Willem Dafoe is a renowned actor who has made over 150 films throughout his illustrious career, showcasing his versatility, boldness, and daring in a wide range of iconic films.
Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA, to Muriel Isabel (Sprissler),a nurse, and William Alfred Dafoe, a surgeon, Willem is of mostly German, Irish, Scottish, and English descent. He has been married to director Giada Colagrande, and they have collaborated on four films together.
Dafoe has worked with numerous acclaimed directors, including Kathryn Bigelow, Kenneth Branagh, Scott Cooper, Anton Corbijn, Saverio Costanzo, David Cronenberg, Abel Ferrara, Mary Harron, Werner Herzog, Walter Hill, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Hayao Miyazaki, Phillip Noyce, Sam Raimi, Dee Rees, Robert Rodriguez, Julian Schnabel, Paul Schrader, Martin Scorsese, Zack Snyder, Guillermo del Toro, Lars von Trier, James Wan, Wim Wenders, Yorgos Lanthimos, Zhang Yimou, and many more.
Throughout his career, Dafoe has received numerous awards and nominations, including four Academy Award nominations, Golden Globe nominations, and Screen Actors Guild nominations. He has also been recognized by the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Board of Review, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Dafoe's adventurous spirit has led him to take on a wide range of roles, from Thomas Wake in The Lighthouse to Marcus, the elite assassin in John Wick, and from Gil the Moorish Idol in Finding Nemo to the notorious filmmaker in Pasolini. He has also reprised his role as Norman Osborn / Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
In addition to his film work, Dafoe was a member of the Wooster Group, a New York-based experimental theatre collective, and has collaborated with Richard Foreman, Robert Wilson, Marina Abramovic, and Romeo Castellucci on various projects. He was recently named the Artistic Director of the theatre department for the Venice Biennale's 2025 and 2026 seasons.
