Paul Dano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Dano
Dano in 2024
Born	Paul Franklin Dano (1984-06-19) June 19, 1984 (age 40) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1996–present
Partner(s)	Zoe Kazan (2007–present)
Children	2
Awards	Full list

Paul Franklin Dano (born June 19, 1984) is an American actor. He is also a director and writer.

Paul Dano started acting when he was young. He won an award for his first big film role in L.I.E. (2001). Many people recognized him for playing a quiet teenager in the movie Little Miss Sunshine (2006). He was also nominated for an award for playing twin brothers in There Will Be Blood (2007).

He has been in many popular movies like Knight and Day (2010), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), and Looper (2012). He also had important roles in 12 Years a Slave and Prisoners (both 2013).

Paul Dano played Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In 2018, he was in the TV show Escape at Dannemora and was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2022, he played The Riddler in The Batman. He also played a caring father in The Fabelmans, which earned him another award nomination.

Paul Dano directed his first movie, Wildlife, in 2018. He also helped write the movie with his partner, Zoe Kazan. He has written a comic book called The Riddler: Year One (2022). On Broadway, he has acted in plays like A Free Man of Color (2010–2011) and True West (2019).

Early Life and Education

Paul Franklin Dano was born on June 19, 1984, in New York City. His mother, Gladys, was a homemaker, and his father, Paul, was a financial advisor. He has a younger sister named Sarah.

Paul spent his early childhood in New York City and went to the Browning School. Later, his family moved to New Canaan, Connecticut, and then settled in Wilton, Connecticut. He went to Wilton High School and graduated in 2002. He also studied at Eugene Lang College in New York City.

He started acting in community theater. His parents were encouraged to take him to New York for auditions after seeing him perform in New Canaan.

Career

1990s Acting Roles

In 1996, when Paul was 12, he acted in a musical called Ragtime in Toronto. This was his first professional acting job.

2000s Acting Roles

Dano in 2007

Paul Dano made his Broadway debut at age twelve in the play Inherit the Wind. He also appeared in an episode of the TV show Smart Guy. He had a small role in the movie The Newcomers (2000). He also played Patrick Whalen in a few episodes of the TV series The Sopranos.

When he was sixteen, Paul got his first major film role in L.I.E. (2001). He then appeared in the TV movie Too Young to Be a Dad. In 2002, he was in The Emperor's Club. In 2004, he had a small role in Taking Lives with Angelina Jolie. He also starred in The Girl Next Door. In 2005, he had supporting roles in The King and The Ballad of Jack and Rose.

He became more well-known in 2006 for his role as Dwayne in the movie Little Miss Sunshine. He played a teenager who chose not to speak. The movie was very popular and won many awards for its cast. He also had a role in Fast Food Nation (2006).

Paul Dano played two roles in the 2007 film There Will Be Blood. His performance earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award. Critics praised his acting in the movie.

He also acted in other Broadway plays, including A Thousand Clowns. In 2008, he starred in Gigantic. In 2009, he was in The Good Heart and provided the voice for a creature in Where the Wild Things Are.

2010s Acting Roles

In 2010, he played a smart inventor in the action movie Knight and Day, starring Tom Cruise. He also appeared in the historical drama Meek's Cutoff. In 2011, he had a supporting role in the science fiction film Cowboys & Aliens.

Paul Dano was in three movies in 2012. These included Ruby Sparks, where he played a writer whose fictional character comes to life. He also appeared in the time-travel thriller Looper and Being Flynn. In 2013, Dano was in 12 Years a Slave, a drama based on a true story. He played John Tibeats, an overseer. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Dano at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2014, Dano played a younger version of The Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson in the movie Love & Mercy. He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for this role.

In 2015, Dano appeared in the movie Youth. He played an actor who was famous for playing a robot. In 2016, he played Pierre Bezukhov in the TV show War & Peace.

In July 2016, it was announced that Paul Dano would direct his first movie, Wildlife. The movie was based on a book and starred Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal. Paul said he always wanted to make films about family. The movie was praised by critics.

Dano promoting Swiss Army Man with co-star Daniel Radcliffe in 2016

In 2016, Dano played Hank Thompson in the comedy film Swiss Army Man, alongside Daniel Radcliffe. Paul won the Critics' Choice Award twice in 2007. He was also nominated in 2014 and 2016.

In 2018, he played an escaped prisoner named David Sweat in the TV show Escape at Dannemora. He received an Emmy nomination for this role.

From 2018 to 2019, Dano starred in the Broadway play True West with Ethan Hawke.

In October 2019, Dano was chosen to play The Riddler in the 2022 superhero movie The Batman. The director, Matt Reeves, thought of Dano for the role after seeing him in Love & Mercy.

2020s Acting Roles

In April 2021, Paul Dano was cast in Steven Spielberg's movie The Fabelmans. He played Burt Fabelman, a character based on Spielberg's father. The movie was released in 2022 and received great reviews. Dano's performance was highly praised, and he received nominations for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2022, Dano also voiced a character in the animated TV show Pantheon. In March 2022, it was announced that Dano would write a comic book called The Riddler: Year One. This comic tells the story of how Edward Nashton became The Riddler.

In September 2022, Dano was announced to star in the movie Dumb Money, which was released in 2023. In the same year, Dano was a judge at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Dano joined Adam Sandler and Carey Mulligan in the Netflix movie Spaceman, which came out in March 2024. He also appeared in the TV series Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2024. He received another Emmy nomination for his role in this series.

Personal Life

Paul Dano has been in a relationship with actress and screenwriter Zoe Kazan since 2007. They have a daughter, born in 2018, and a son, born in 2022. They live in Brooklyn, New York.

Paul Dano was also the singer and lead guitarist for a band called Mook.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Discography

With Mook

• The Eggs EP (2007)
• Mook (2011)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Paul Dano para niños