Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe is an actor who has received several accolades, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor, and nominations for four Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and four Golden Globe Awards. He made his film debut with an uncredited role in "Heaven's Gate" in 1980 and earned his first Academy Award nomination for the war drama "Platoon" in 1986.

Dafoe has worked with esteemed filmmakers such as Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Lars von Trier, Julian Schnabel, Wes Anderson, and Robert Eggers. His early work includes leading roles in "The Loveless" and supporting roles in "Streets of Fire" and "To Live and Die in L.A." This was followed by breakthrough roles as Jesus Christ in "The Last Temptation of Christ" and FBI Agent Alan Ward in "Mississippi Burning."

Other significant roles that Dafoe has taken on include performances in "Shadow of the Vampire," "The Florida Project," "At Eternity's Gate," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "The Northman," "Poor Things," and "Yorgos Lanthimos's The Lighthouse." In addition to his film work, Dafoe was a founding member of the experimental theater company The Wooster Group and has studied drama at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Dafoe gained wide attention for his role as the supervillain Norman Osborn, aka Green Goblin, in the superhero film "Spider-Man." He reprised this role in "Spider-Man 2," "Spider-Man 3," and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Spider-Man: No Way Home." He also portrayed Nuidis Vulko in the DC Extended Universe films "Justice League" and "Aquaman."

More recently, Dafoe has continued to showcase his acting prowess in various films released in 2021, including "The French Dispatch," "Nightmare Alley," and "The Northman". He also stars in projects such as "Gonzo Girl," "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," "Saturday Night," and "Nosferatu." In recognition of his contributions to the film industry, Dafoe was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2024.