHeistBrainyMind blowing

When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Jodie Foster  •  Clive Owen  •  Christopher Plummer

When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Jodie Foster  •  Clive Owen  •  Christopher Plummer

Adam Resurrected (2008)

Before the war, in Berlin, Adam was an entertainer- cabaret impresario, magician, musician-loved by all until he finds himself in a concentration camp, confronted by Commandant Klein. Adam survives the camp by becoming the Klein's "dog", entertaining him while his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Jeff Goldblum  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Derek Jacobi  •  Ayelet Zurer

Before the war, in Berlin, Adam was an entertainer- cabaret impresario, magician, musician-loved by all until he finds himself in a concentration camp, confronted by Commandant Klein. Adam survives the camp by becoming the Klein's "dog", entertaining him while his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Jeff Goldblum  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Derek Jacobi  •  Ayelet Zurer

Affliction (1998)

A small town policeman must investigate a suspicious hunting accident. The investigation and other events result in him slowly disintegrating mentally.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Nick Nolte  •  James Coburn  •  Sissy Spacek  •  Willem Dafoe

A small town policeman must investigate a suspicious hunting accident. The investigation and other events result in him slowly disintegrating mentally.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Nick Nolte  •  James Coburn  •  Sissy Spacek  •  Willem Dafoe

American Dreamz (2006)

The new season of "American Dreamz," the wildly popular television singing contest, has captured the country's attention, as the competition looks to be between a young Midwestern gal and a showtunes-loving young man from Orange County. Recently awakened President ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Weitz
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Dennis Quaid  •  Mandy Moore  •  Willem Dafoe

The new season of "American Dreamz," the wildly popular television singing contest, has captured the country's attention, as the competition looks to be between a young Midwestern gal and a showtunes-loving young man from Orange County. Recently awakened President ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Weitz
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Dennis Quaid  •  Mandy Moore  •  Willem Dafoe

American Psycho (2000)

DarkViolentBrilliantDisturbing

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mary Harron
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Reese Witherspoon  •  Justin Theroux  •  Josh Lucas

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mary Harron
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Reese Witherspoon  •  Justin Theroux  •  Josh Lucas

Anamorph (2007)

A psychological thriller based on the concept of anamorphosis, a painting technique that manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Miller
CAST:  Willem Dafoe  •  Scott Speedman  •  Peter Stormare  •  Clea DuVall

A psychological thriller based on the concept of anamorphosis, a painting technique that manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Miller
CAST:  Willem Dafoe  •  Scott Speedman  •  Peter Stormare  •  Clea DuVall

Animal Factory (2000)

Suburbanite Ron is spoiled, young and not overly worried about the marijuana charges leveled against him. But, after being made out to be a drug dealer, he faces a five-year jail sentence in San Quentin State Prison. Physically frail and unaccustomed to his rough ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Buscemi
CAST:  Willem Dafoe  •  Edward Furlong  •  Danny Trejo  •  Mark Boone Junior

Suburbanite Ron is spoiled, young and not overly worried about the marijuana charges leveled against him. But, after being made out to be a drug dealer, he faces a five-year jail sentence in San Quentin State Prison. Physically frail and unaccustomed to his rough ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Buscemi
CAST:  Willem Dafoe  •  Edward Furlong  •  Danny Trejo  •  Mark Boone Junior

Auto Focus (2002)

A successful TV star during the 1960s, former "Hogan's Heroes" actor Bob Crane projects a wholesome family-man image, but this front masks his persona as a sex addict who records and photographs his many encounters with women, often with the help of his seedy ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Greg Kinnear  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Rita Wilson  •  Maria Bello

A successful TV star during the 1960s, former "Hogan's Heroes" actor Bob Crane projects a wholesome family-man image, but this front masks his persona as a sex addict who records and photographs his many encounters with women, often with the help of his seedy ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Greg Kinnear  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Rita Wilson  •  Maria Bello

Clear and Present Danger (1994)

SuspensefulFunIntenseGripping

CIA Analyst Jack Ryan is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian drug cartel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phillip Noyce
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Anne Archer  •  Donald Moffat  •  Willem Dafoe

CIA Analyst Jack Ryan is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian drug cartel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phillip Noyce
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Anne Archer  •  Donald Moffat  •  Willem Dafoe

Cry-Baby (1990)

FunGoofyMusicalSleep-through

A prim and proper schoolgirl goes against her society grandmother's wishes when she dates a motorcycle-riding juvenile delinquent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Waters
CAST:  Johnny Depp  •  Amy Locane  •  Polly Bergen  •  Susan Tyrrell

A prim and proper schoolgirl goes against her society grandmother's wishes when she dates a motorcycle-riding juvenile delinquent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Waters
CAST:  Johnny Depp  •  Amy Locane  •  Polly Bergen  •  Susan Tyrrell

eXistenZ (1999)

BrainyWeirdDisturbing

A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Cronenberg
CAST:  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Jude Law  •  Ian Holm  •  Willem Dafoe

A game designer on the run from assassins must play her latest virtual reality creation with a marketing trainee to determine if the game has been damaged.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Cronenberg
CAST:  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Jude Law  •  Ian Holm  •  Willem Dafoe

Flight of the Intruder (1991)

U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Jake Grafton and his bombardier buddy, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil Cole, are two soldiers embedded in the Vietnam War growing frustrated by the military's constraints on their missions. Despite the best efforts of their commanding officer, Cmdr. Frank ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Milius
CAST:  Danny Glover  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Brad Johnson  •  Rosanna Arquette

U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Jake Grafton and his bombardier buddy, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil Cole, are two soldiers embedded in the Vietnam War growing frustrated by the military's constraints on their missions. Despite the best efforts of their commanding officer, Cmdr. Frank ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Milius
CAST:  Danny Glover  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Brad Johnson  •  Rosanna Arquette

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love, among other things.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Bendelack
CAST:  Rowan Atkinson  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Maxim Baldry  •  Karel Roden

Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love, among other things.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Bendelack
CAST:  Rowan Atkinson  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Maxim Baldry  •  Karel Roden

Heaven's Gate (1980)

Harvard graduate James Averill is the sheriff of prosperous Jackson County, Wyo., when a battle erupts between the area's poverty-stricken immigrants and its wealthy cattle farmers. The politically connected ranch owners fight the immigrants with the help of Nathan ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Cimino
CAST:  Kris Kristofferson  •  Christopher Walken  •  John Hurt  •  Isabelle Huppert

Harvard graduate James Averill is the sheriff of prosperous Jackson County, Wyo., when a battle erupts between the area's poverty-stricken immigrants and its wealthy cattle farmers. The politically connected ranch owners fight the immigrants with the help of Nathan ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Cimino
CAST:  Kris Kristofferson  •  Christopher Walken  •  John Hurt  •  Isabelle Huppert

Light Sleeper (1992)

A drug dealer with upscale clientele is having moral problems going about his daily deliveries. A reformed addict, he has never gotten over the wife that left him, and the couple that use him for deliveries worry about his mental well-being and his effectiveness at ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Susan Sarandon  •  Dana Delany  •  David Clennon  •  Mary Beth Hurt

A drug dealer with upscale clientele is having moral problems going about his daily deliveries. A reformed addict, he has never gotten over the wife that left him, and the couple that use him for deliveries worry about his mental well-being and his effectiveness at ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Schrader
CAST:  Susan Sarandon  •  Dana Delany  •  David Clennon  •  Mary Beth Hurt

Manderlay (2005)

In 1933, after leaving Dogville, Grace Margaret Mulligan sees a slave being punished at a cotton farm called Manderlay. Officially slavery is illegal and Grace stands up against the owners of the farm. She stays with some gangsters in Manderlay and tries to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lars von Trier
CAST:  Bryce Dallas Howard  •  Isaach De Bankolé  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Danny Glover

In 1933, after leaving Dogville, Grace Margaret Mulligan sees a slave being punished at a cotton farm called Manderlay. Officially slavery is illegal and Grace stands up against the owners of the farm. She stays with some gangsters in Manderlay and tries to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lars von Trier
CAST:  Bryce Dallas Howard  •  Isaach De Bankolé  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Danny Glover

Mississippi Burning (1988)

Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Parker
CAST:  Gene Hackman  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Frances McDormand  •  Brad Dourif

Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Parker
CAST:  Gene Hackman  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Frances McDormand  •  Brad Dourif
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