Career Timeline of Willem Dafoe: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Willem Dafoe built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Willem Dafoe is a highly acclaimed American actor recognized for his extensive and varied roles in both mainstream and independent cinema. His talent has earned him numerous accolades, including a Volpi Cup Award, an Honorary Golden Bear, and multiple nominations for Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. Dafoe's career spans a wide range of characters, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and respected performer in the film industry.
1922: Nosferatu Film Production
During the production of the 1922 film "Nosferatu", Max Schreck, the actor who played Count Orlok, was discovered to actually be a vampire.
1975: Pasolini
In 2014, Willem Dafoe collaborated with Ferrara on the drama Pasolini, in which he played Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini during his last days before his murder in 1975.
1980: Film Debut in Heaven's Gate
In 1980, Willem Dafoe made his film debut in Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate, though his role was mostly cut.
1982: Leading Role in The Loveless
In 1982, Willem Dafoe starred as the leader of an outlaw motorcycle club in The Loveless, his first leading role.
1983: Bit part in The Hunger
In 1983, Willem Dafoe had a brief role in The Hunger.
1985: Roadhouse 66 and To Live and Die in L.A. releases
In 1985, Willem Dafoe starred in Roadhouse 66 and To Live and Die in L.A.
1985: To Live and Die in L.A. Release
In 1985, Willem Dafoe starred in the movie To Live and Die in L.A.
1987: Voice Work in Dear America
In 1987, Willem Dafoe provided his voice to the documentary Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam.
1988: Mississippi Burning Release
In 1988, Willem Dafoe starred in Mississippi Burning as an FBI agent, receiving praise for his performance, though the film faced criticism.
1988: Off Limits and The Last Temptation of Christ Releases
In 1988, Willem Dafoe starred in Off Limits and portrayed Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, which sparked controversy.
1988: The Last Temptation of Christ Release
In 1988, Willem Dafoe starred in The Last Temptation of Christ.
1989: Born on the Fourth of July Release
In 1989, Willem Dafoe appeared in Born on the Fourth of July.
1989: Triumph of the Spirit and Born on the Fourth of July releases
In 1989, Willem Dafoe starred in Triumph of the Spirit, filmed at Auschwitz, and made a small appearance in Born on the Fourth of July.
1990: Cry-Baby Cameo and Wild at Heart Release
In 1990, Willem Dafoe made a cameo in Cry-Baby and co-starred in Wild at Heart.
1991: Flight of the Intruder Release
In 1991, Willem Dafoe starred in the action film Flight of the Intruder.
1992: White Sands and Light Sleeper releases
In 1992, Willem Dafoe starred in White Sands and Light Sleeper, receiving praise for his performance in the latter.
1993: Body of Evidence and Faraway, So Close! releases
In 1993, Willem Dafoe starred in Body of Evidence with Madonna and appeared in Faraway, So Close!
1994: Clear and Present Danger and Tom & Viv Releases
In 1994, Willem Dafoe co-starred in Clear and Present Danger and portrayed T.S. Eliot in Tom & Viv.
1994: Filming of Victory
In 1994, Willem Dafoe filmed Victory, which premiered in Europe in 1996 but was not released until 1998.
1995: The Night and the Moment Release
In 1995, Willem Dafoe starred in the period drama The Night and the Moment.
1996: Basquiat and The English Patient Releases
In 1996, Willem Dafoe appeared in Basquiat and The English Patient, filmed in Tuscany.
1996: The English Patient Release
In 1996, Willem Dafoe appeared in The English Patient.
1997: Speed 2: Cruise Control and Affliction
In 1997, Willem Dafoe played a villain in "Speed 2: Cruise Control", as well as acting in "Affliction" alongside Nick Nolte. He also had a voice acting role in "The Simpsons" episode "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson" in 1997.
1998: New Rose Hotel Release
In 1998, Willem Dafoe starred in Abel Ferrara's cyberpunk drama "New Rose Hotel" alongside Christopher Walken and Asia Argento. The film follows corporate raiders attempting to lure a Japanese scientist, and although it was largely dismissed by critics, Dafoe's performance was noted as a compensation in 1998.
1998: Victory Release
In 1998, Willem Dafoe's movie Victory which was filmed in 1994, was finally released in Europe.
1999: Existenz and The Boondock Saints
In 1999, Dafoe had a supporting role in "Existenz" and starred in "The Boondock Saints" as an eccentric FBI agent. "The Boondock Saints" received negative reviews but has since become a cult film.
2000: American Psycho Release
In 2000, Willem Dafoe appeared in American Psycho.
2000: American Psycho and Animal Factory
In 2000, Willem Dafoe played a supporting role in "American Psycho" and starred in "Animal Factory". His performance in "Animal Factory" was highly praised by critics in 2000.
2001: Leading Roles as Priests
In 2001, Dafoe took on two leading roles as priests in "Pavilion of Women", where he played an American priest in China, and in "Edges of the Lord", where he helped a young Jewish boy during Nazi Germany's occupation of Poland.
2002: Auto Focus Release
In 2002, Dafoe starred in Paul Schrader's biographical film "Auto Focus", portraying John Henry Carpenter, an electronics expert.
2002: Spider-Man as Green Goblin
In 2002, Willem Dafoe played the supervillain Green Goblin/Norman Osborn in "Spider-Man". The role required him to wear an uncomfortable costume and mask, and his performance received mixed reviews.
2002: Flashback to 2002: Reference to Original Spider-Man
In 2021, Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin character in Spider-Man: No Way Home was digitally de-aged to his 2002 self from the original Spider-Man movie.
2003: Finding Nemo and Once Upon a Time in Mexico
In 2003, Dafoe voiced Gill in the animated film "Finding Nemo" and appeared in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico".
2003: Finding Nemo Voice Role
In 2003, Willem Dafoe voiced a character in the animated film Finding Nemo.
2004: The Clearing, Spider-Man 2, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
In 2004, Dafoe played a villainous role in "The Clearing", reprised his role as Norman Osborn in "Spider-Man 2", and starred in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou".
2004: The Reckoning and James Bond 007
In 2004, Dafoe starred in "The Reckoning" and lent his voice and likeness to the video game "James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing".
2004: The Aviator, Final Cut, and Control
In 2004, Willem Dafoe had a role in "The Aviator", narrated the documentary "Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate", and co-starred in "Control".
2004: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Release
In 2004, Willem Dafoe starred in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
2005: Manderlay, Before It Had a Name, and Ripley Under Ground
In 2005, Dafoe co-starred in "Manderlay", co-wrote and starred in "Before It Had a Name", and appeared in "Ripley Under Ground". "Before It Had a Name" received highly negative reviews.
2005: XXX: State of the Union
In 2005, Dafoe co-starred in "XXX: State of the Union" as a U.S. Secretary of Defense attempting a coup d'état. Despite being panned by critics, Dafoe did not regret appearing in the film.
2006: Inside Man, American Dreamz, and Paris, je t'aime
In 2006, Dafoe had a supporting role in "Inside Man", co-starred in "American Dreamz", and starred in a short film for the anthology "Paris, je t'aime".
2007: Mr. Bean's Holiday, Go Go Tales, and Spider-Man 3
In 2007, Dafoe played a film director in "Mr. Bean's Holiday", starred in "Go Go Tales", voiced a character in "Tales from Earthsea", had a supporting role in "The Walker", and starred in "Anamorph". He also reprised his role as Norman Osborn in a cameo in "Spider-Man 3".
2007: Spider-Man Film Trilogy
In 2007, Willem Dafoe continued his role as Norman Osborn in the Spider-Man film trilogy.
2008: Fireflies in the Garden, Adam Resurrected, and The Dust of Time
In 2008, Dafoe starred in "Fireflies in the Garden", co-starred in "Adam Resurrected", and starred in "The Dust of Time".
December 2009: Idiot Savant Play
Between October and December 2009, Willem Dafoe appeared in Richard Foreman's surrealist play, Idiot Savant, at The Public Theater.
2009: Fantastic Mr. Fox Voice Role
In 2009, Willem Dafoe voiced a role in the animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox.
2010: Venice International Film Festival Premieres
In 2010, Willem Dafoe appeared in two films that premiered at the Venice International Film Festival: Miral and A Woman. Also in 2010, Dafoe began voicing Clarence, the Birds Eye polar bear mascot in television commercials and narrated Into the Deep: America, Whaling & the World.
2011: Fireflies in the Garden Theatrical Release
In 2011, "Fireflies in the Garden", which was filmed earlier, was theatrically released. The film received mostly negative reviews, although the performances were generally praised.
2011: Leading Roles and Commercials
In 2011, Willem Dafoe starred in Abel Ferrara's 4:44 Last Day on Earth and The Hunter. He also began narrating commercials for Fage and starred in a Jim Beam commercial titled "Bold Choices". Dafoe starred alongside Marina Abramović in the play The Life and Death of Marina Abramović.
2012: John Carter Release
In 2012, Willem Dafoe played Tars Tarkas in the Disney film John Carter using motion capture. He also co-starred in the crime thriller Tomorrow You're Gone.
2013: 2013 Film and Commercial Appearances
In 2013, Willem Dafoe played a police officer in Odd Thomas and co-starred in the video game Beyond: Two Souls. He also appeared in Out of the Furnace and Nymphomaniac. Additionally, he played the devil in a Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl commercial and starred in short student films for Jameson Irish Whiskey.
May 2014: Cannes Film Festival Jury Member
In May 2014, Willem Dafoe served as a member of the main competition jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
November 2014: The Simpsons Guest Appearance
In November 2014, Willem Dafoe made a guest appearance on The Simpsons, voicing a new school teacher.
2014: Film Roles in 2014
In 2014, Willem Dafoe portrayed a banker in A Most Wanted Man and worked with Wes Anderson in The Grand Budapest Hotel. He also starred in Bad Country.
2015: My Hindu Friend Release
In 2015, Willem Dafoe starred in director Héctor Babenco's final film, My Hindu Friend, as a film director close to death.
2016: Film Roles and Commercial Appearances in 2016
In 2016, Willem Dafoe starred in Dog Eat Dog, reprised his voice role in Finding Dory, played a boss in A Family Man, starred in Sculpt, and appeared in The Great Wall. Also in 2016, he appeared in a Snickers Super Bowl commercial.
2017: Critical Acclaim for The Florida Project
In 2017, Willem Dafoe co-starred in The Florida Project, earning critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination. He also voiced Ryuk in Netflix's Death Note, narrated Mountain, co-starred in Murder on the Orient Express, and played Nuidis Vulko in Justice League.
2018: At Eternity's Gate and Aquaman
In 2018, Willem Dafoe played Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate, receiving the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and an Academy Award nomination. He also played Nuidis Vulko in Aquaman.
2019: Film Roles in 2019
In 2019, Willem Dafoe had a supporting role in Motherless Brooklyn and played a lighthouse keeper in The Lighthouse. He also portrayed Leonhard Seppala in Togo.
2019: The Lighthouse and Togo Release
In 2019, Willem Dafoe starred in The Lighthouse and Togo.
2021: Delayed Film Releases and Documentary Narration
In 2021, Willem Dafoe acted in The French Dispatch and Nightmare Alley, voiced the documentary River, and reprised his role as Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
2021: Spider-Man: No Way Home Release and Acclaim
In 2021, Willem Dafoe reprised his role as Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home, receiving universal acclaim. To maintain secrecy, he wore a cloak on-set. His character was digitally de-aged to resemble his 2002 appearance.
2021: Spider-Man: No Way Home
In 2021, Willem Dafoe reprised his role as Norman Osborn in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
January 18, 2022: Dafoe to host Saturday Night Live
On January 18, 2022, it was announced that Willem Dafoe would host Saturday Night Live on January 29, 2022.
January 29, 2022: Dafoe hosts Saturday Night Live
On January 29, 2022, Willem Dafoe hosted Saturday Night Live with musical guest singer Katy Perry.
2022: The Northman Release
Willem Dafoe acted in Robert Eggers's historical epic The Northman, which was released in 2022.
October 2023: Dafoe to voice Elder Pelican in The Boy and the Heron
In October 2023, it was announced that Willem Dafoe would provide the English language voice for Elder Pelican for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film The Boy and the Heron.
2023: The Boy and the Heron Voice Role
In 2023, Willem Dafoe voiced a role in the animated film The Boy and the Heron.
September 6, 2024: Release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
On September 6, 2024, the film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in which Willem Dafoe appeared as Wolf Jackson, was released to critical and commercial success.
October 11, 2024: Release of Saturday Night
On October 11, 2024, Willem Dafoe starred as David Tebet in Jason Reitman's biographical comedy-drama film Saturday Night, which was released.
December 25, 2024: Release of Nosferatu
On December 25, 2024, Willem Dafoe portrayed Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz in Robert Eggers' gothic horror film Nosferatu, which was released.
2024: Nosferatu Release
In 2024, Willem Dafoe is slated to appear in Nosferatu.
April 25, 2025: Release of The Legend of Ochi
On April 25, 2025, the A24 fantasy adventure film The Legend of Ochi, in which Willem Dafoe plays Maxim, is set for release.
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