Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe is an American actor widely regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1955, Dafoe attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before dropping out to pursue his passion for theater and acting. He started his acting career in 1979 with a small role in Michael Cimino's film Heaven's Gate, and subsequently appeared in numerous films and television shows, showcasing his acting prowess.

Dafoe's career took off in the 1980s with his appearance in the critically acclaimed movie Platoon (1986), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He further cemented his reputation as a versatile actor with his roles in other notable films such as The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), and Mississippi Burning (1988). Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Dafoe continued to deliver exceptional performances in a variety of films, including The English Patient (1996), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), and Spider-Man (2002).

Dafoe has made multiple films with Wes Anderson, including The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and The French Dispatch (2021). In 2019 he starred in the critically acclaimed The Lighthouse, and he received Academy Award nominations for his roles in At Eternity's Gate (2018) and The Florida Project (2017).