History Creator / WillemDafoe

* Robert Eggers' ''Nosferatu'' remake as Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz

His first major leading role was UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} in ''Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist'', where even though he had not yet been established for playing villains, his unusual features were highly remarked upon. After watching Dafoe's performance in the film, Creator/SergioLeone was heard to remark,[[invoked]] [[QuestionableCasting "That's not the face of our Lord. It's the face of a psychopath."]] Critics, though, generally praised his performance, and Dafoe credits it for starting his interest in being a "director's actor", i.e. working with major auteurs and roles that interested him. It stands out in either case as one of the very few films where he plays the main lead, as the majority of his career after that has consisted of work as a character actor and supporting actor. He found himself typecast as villains, while occasionally doing character turns and in other cases appearing in small scene-stealing cameos (such as as the gas station attendant in ''Film/{{existenz}}'').

William James Dafoe (born July 22, 1955 in Appleton, Wisconsin), known professionally as "[[ThisIsMyNameOnForeign Willem]]" Dafoe, is an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated American film, stage, and voice actor, and a member of the experimental theater company The Wooster Group.

He has been nominated for the [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActorInASupportingRole Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] three times — for ''Film/{{Platoon}}'' in 1986, for ''Film/ShadowOfTheVampire'' in 2000, and for ''Film/TheFloridaProject'' in 2017. In 2019, he received his very first [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActorInALeadingRole Best Actor]] nomination for portraying Creator/VincentVanGogh in ''At Eternity's Gate''.

* ''Film/Beetlejuice2''

* ''Anime/TheBoyAndTheHeron'' (2023) -- The Noble Pelican (voice; English dub)

** ''Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom'' (2023)

His first major leading role was UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} in ''Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist'', where even though he had not yet been established for playing villains, his unusual features were highly remarked upon. After watching Dafoe's performance in the film, Creator/SergioLeone was heard to remark, [[WTHCastingAgency "That's not the face of our Lord. It's the face of a psychopath."]] Critics, though, generally praised his performance, and Dafoe credits it for starting his interest in being a "director's actor", i.e. working with major auteurs and roles that interested him. It stands out in either case as one of the very few films where he plays the main lead, as the majority of his career after that has consisted of work as a character actor and supporting actor. He found himself typecast as villains, while occasionally doing character turns and in other cases appearing in small scene-stealing cameos (such as as the gas station attendant in ''Film/{{existenz}}'').

* GutturalGrowler: He has a very distinctive, gravelly voice that's almost instantly recognizable. Overlaps with EvilSoundsRaspy whenever he plays a villain.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: He's been typecast as villains for almost his entire career, but in real life, he has a reputation for being very kind, polite, and humble.

William James Dafoe (born July 22, 1955 in Appleton, Wisconsin), known professionally as "[[ThisIsMyNameOnForeign Willem]]" Dafoe, is an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated American film, stage, and voice actor, and a member of the experimental theater company The Wooster Group. He first got major attention in TheEighties, appearing in a number of controversial, cult, and edgy films, including ''The Loveless'', ''Streets of Fire'', and ''To Live and Die in LA''. His role as Sgt. Elias in ''Platoon'' would net him his first Oscar nomination.

His first major leading role was UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} in ''Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist'', where even though he had not yet been established for playing villains, his unusual features were highly remarked upon. After watching Dafoe's performance in the film, Creator/SergioLeone was heard to remark [[WTHCastingAgency "That's not the face of our Lord. It's the face of a psychopath."]] Critics, though, generally praised his performance, and Dafoe credits it for starting his interest in being a "director's actor", i.e. working with major auteurs and roles that interested him. It stands out in either case, as one of the very few films where he plays the main lead when the majority of his career after that has been as a character actor and supporting actor. He found himself typecast as villains, while occasionally doing character turns, and in other cases appearing in small scene-stealing cameos (such as as the gas station attendant in ''Film/{{existenz}}'').

He became obscure in TheNineties, but returned to mainstream attention when he appeared in the highly successful ''Film/SpiderMan1'' where he turned in a memorable performance as Norman Osborn and [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the Green Goblin]]. This was his first blockbuster role, which made him a mainstream success, and for the first time, a household name. Since then he's appeared in a number of more prominent performances, as well as finding himself in demand for voice-over work (while many note his unusual features, his voice is equally memorable and distinct). In 2013, he provided the voice and motion capture for Nathan Dawkins in the video game ''VideoGame/BeyondTwoSouls'' with Creator/ElliotPage. He also became part of Creator/WesAnderson's stock company, starring in ''Film/TheGrandBudapestHotel'' in 2014 along with [[AllStarCast many other well-known and respected actors]].

He has been nominated for the UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Supporting Actor three times— for ''Film/{{Platoon}}'' in 1986, for ''Film/ShadowOfTheVampire'' in 2000 and for ''Film/TheFloridaProject'' in 2017. In 2019, he received his very first Best Leading Actor Academy Award nomination for portraying Creator/VincentVanGogh in ''At Eternity's Gate''.

* ThisIsMyNameOnForeing: He goes by the Dutch derivative of his birth given name, which originated as a nickname in high school because he didn't like being called "Billy".

* AerithAndBob: He goes by the Dutch derivative of his birth given name, which originated as a nickname in high school.

* StageName: He picked the Dutch spelling of his birth name to stand out and not be called Bill.
* StevenUlyssesPerhero: His last name "Dafoe": he's a well-known actor for villainous characters ("the foe").

William James Dafoe (born July 22, 1955 in Appleton, Wisconsin), known professionally as "Willem" Dafoe, is an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-nominated American film, stage, and voice actor, and a member of the experimental theater company The Wooster Group. He first got major attention in TheEighties, appearing in a number of controversial, cult, and edgy films, including ''The Loveless'', ''Streets of Fire'', and ''To Live and Die in LA''. His role as Sgt. Elias in ''Platoon'' would net him his first Oscar nomination.

* * Robert Eggers' ''Nosferatu'' remake as Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz

* ''Beetlejuice 2''

He became obscure in TheNineties, but returned to mainstream attention when he appeared in the highly successful ''Film/SpiderMan1'' where he turned in a memorable performance as Norman Osborn and [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the Green Goblin]]. This was his first blockbuster role, which made him a mainstream success, and for the first time, a household name. Since then he's appeared in a number of more prominent performances, as well as finding himself in demand for voice-over work (while many note his unusual features, his voice is equally memorable and distinct). In 2013, he provided the voice and motion capture for Nathan Dawkins in the video game ''VideoGame/BeyondTwoSouls'' with Creator/ElliotPage. He also became part of Creator/WesAnderson's stock company, starring in ''Film/TheGrandBudapestHotel'' in 2014 along with [[AllStarCast many well-known actors/actresses]].