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 career spanning mainstream and arthouse cinema. He's won a Volpi Cup Award for Best Actor and has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and Golden Globe Awards. In 2018, he received an Honorary Golden Bear, further solidifying his impact and recognition within the film industry.
1976: Moved to New York City
In 1976, Willem Dafoe moved to New York City after studying drama and joining Theatre X.
1980: Film Debut in Heaven's Gate
In 1980, Willem Dafoe made his film debut with a supporting role in Michael Cimino's film Heaven's Gate.
1982: First Leading Role in The Loveless
In 1982, Dafoe starred as the leader of an outlaw motorcycle club in the drama The Loveless, which marked his first role as a leading man.
1983: Brief Role in The Hunger
In 1983, Willem Dafoe played a brief bit part in the film The Hunger.
1984: Played Biker Gang Leader in Streets of Fire
In 1984, Dafoe played the leader of a biker gang in Walter Hill's action film Streets of Fire, serving as the main antagonist.
1985: Starred in Roadhouse 66 and To Live and Die in L.A.
In 1985, Willem Dafoe starred in Roadhouse 66 and To Live and Die in L.A., receiving praise for his performance in the latter.
1985: Starred in To Live and Die in L.A.
In 1985, Willem Dafoe starred in the film To Live and Die in L.A.
1986: Academy Award Nomination for Platoon
In 1986, Dafoe received an Academy Award nomination for his role in the war drama Platoon, where he played a compassionate army Sergeant.
1987: Voice in Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
In 1987, Willem Dafoe provided his voice to the documentary Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam.
1988: Starred in Off Limits and The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1988, Willem Dafoe starred in Off Limits and portrayed Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, which generated controversy.
1988: Starred in The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1988, Willem Dafoe starred in The Last Temptation of Christ.
1988: Starred in Mississippi Burning
In 1988, Willem Dafoe starred opposite Gene Hackman in the crime thriller Mississippi Burning, portraying an FBI agent.
1989: Starred in Born on the Fourth of July
In 1989, Willem Dafoe starred in Born on the Fourth of July.
1989: Starred in Triumph of the Spirit and Born on the Fourth of July
In 1989, Willem Dafoe starred in Triumph of the Spirit and had a small appearance in Born on the Fourth of July.
1990: Cry-Baby and Wild at Heart
In 1990, Willem Dafoe made a cameo appearance in Cry-Baby and co-starred in Wild at Heart.
1991: Starred in Flight of the Intruder
In 1991, Willem Dafoe starred in the action film Flight of the Intruder, which received negative reviews.
1992: Starred in White Sands and Light Sleeper
In 1992, Willem Dafoe starred in White Sands and Light Sleeper, receiving praise for his performance in the latter.
1993: Starred in Body of Evidence and Faraway, So Close!
In 1993, Dafoe starred in Body of Evidence, which was panned by critics, and appeared in Faraway, So Close!
1994: Filming of Victory
In 1994, Willem Dafoe filmed the movie Victory, which was not released until 1998.
1994: Starred in Clear and Present Danger and Tom & Viv
In 1994, Willem Dafoe starred in Clear and Present Danger and portrayed T.S. Eliot in Tom & Viv.
1995: Starred in The Night and the Moment
In 1995, Willem Dafoe played an 18th-century writer in the period drama The Night and the Moment.
1996: Starred in Basquiat and The English Patient
In 1996, Willem Dafoe made a cameo appearance in Basquiat and played an operative in The English Patient.
1996: Starred in The English Patient
In 1996, Willem Dafoe starred in the film The English Patient.
1997: Roles in 'Speed 2: Cruise Control', 'Affliction', and 'The Simpsons'
In 1997, Willem Dafoe played a villain in "Speed 2: Cruise Control", portraying a hacker named Geiger. He also starred in "Affliction" and voiced a character in "The Simpsons" episode, "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson".
1998: Starring in 'New Rose Hotel'
In 1998, Willem Dafoe starred in Abel Ferrara's cyberpunk drama "New Rose Hotel" as X, one of a pair of corporate raiders.
1998: Release of Victory
In 1998, Willem Dafoe's movie Victory, which was filmed in 1994, was released.
1999: Roles in 'Existenz' and 'The Boondock Saints'
In 1999, Willem Dafoe played Gas in "Existenz" and an FBI agent in "The Boondock Saints".
2000: Academy Award Nomination for Shadow of the Vampire
In 2000, Dafoe received an Academy Award nomination for playing Max Schreck in the mystery film Shadow of the Vampire.
2000: Independent Spirit Award for Shadow of the Vampire
In 2000, Dafoe won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role in Shadow of the Vampire.
2000: Roles in 'American Psycho' and 'Animal Factory'
In 2000, Willem Dafoe played a private investigator in "American Psycho" and starred in "Animal Factory" as a veteran con-man.
2000: Starred in American Psycho
In 2000, Willem Dafoe starred in the film American Psycho.
2001: Leading Roles as Priests in 'Pavilion of Women' and 'Edges of the Lord'
In 2001, Willem Dafoe played lead roles as priests in "Pavilion of Women" and "Edges of the Lord".
2002: Portrayed Norman Osborn in Spider-Man
In 2002, Dafoe portrayed Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film.
2002: Role as Green Goblin in 'Spider-Man'
In 2002, Willem Dafoe played Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in "Spider-Man".
2002: Starring in 'Auto Focus'
In 2002, Willem Dafoe starred in "Auto Focus", portraying John Henry Carpenter.
2003: Voiced Gill in Finding Nemo
In 2003, Dafoe voiced the role of Gill in the animated film Finding Nemo.
2003: Voice Acting in 'Finding Nemo' and Role in 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico'
In 2003, Willem Dafoe voiced Gill in "Finding Nemo" and appeared in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico".
2004: Role in 'The Reckoning' and 'James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing'
In 2004, Willem Dafoe acted in "The Reckoning" and lent his voice and likeness to the James Bond video game "James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing" as the villain Nikolai Diavolo.
2004: Roles in 'The Aviator', 'Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate', and 'Control'
In 2004, Willem Dafoe played a tabloid magazine editor in "The Aviator", narrated "Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate", and co-starred in "Control".
2004: Roles in 'The Clearing', 'Spider-Man 2', and 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'
In 2004, Willem Dafoe played a villain in "The Clearing", reprised his role in "Spider-Man 2", and acted in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou".
2004: Starred in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
In 2004, Willem Dafoe starred in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
2005: Roles in 'Manderlay' and 'Before It Had a Name', and 'Ripley Under Ground'
In 2005, Willem Dafoe co-starred in "Manderlay", co-wrote and starred in "Before It Had a Name", and appeared in "Ripley Under Ground".
2005: Role in 'XXX: State of the Union'
In 2005, Willem Dafoe played a U.S. Secretary of Defense in "XXX: State of the Union".
2006: Roles in 'Inside Man', 'American Dreamz', and 'Paris, je t'aime'
In 2006, Willem Dafoe co-starred in "Inside Man", "American Dreamz", and "Paris, je t'aime".
2007: Continued Norman Osborn Role in Spider-Man Trilogy
In 2007, Dafoe continued to portray Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy.
2007: Roles in 'Mr. Bean's Holiday', 'Go Go Tales', and 'Spider-Man 3'
In 2007, Willem Dafoe appeared in "Mr. Bean's Holiday", "Go Go Tales", "Tales from Earthsea", "The Walker", "Anamorph" and reprised his role in "Spider-Man 3".
2008: Roles in 'Fireflies in the Garden', 'Adam Resurrected', and 'The Dust of Time'
In 2008, Willem Dafoe co-starred in "Fireflies in the Garden", "Adam Resurrected", and "The Dust of Time".
December 2009: Idiot Savant Play
Between October and December 2009, Willem Dafoe starred in Richard Foreman's surrealist play, Idiot Savant, at The Public Theater.
2009: Voiced Rat in Fantastic Mr. Fox
In 2009, Dafoe voiced the role of Rat in the animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox.
2009: Starred in Antichrist
In 2009, Willem Dafoe starred in the film Antichrist.
2012: Starred in John Carter
In 2012, Willem Dafoe starred in the movie John Carter.
May 2014: Cannes Film Festival Jury
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 his second guest appearance on The Simpsons, voicing a new school teacher who bullies Bart Simpson.
2014: Starred in The Grand Budapest Hotel
In 2014, Willem Dafoe starred in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
2016: Diverse Roles in Film and Commercials
In 2016, Willem Dafoe starred in Dog Eat Dog, Finding Dory(reprising his role), A Family Man, Sculpt, The Great Wall, and a Snickers Super Bowl commercial recreating Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress scene.
2017: Academy Award Nomination for The Florida Project
In 2017, Dafoe received an Academy Award nomination for playing a motel manager in the coming-of-age film The Florida Project.
2017: Independent Spirit Award for The Florida Project
In 2017, Dafoe won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role in The Florida Project.
2017: Critical Acclaim for The Florida Project
In 2017, Willem Dafoe co-starred in The Florida Project, earning critical acclaim and nominations for Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG Award, and BAFTA Award. He also played Ryuk in Netflix's Death Note and had roles in Mountain, Murder on the Orient Express, and Justice League.
2018: Academy Award Nomination for At Eternity's Gate
In 2018, Dafoe received an Academy Award nomination for portraying Vincent van Gogh in the biopic At Eternity's Gate.
2018: Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate
In 2018, Willem Dafoe played Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate, winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and an Academy Award nomination, and played Nuidis Vulko in Aquaman.
2019: Roles in Motherless Brooklyn, The Lighthouse, and Togo
In 2019, Willem Dafoe had roles in Motherless Brooklyn, The Lighthouse, and Togo, with The Lighthouse premiering at the Cannes Film Festival to high praise.
2019: Starred in The Lighthouse and Togo
In 2019, Willem Dafoe starred in both The Lighthouse and Togo.
2021: Reprised Role in Spider-Man: No Way Home
In 2021, Dafoe reprised his role as Norman Osborn in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
2021: Roles in The French Dispatch, Nightmare Alley, and River
In 2021, Willem Dafoe acted in The French Dispatch, Nightmare Alley, and voiced River, an Australian ABC-television documentary.
2021: Green Goblin Reprisal in Spider-Man: No Way Home
In 2021, Willem Dafoe reprised his role as Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home, receiving universal acclaim and digital de-aging to match his 2002 appearance.
January 18, 2022: Dafoe to Host Saturday Night Live
On January 18, 2022, it was announced that Willem Dafoe would host Saturday Night Live.
January 29, 2022: Dafoe Hosted Saturday Night Live
On January 29, 2022, Willem Dafoe hosted Saturday Night Live, with musical guest singer Katy Perry.
May 22, 2022: Honorary Doctorate from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
On May 22, 2022, Willem Dafoe was invited back to his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to serve as the keynote speaker for the university's commencement ceremony and to receive an honorary Doctor of Arts degree.
2022: Release of The Northman
In 2022, Willem Dafoe starred in Robert Eggers's historical epic, The Northman.
October 2023: Dafoe to voice Elder Pelican in The Boy and the Heron
In October 2023, it was announced that Dafoe would provide the English language voice for Elder Pelican for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film The Boy and the Heron.
2023: Voiced role in The Boy and the Heron
In 2023, Willem Dafoe voiced a role in the animated film The Boy and the Heron.
January 8, 2024: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On January 8, 2024, Willem Dafoe received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
September 6, 2024: Release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
On September 6, 2024, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in which Dafoe appeared as Wolf Jackson, was released to critical and commercial success.
October 11, 2024: Release of Saturday Night
On October 11, 2024, 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, Dafoe portrayed Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz in Robert Eggers' gothic horror film Nosferatu, which was released.
2024: Starred in Nosferatu
In 2024, Willem Dafoe is set to star in the movie Nosferatu.
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