Willem Dafoe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willem Dafoe
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Dafoe at the 2024 Venice Film Festival
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William James Dafoe
July 22, 1955 Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Citizenship | United States, Italy |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
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Works
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Filmography |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Elizabeth LeCompte (1977–2004) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Donald Dafoe (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
William James "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a famous American actor. He is known for playing many different types of characters in both big Hollywood movies and smaller, artistic films. Willem Dafoe has won many awards and has been nominated for four Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars! He even received an Honorary Golden Bear award in 2018 for his amazing career.
Dafoe first appeared in a movie called Heaven's Gate in 1980. He often works with well-known directors like Wes Anderson and Robert Eggers. He was nominated for an Oscar for playing a kind army sergeant in Platoon (1986). He also received nominations for playing Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire (2000), a friendly motel manager in The Florida Project (2017), and the artist Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate (2018).
Some of his other popular movies include The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), The English Patient (1997), and American Psycho (2000). More recently, he appeared in The Lighthouse (2019), Poor Things (2023), and Nosferatu (2024).
Willem Dafoe was a founder of an experimental theater group called The Wooster Group. Many young people know him for playing Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, in the Spider-Man movies (2002–2007). He played this role again in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). He has also lent his voice to animated films like Finding Nemo (2003), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), and The Boy and the Heron (2023).
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Early Life and Education
William James Dafoe was born on July 22, 1955, in Appleton, Wisconsin. His parents were Muriel Isabel and Dr. William Alfred Dafoe. He has five sisters and two brothers. Willem once said that his sisters mostly raised him because his parents were busy working as a surgeon and a nurse. His brother, Donald, is also a surgeon and a scientist.
In high school, he got the nickname "Willem," which is the Dutch version of William. He later decided to use this as his stage name.
After high school, Dafoe studied drama at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He left after 18 months to join an experimental theater company called Theatre X in Milwaukee. In 1976, he moved to New York City. He then joined The Performance Group, an avant-garde theater troupe. There, he met director Elizabeth LeCompte. Later, he became a co-founder of a new group called The Wooster Group. He continued to work with this group even after becoming a famous movie star.
Acting Career Highlights
Early Film Roles (1980–1985)
Dafoe's first movie was Heaven's Gate in 1980. His part was very small and not even credited. In 1982, he got his first main role as the leader of a motorcycle club in The Loveless. This film was a tribute to the 1953 movie The Wild One.
In 1984, Dafoe played another biker gang leader in Streets of Fire. He was the main bad guy in this action film. A critic from The New York Times said his face was "perfectly villainous." In 1985, he starred in the thriller To Live and Die in L.A.. He played a counterfeiter (someone who makes fake money). Film critic Roger Ebert praised his "strong" performance.
Becoming a Star (1986–1996)
In 1986, Dafoe gained wide recognition for his role as Sergeant Elias Grodin in Oliver Stone's Vietnam War film Platoon. He played a kind and heroic soldier. Dafoe enjoyed playing a good guy and showing his range as an actor. He even went through military training for the role. His performance was highly praised, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1988, Dafoe starred as Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. This film caused some debate because it showed Jesus's struggles with human temptations. However, Dafoe's acting was widely praised. Later that year, he played an FBI agent in Mississippi Burning, investigating a civil rights case.
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In 1989, Dafoe played a Jewish boxer forced to fight in a concentration camp in Triumph of the Spirit. He also had a small role in Born on the Fourth of July, reuniting with director Oliver Stone. In 1990, he appeared in David Lynch's crime film Wild at Heart. He played a criminal with a dark side, even wearing fake teeth for the role.
He continued to take on diverse roles, including a small-town sheriff in White Sands (1992) and a lonely delivery man in Light Sleeper (1992). Roger Ebert called his portrayal in Light Sleeper "gifted." In 1994, he played the poet T. S. Eliot in Tom & Viv. He also appeared in the spy thriller Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford.
In 1996, Dafoe played a Canadian Intelligence Corps agent in the romantic war drama The English Patient. He enjoyed the quiet moments on set in Italy.
Versatile Roles (1997–2013)
"I really made a conscious effort to mix it up... I think the best part of being an actor sometimes is the opportunity to transform yourself superficially, and deeply."
In 1997, Dafoe returned to playing a villain in Speed 2: Cruise Control. He played a hacker who takes over a cruise ship. The film received very negative reviews. He also voiced a character in The Simpsons and worked with director Paul Schrader again in Affliction.
In 2000, Dafoe played a private investigator in American Psycho. He also starred in Animal Factory as an experienced con-man in prison. Critics praised his performance, with one saying he "steals the picture."
His role as Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire (2000) earned him another Oscar nomination. He played a fictionalized version of the actor who played the vampire in the 1922 film Nosferatu. Critics loved his performance, saying he looked so much like the original actor that you couldn't tell the difference.
In 2002, Dafoe played the supervillain Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man. He played Norman Osborn, a rich businessman who becomes the Green Goblin after an experiment. He had to wear a difficult costume and mask, so he used his voice and body movements to show emotion. Fans and critics generally enjoyed his performance.
Dafoe lent his voice to the animated Pixar film Finding Nemo (2003). He voiced Gill, a fish who helps Nemo escape. He also appeared in Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) and the video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (2004).
In 2004, he played a kidnapper in The Clearing. He also returned as Norman Osborn in a hallucination scene in Spider-Man 2 (2004). Dafoe then starred in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), his first film with director Wes Anderson. He played a funny German first mate on a research ship.
He continued to work on various projects, including XXX: State of the Union (2005) and Inside Man (2006). In 2007, he played a film director in the comedy Mr. Bean's Holiday. He also voiced a villain in the animated film Tales from Earthsea.
In 2009, Dafoe appeared in seven films. One notable role was in Lars von Trier's Antichrist, which caused a lot of discussion at the Cannes Film Festival. He also voiced a character in Wes Anderson's stop-motion animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox. He briefly returned as his character from The Boondock Saints in its sequel.
In 2011, Dafoe starred in 4:44 Last Day on Earth and the Australian drama The Hunter. In The Hunter, he played a professional hunter searching for a rare animal. A critic noted that even in tough roles, Dafoe shows a "sweetness and vulnerability."
In 2012, Dafoe played a Martian chieftain in the Disney film John Carter using motion capture technology. He also co-starred in the video game Beyond: Two Souls (2013), where he used motion-capture acting to play a paranormal researcher. His performance in the game was highly praised.
Independent Films and Recent Success (2014–Present)
In 2014, Dafoe worked with Wes Anderson for a third time in the comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel. He played a henchman in this film with a large cast. He also appeared in the action thriller John Wick as a mentor to the main character. Critics enjoyed his performance in this film. He also voiced a new school teacher in The Simpsons who bullies Bart.
In 2016, Dafoe reprised his voice role as Gill the fish in Finding Dory, the sequel to Finding Nemo. He also appeared in the monster film The Great Wall and a Snickers commercial where he recreated a famous scene from The Seven Year Itch.
In 2017, Dafoe starred in The Florida Project as a kind motel manager. His performance received huge praise, earning him his third Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. He also voiced the demonic character Ryuk in Netflix's Death Note. He played a scientist in Aquaman (2018). That same year, Dafoe played Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate, earning him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. Critics raved about his portrayal of the artist.
In 2019, he starred in The Lighthouse with Robert Pattinson. The film and both actors' performances received high praise. He also played a sled dog trainer in Togo.
Dafoe returned as the Green Goblin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). To keep his role a secret, he wore a cloak on set. His return was met with great excitement from fans and critics. Many said he "stole the show" and was even more intimidating without his mask.
In 2023, he reunited with Wes Anderson in Asteroid City. He also starred in Poor Things with Emma Stone, playing a scientist who brings a woman back to life. For this role, he received more Golden Globe and SAG nominations. He also voiced Elder Pelican in Hayao Miyazaki's animated film The Boy and the Heron.
In 2024, he appeared in Kinds of Kindness and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, where he played a ghost detective. He also starred in Nosferatu.
Upcoming Projects
Willem Dafoe has several exciting projects coming up. He will play Maxim in the fantasy adventure film The Legend of Ochi. He is also set to star in a film based on the novel The Man In My Basement and another film by Wes Anderson called The Phoenician Scheme.
Awards and Recognition
Willem Dafoe has received many awards and nominations throughout his career. These include nominations for four Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and several others. He has won two Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Male for his roles in Shadow of the Vampire (2000) and The Florida Project (2017).
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recognized his performances with these nominations:
- 59th Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, nomination, Platoon (1986)
- 73rd Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, nomination, Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
- 90th Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, nomination, The Florida Project (2017)
- 91st Academy Awards: Best Actor, nomination, At Eternity's Gate (2018)
On January 8, 2024, Willem Dafoe received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Personal Life
Willem Dafoe has a son named Jack, who was born in 1982.
He met Italian actress Giada Colagrande while working on Wes Anderson's film, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. They got married on March 25, 2005, in a small ceremony. They have worked together on her films Before It Had a Name and A Woman. They divide their time between Rome, Los Angeles, and New York City. Dafoe also gained Italian citizenship through his marriage.
Willem Dafoe is a pescetarian, meaning he eats fish but no other meat. He believes that animal farming is a major cause of environmental damage. He also practices ashtanga vinyasa yoga every day.
In 2022, his former university, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, invited him to speak at their graduation ceremony. He also received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree.
See also
In Spanish: Willem Dafoe para niños
