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 41) 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 known for his roles in both small independent movies and big blockbuster films. He has been nominated for major awards, including a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Dano first became well-known for his role as a quiet teenager in the movie Little Miss Sunshine (2006). He received a BAFTA Award nomination for playing twin brothers in the drama There Will Be Blood (2007). He also appeared in popular movies like Knight and Day (2010), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), and Looper (2012).

His later roles in 12 Years a Slave and Prisoners (both 2013) were praised by critics. For playing Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014), he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. More recently, he played the villain The Riddler in The Batman (2022) and a caring father in Steven Spielberg's film The Fabelmans (2022).

Besides acting, Dano directed the movie Wildlife (2018) and wrote a comic book called The Riddler: Year One (2022). He has also performed in plays on Broadway.

Early Life and Education

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

His family moved to Wilton, Connecticut, where he grew up. He acted in community theater, and his parents were encouraged to take him to New York to pursue acting. Dano graduated from Wilton High School in 2002 and later attended college in New York City.

Acting Career

Early Roles

Dano in 2007

Dano began his professional acting career on stage. At age twelve, he made his Broadway debut in a play called Inherit the Wind, acting alongside famous actors George C. Scott and Charles Durning.

His first major film role was in L.I.E. (2001) when he was sixteen. He played a teenager who becomes friends with a much older man. He also had roles in the TV show The Sopranos and the movie The Emperor's Club (2002).

Breakthrough and Success

Dano gained more attention in 2006 for his role as Dwayne in Little Miss Sunshine. He played a teenager who takes a vow of silence. The movie and its cast won many awards.

In 2007, he played two roles, the twin brothers Paul and Eli Sunday, in the movie There Will Be Blood. His performance was highly praised and earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Many critics said his acting was "electric."

Throughout the late 2000s, he continued to act in movies and on stage. He voiced one of the creatures in the movie Where the Wild Things Are (2009).

Established Actor

In the 2010s, Dano appeared in many different kinds of films. He was in the action-comedy Knight and Day (2010) with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. He also had important roles in the time-travel movie Looper (2012) and the historical drama 12 Years a Slave (2013).

His role as a young Brian Wilson in the 2014 movie Love & Mercy earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In 2016, he starred as Pierre Bezukhov in the BBC television series War & Peace.

In 2018, he starred in the TV miniseries Escape at Dannemora, playing an escaped inmate. This role earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Recent Work and Directing

In 2018, Dano directed his first movie, Wildlife, which he also co-wrote. The film was praised by critics.

In 2022, Dano played the famous comic book villain The Riddler in The Batman. Director Matt Reeves said he wrote the part specifically for Dano. That same year, he played a character based on Steven Spielberg's father in the movie The Fabelmans. His performance was celebrated, and he received a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Dano also wrote a comic book series for DC Comics called The Riddler: Year One, which tells the origin story of his character from The Batman. He also starred in the 2023 film Dumb Money, about the GameStop stock event.

Personal Life

Since 2007, Dano has been in a relationship with actress and writer Zoe Kazan. They have two children, a daughter born in 2018 and a son born in 2022. The family lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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

Selected Performances

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Paul Dano para niños