Willem Dafoe

  • Name: Willem Dafoe
  • Date of Birth: July 22, 1955
  • Place of Birth: Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
Mini-bio: Willem Dafoe is one of the founding members of The Wooster Group, the New York-based experimental theater collective. He has created and performed in the group's work since 1977, both in the US and in...( read more)ternationally. In 1979. after being seen in the theater, he was given a small role in Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (1980), from which he was fired. His first feature role came shortly after in Kathryn Bigelow's The Loveless (1982). From there, while continuing his work with the Wooster Group, he went on to perform in over 50 films - in Hollywood (Spider-Man (2002), The English Patient (1996), Clear and Present Danger (1994), White Sands (1992), Mississippi Burning (1988), Streets of Fire (1984)) and in independent cinema in the US (The Clearing (2004), Animal Factory (2000), Basquiat (1996), The Boondock Saints (1999), American Psycho (2000)) and abroad (Lars von Trier's Manderlay (2005), Ho Yim's Pavilion of Women (2001), Yurek Bogayevicz's Edges of the Lord (2001), Wim Wenders' In weiter Ferne, so nah! (1993) and Brian Gilbert's Tom & Viv (1994)). He has chosen projects for diversity of roles and opportunities to work with strong directors. He has worked in the films of Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)), Martin Scorsese (The Aviator (2004), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)), Paul Schrader )Auto Focus (2002), Affliction (1997), Light Sleeper (1992)), David Cronenberg (eXistenZ (1999)), Abel Ferrara (New Rose Hotel (1998)), David Lynch (Wild at Heart (1990)), William Friedkin (To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)) and Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Platoon (1986)). He was nominated twice for the Academy Award ("Platoon" and Shadow of the Vampire (2000)) and once for the Golden Globe. Among other nominations and awards, he received an LA Film Critics Award and an Independent Spirit Award. His upcoming projects include Spike Lee's Inside Man (2006), Paul Weitz's American Dreamz (2006), the Nobuhiro Suwa segment of Paris, je t'aime (2006) and Giada Colagrande's Before It Had a Name (2005). Written with Colagrande, this is his first screenplay.
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Willem DafoeWillem Dafoe mini-bio: Willem Dafoe is one of the founding members of The Wooster Group, the New York-based experimental theater collective. He has created and performed in the group's work since 1977, both in the US and internationally. In 1979. after being seen in the theater, he was given a small role in Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (1980), from which he was fired.

His first feature role came shortly after in Kathryn Bigelow's The Loveless (1982). From there, while continuing his work with the Wooster Group, he went on to perform in over 50 films - in Hollywood (Spider-Man (2002), The English Patient (1996), Clear and Present Danger (1994), White Sands (1992), Mississippi Burning (1988), Streets of Fire (1984)) and in independent cinema in the US (The Clearing (2004), Animal Factory (2000), Basquiat (1996), The Boondock Saints (1999), American Psycho (2000)) and abroad (Lars von Trier's Manderlay (2005), Ho Yim's Pavilion of Women (2001), Yurek Bogayevicz's Edges of the Lord (2001), Wim Wenders' In weiter Ferne, so nah! (1993) and Brian Gilbert's Tom & Viv (1994)).

He has chosen projects for diversity of roles and opportunities to work with strong directors. He has worked in the films of Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)), Martin Scorsese (The Aviator (2004), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)), Paul Schrader )Auto Focus (2002), Affliction (1997), Light Sleeper (1992)), David Cronenberg (eXistenZ (1999)), Abel Ferrara (New Rose Hotel (1998)), David Lynch (Wild at Heart (1990)), William Friedkin (To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)) and Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Platoon (1986)).

He was nominated twice for the Academy Award ("Platoon" and Shadow of the Vampire (2000)) and once for the Golden Globe. Among other nominations and awards, he received an LA Film Critics Award and an Independent Spirit Award. His upcoming projects include Spike Lee's Inside Man (2006), Paul Weitz's American Dreamz (2006), the Nobuhiro Suwa segment of Paris, je t'aime (2006) and Giada Colagrande's Before It Had a Name (2005). Written with Colagrande, this is his first screenplay.
Dafoe met director Elizabeth LeCompte at the Performance Group. LeCompte and Dafoe were part of the restructuring of The Performance Group and became professional collaborators and founding members of The Wooster Group, and began a relationship. Their son, Jack, was born in 1982. The pair eventually split in 2004. Dafoe married Italian director and actress Giada Colagrande on March 25, 2005

VITAL STATS

Willem Dafoe Information:
Eye color:blue
Height: 5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Nickname(s):willem
billy
gabe
Notable feature(s):Low-key, yet gravelly voice
Education: Einstein Junior High School in Appleton
Appleton East High School in Appleton, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
Family:parents William & Muriel
brother donald
wife Giada
son Jack
Resides in:new york
los angeles
Religious affiliations:
Political affiliation:
Personal interests/hobbies:Practices Yoga regularly
Charities/Causes:
Other:Brother, Donald Dafoe, is an accomplished transplant surgeon.

His high school nickname, Willem, stuck with him

Says he feels like he's missed out on more conventional roles because he's perceived as an eccentric actor in dark little films, kind of the boy-next-door type - if you lived next door to a mausoleum.



Last update: Nov 18 2009, 11:06 AM EST by Petes1234567 (content history | content tools) (help)
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  • Twisted67
    Twisted67
    ALEXIS!!
    posted 755 days ago
  • BiologyBabe2012
    BiologyBabe2012
    I don't care how old he is, Willem Dafoe is like good wine. He just gets better and better. His best performance so far was as Elias in 'Platoon'.
    And that face is just unforgettable (and delicious).
    posted 785 days ago
  • LadyHeatherBeckett
    LadyHeatherBeckett
    this man is perhaps one of the best actors out there! LUV U WILLEM!
    posted 821 days ago
  • Shenelington
    Shenelington
    Its that voice of his no one has that.
    SUPERB what a talented man he is.
    Since i saw him in in To Live And Die in L.A.

    i knew he could Do the shit.
    posted 901 days ago
  • srambo
    srambo
    I love Dafoe, he is truly one of the great character actors of our time. I have liked him in every movie I have ever seen him appear. Even if I don't like the movie I still like his portrayel of characters. He completely immerses himself in every role and draws the viewer in with an unparalleled ease and grace.
    posted 908 days ago
  • Maic0
    Maic0
    Happy Birthday Willem
    posted 933 days ago
  • Goalstopper28
    Goalstopper28
    plays green goblin so well, i get afraid every time he appears on the movie series.
    posted 955 days ago
  • elitebomber
    elitebomber
    plz dont convince harry that Spider-Man killed u, im just kidding ur a cool actor
    posted 981 days ago
  • dolphin1951
    dolphin1951
    hi do u want 2 tak to me
    posted 1007 days ago
  • bmw018
    bmw018
    Willem, you are so very talented and delicious! My favorite film of your's is Platoon. A supurb performance from one of the greatest actors of our time.
    posted 1042 days ago
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  • Born in 1955, this actor got nominated for an Oscar for his role as a troubled soldier in a Vietnam war flick, played Jesus, and did most of his own stunts as the Green Goblin.  Answer »
  • who plays jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ  Answer »
  • Who provides the voice of Gill in Finding Nemo?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Willem Dafoe play a gay FBI agent with a penchant for Riverdance?  Answer »
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