Paul Dano

Paul Franklin Dano (born June 19, 1984) is an American actor. He began his career on Broadway before making his film debut in The Newcomers (2000). He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for his role in L.I.E. (2001) and received accolades for his role as Dwayne Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006). For his dual roles as Paul and Eli Sunday in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007), he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Dano has also received accolades for roles such as John Tibeats in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Alex Jones in Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners (2013). His acting portrayal of musician Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014) earned him a Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actor. He will play Edward Nashton / The Riddler in The Batman (2022). Dano made his directorial debut with the drama film Wildlife (2018), based on the novel by Richard Ford. He co-wrote the screenplay with his partner Zoe Kazan. In 2018, he starred in the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

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Looper (2012)

FuturisticCleverAction-packedThought provoking

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Bruce Willis  •  Emily Blunt  •  Paul Dano

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Bruce Willis  •  Emily Blunt  •  Paul Dano

Prisoners (2013)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentDark

Keller Dover faces a parent's worst nightmare when his 6-year-old daughter, Anna, and her friend go missing. The only lead is an old motorhome that had been parked on their street. The head of the investigation, Detective Loki, arrests the driver, but a lack of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denis Villeneuve
CAST:  Jake Gyllenhaal  •  Hugh Jackman  •  Paul Dano  •  Maria Bello

Keller Dover faces a parent's worst nightmare when his 6-year-old daughter, Anna, and her friend go missing. The only lead is an old motorhome that had been parked on their street. The head of the investigation, Detective Loki, arrests the driver, but a lack of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denis Villeneuve
CAST:  Jake Gyllenhaal  •  Hugh Jackman  •  Paul Dano  •  Maria Bello

Ruby Sparks (2012)

OriginalRomanticBrilliantEnjoyable

Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Dayton  •  Valerie Faris
CAST:  Antonio Banderas  •  Alia Shawkat  •  Paul Dano  •  Deborah Ann Woll

Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Dayton  •  Valerie Faris
CAST:  Antonio Banderas  •  Alia Shawkat  •  Paul Dano  •  Deborah Ann Woll

L.I.E. (2001)

In this biting and disturbing coming-of-age tale from writer-director Michael Cuesta, life is bittersweet along the L.I.E., also known as the Long Island Expressway, as suburban teen Howie Blitzer learns all too clearly. In the space of a week, he loses nearly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Cuesta
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Bruce Altman  •  Brian Cox  •  Billy Kay

In this biting and disturbing coming-of-age tale from writer-director Michael Cuesta, life is bittersweet along the L.I.E., also known as the Long Island Expressway, as suburban teen Howie Blitzer learns all too clearly. In the space of a week, he loses nearly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Cuesta
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Bruce Altman  •  Brian Cox  •  Billy Kay

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

FunBeautifulCharmingThought provoking

A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Dayton  •  Valerie Faris
CAST:  Abigail Breslin  •  Toni Collette  •  Greg Kinnear  •  Paul Dano

A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Dayton  •  Valerie Faris
CAST:  Abigail Breslin  •  Toni Collette  •  Greg Kinnear  •  Paul Dano

Taking Lives (2004)

Recruited to assist Montreal police in their desperate search for a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, FBI profiler Illeana Scott knows it's only a matter of time before the killer strikes again. Her most promising lead is a museum employee ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  D. J. Caruso
CAST:  Angelina Jolie  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Kiefer Sutherland  •  Gena Rowlands

Recruited to assist Montreal police in their desperate search for a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, FBI profiler Illeana Scott knows it's only a matter of time before the killer strikes again. Her most promising lead is a museum employee ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  D. J. Caruso
CAST:  Angelina Jolie  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Kiefer Sutherland  •  Gena Rowlands

The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rebecca Miller
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Camilla Belle  •  Catherine Keener  •  Ryan McDonald

Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rebecca Miller
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Camilla Belle  •  Catherine Keener  •  Ryan McDonald

The Emperor's Club (2002)

William Hundert is a passionate and principled Classics professor who finds his tightly-controlled world shaken and inexorably altered when a new student, Sedgewick Bell, walks into his classroom. What begins as a fierce battle of wills gives way to a close ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Hoffman
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Emile Hirsch  •  Embeth Davidtz  •  Rob Morrow

William Hundert is a passionate and principled Classics professor who finds his tightly-controlled world shaken and inexorably altered when a new student, Sedgewick Bell, walks into his classroom. What begins as a fierce battle of wills gives way to a close ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Hoffman
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Emile Hirsch  •  Embeth Davidtz  •  Rob Morrow

The Girl Next Door (2004)

RomanticFunnyEmotionalMind blowing

Exceptionally ambitious high schooler Matthew has aspirations for a career in politics when he falls in love with his gorgeous 19-year-old neighbor, Danielle. But Matthew's bright future is jeopardized when he finds Danielle was once a porn star. As Danielle's past ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luke Greenfield
CAST:  Emile Hirsch  •  Timothy Olyphant  •  Elisha Cuthbert  •  James Remar

Exceptionally ambitious high schooler Matthew has aspirations for a career in politics when he falls in love with his gorgeous 19-year-old neighbor, Danielle. But Matthew's bright future is jeopardized when he finds Danielle was once a porn star. As Danielle's past ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luke Greenfield
CAST:  Emile Hirsch  •  Timothy Olyphant  •  Elisha Cuthbert  •  James Remar

The King (2006)

A motiveless malignancy? Elvis leaves the Navy and heads for Texas where he contacts his father, whom he's never met, the pastor at a Christian community church. Pastor Dave tells Elvis to stay away and, without telling his family that Elvis is his son from a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Marsh
CAST:  Gael García Bernal  •  William Hurt  •  Pell James  •  Paul Dano

A motiveless malignancy? Elvis leaves the Navy and heads for Texas where he contacts his father, whom he's never met, the pastor at a Christian community church. Pastor Dave tells Elvis to stay away and, without telling his family that Elvis is his son from a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Marsh
CAST:  Gael García Bernal  •  William Hurt  •  Pell James  •  Paul Dano

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Thought provokingSuspensefulDisturbingEmotional

Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Thomas Anderson
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Paul Dano  •  Dillon Freasier  •  Ciarán Hinds

Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Thomas Anderson
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Paul Dano  •  Dillon Freasier  •  Ciarán Hinds

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Catherine Keener  •  Max Records  •  Lauren Ambrose  •  James Gandolfini

Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Catherine Keener  •  Max Records  •  Lauren Ambrose  •  James Gandolfini

Explicit Ills (2008)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Webber
CAST:  Rosario Dawson  •  Paul Dano  •  Jermaine Crawford  •  Rebecca Comerford

The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Webber
CAST:  Rosario Dawson  •  Paul Dano  •  Jermaine Crawford  •  Rebecca Comerford

Being Flynn (2012)

DramaticEmotionalDisturbing

Working in a Boston homeless shelter, Nick Flynn re-encounters his father, a con man and self-proclaimed poet. Sensing trouble in his own life, Nick wrestles with the notion of reaching out yet again to his dad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Weitz
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Julianne Moore  •  Paul Dano  •  Olivia Thirlby

Working in a Boston homeless shelter, Nick Flynn re-encounters his father, a con man and self-proclaimed poet. Sensing trouble in his own life, Nick wrestles with the notion of reaching out yet again to his dad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Weitz
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Julianne Moore  •  Paul Dano  •  Olivia Thirlby

12 Years a Slave (2013)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve McQueen
CAST:  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Michael Fassbender  •  Lupita Nyong'o  •  Dickie Gravois

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve McQueen
CAST:  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Michael Fassbender  •  Lupita Nyong'o  •  Dickie Gravois

For Ellen (2012)

After an overnight long-distance drive, Joby has a special meeting—with lawyers and his ex-wife. A struggling musician with the prerequisite tattoos, slimy hair, goatee, and his head firmly floating in the clouds, Joby hasn’t been around to be a dad. Now is his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  So Yong Kim
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Jon Heder  •  Jena Malone  •  Margarita Levieva

After an overnight long-distance drive, Joby has a special meeting—with lawyers and his ex-wife. A struggling musician with the prerequisite tattoos, slimy hair, goatee, and his head firmly floating in the clouds, Joby hasn’t been around to be a dad. Now is his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  So Yong Kim
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Jon Heder  •  Jena Malone  •  Margarita Levieva

The Newcomers (2000)

A 12-year-old boy and his family start life over in a new town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Allen Bradley
CAST:  Christopher McCoy  •  Matt McCoy  •  Kate Bosworth  •  Elizabeth Duff

A 12-year-old boy and his family start life over in a new town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Allen Bradley
CAST:  Christopher McCoy  •  Matt McCoy  •  Kate Bosworth  •  Elizabeth Duff

Meek's Cutoff (2010)

Set in 1845, this drama follows a group of settlers as they embark on a punishing journey along the Oregon Trail. When their guide leads them astray, the expedition is forced to contend with the unforgiving conditions of the high plain desert.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kelly Reichardt
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Bruce Greenwood  •  Shirley Henderson  •  Neal Huff

Set in 1845, this drama follows a group of settlers as they embark on a punishing journey along the Oregon Trail. When their guide leads them astray, the expedition is forced to contend with the unforgiving conditions of the high plain desert.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kelly Reichardt
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Bruce Greenwood  •  Shirley Henderson  •  Neal Huff

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

A stranger stumbles into the desert town of Absolution with no memory of his past and a futuristic shackle around his wrist. With the help of mysterious beauty Ella and the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde, he finds himself leading an unlikely posse of cowboys, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Favreau
CAST:  Olivia Wilde  •  Harrison Ford  •  Daniel Craig  •  Sam Rockwell

A stranger stumbles into the desert town of Absolution with no memory of his past and a futuristic shackle around his wrist. With the help of mysterious beauty Ella and the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde, he finds himself leading an unlikely posse of cowboys, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Favreau
CAST:  Olivia Wilde  •  Harrison Ford  •  Daniel Craig  •  Sam Rockwell

Light and the Sufferer (2008)

Realism and fantasy collide in Jonathan Lethem's genre-bending coming-of-age story, which follows two estranged brothers as they try to leave New York City for a new life in California only to find their plans--and lives--being forever changed by the appearance of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Peditto
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Michael Esper

Realism and fantasy collide in Jonathan Lethem's genre-bending coming-of-age story, which follows two estranged brothers as they try to leave New York City for a new life in California only to find their plans--and lives--being forever changed by the appearance of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Peditto
CAST:  Paul Dano  •  Michael Esper
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