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Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe

Actor, also producer and writer · Born July 22, 1955 (71) · Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 5 other major award bodies

William James "Willem" Dafoe (/dəˈfoʊ/ də-FOH; born July 22, 1955) is an American actor. Known for his prolific career portraying diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films, he is the recipient of various accolades, including a Volpi Cup Award for Best Actor, with nominations for four Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and four Golden Globe Awards. He received an Honorary Golden Bear in 2018. Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Dafoe made his film debut with an uncredited role in Heaven's Gate (1980). He is known for collaborating with both mainstream and auteur filmmakers, including Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, Sam Raimi, Yorgos Lanthimos, Lars von Trier, Julian Schnabel, Andrew Stanton, Wes Anderson, and Robert Eggers. He received Academy Award nominations for playing a compassionate army sergeant in the war drama Platoon (1986), Max Schreck in the mystery film Shadow of the Vampire (2000), a kindly motel manager in the coming-of-age film The Florida Project (2017), and Vincent van Gogh in the biopic At Eternity's Gate (2018). His other films credits include To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Wild at Heart (1990), The English Patient (1996), American Psycho (2000), Animal Factory (2000), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), Antichrist (2009), The Hunter (2011), John Carter (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), John Wick (2014), The Lighthouse (2019), Togo (2019), Poor Things (2023), and Nosferatu (2024). Dafoe was a founding member of experimental theatre company The Wooster Group. He portrayed Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy (2002–2007) and reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). He has also voiced roles in the animated films Finding Nemo (2003), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), and The Boy and the Heron (2023). Description above from the Wikipedia article Willem Dafoe, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 22, 1955 (71)
From
Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
138 on MovieCove · 191 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 6% in 30 days

What are Willem Dafoe's films like?

Across their 124 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama32 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action26 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 96th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
22%
Morality
20%
Bonds
16%
Survival
15%
Ideas
9%
Power
9%
Society
8%
Identity26 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice19 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds20 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose17 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt12 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief16 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 124 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 30 · Serious 25 · Dark 69

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 50 · Stylized 39 · Heightened 35

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 19 · Charged 44 · Intense 61

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 43 · Shifting 67 · Whiplash 14

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 84 · Some laughs 30 · Funny 10

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 58 · Even-paced 50 · Relentless 16

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 28 · Engaged 70 · Full focus 26

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 31 · Affecting 45 · Heavy 48

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 61 · Open-ended 32 · Ambiguous 31

Roles they play

97 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 30 of 97 analyzed roles.

Shadow
30 of 97
Hero
22 of 97
Mentor
22 of 97
Ally
7 of 97
Herald
6 of 97
Threshold guardian
5 of 97
Trickster
4 of 97
Shapeshifter
1 of 97
Show the 97 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
86
Melancholic
61
Contemplative
40
Dread
28
Warm
23
Other
115

How their films linger

Thought-provoking50 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting34 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling31 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 26 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet53
  • Tragic14
  • Ambiguous31
  • Cyclical5
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Willem Dafoe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 101 of their 138 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (42).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Willem Dafoe's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

191 credits, 138 with a MovieCove page; 62 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Werwulf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Old Hunter

  • Tenzing(2026)

    as John Hunt

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Late Fame(2025)

    as Ed Saxberger

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Babs against fascism badge

  • The Birthday Party(2025)

    as Marcos Timoleon

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Resurrection of Christ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • The Souffleur(2025)

    Executive Producer · as Lucius

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Man in My Basement(2025)

    Executive Producer · as Anniston Bennett

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Avrio Vrady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Dancing man

  • The Phoenician Scheme(2025)

    as Knave

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Grande Envie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Count

  • The Legend of Ochi(2025)

    as Maxim

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Zero(2024)

    as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Pet Shop Days(2023)

    as Francis

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Nosferatu(2024)

    as Prof. Albin Eberhart von Franz

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • run 002 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Saturday Night(2024)

    as David Tebet

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice(2024)

    as Jackson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Kinds of Kindness(2024)

    as Raymond / George / Omi

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Finally Dawn(2023)

    as Rufo Priori

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Poor Things(2023)

    as Godwin Baxter

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Interior (The Spectator) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Narrator

  • Willem Dafoe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Gonzo Girl(2023)

    as Walker Reade

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Asteroid City(2023)

    as Saltzburg Keitel

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Wild One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Inside(2023)

    as Nemo

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Dead for a Dollar(2022)

    as Joe Cribbens

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • 7 Deaths of Maria Callas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Film Actor

  • Il coraggio di essere Franco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Sé stesso

  • The Northman(2022)

    as Heimir the Fool

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Finding Satoshi(2022)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home(2021)

    as Norman Osborn / Green Goblin

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Nightmare Alley(2021)

    as Clem Hoatley

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The French Dispatch(2021)

    as Albert 'the Abacus'

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • River(2021)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Card Counter(2021)

    as Gordo

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Zack Snyder's Justice League(2021)

    as Vulko

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Babenco: Tell Me When I Die(2019)

    Associate Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Siberia(2020)

    as Clint

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Roy's World: Barry Gifford's Chicago(2020)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Last Thing He Wanted(2020)

    as Richard McMahon

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Tommaso(2019)

    as Tommaso

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Togo(2019)

    as Leonhard Seppala

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Vincent van Gogh Superstar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Vincent van Gogh (archive footage)

  • Motherless Brooklyn(2019)

    as Paul Randolph

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Lighthouse(2019)

    as Thomas Wake

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Swift(2019)

    as Manou's Father (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Opus Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Paul

  • Aquaman(2018)

    as Nuidis Vulko

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • At Eternity's Gate(2018)

    as Vincent van Gogh

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The House That Jack Built(2018)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Vox Lux(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Theatron. Romeo Castellucci (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Mountain(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Murder on the Orient Express(2017)

    as Gerhard Hardman

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Florida Project(2017)

    as Bobby

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Death Note(2017)

    as Ryuk (voice)

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • What Happened to Monday(2017)

    as Terrence Settman

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Sanctuary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator

  • The Great Wall(2016)

    as Ballard

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Dog Eat Dog(2016)

    as Mad Dog

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Padre(2016)

    as James Verdun

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • A Family Man(2016)

    as Ed Blackridge

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Sculpt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Finding Dory(2016)

    as Gill (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Nelson Algren Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Role1 / Frankie Machine / Role2 / Blackie Cavanaugh

  • My Hindu Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Diego Fairman

  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Self - Guest · as Zylander Quark

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Fukushima: A Nuclear Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator

  • John Wick(2014)

    as Marcus

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Bad Country(2014)

    as Bud Carter

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Pasolini(2014)

    as Pier Paolo Pasolini

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • SPYMASTER: John le Carré in Hamburg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as (archive footage)

  • A Most Wanted Man(2014)

    as Tommy Brue

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Fault in Our Stars(2014)

    as Peter van Houten

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Grand Budapest Hotel(2014)

    as Jopling

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Nymphomaniac: Vol. II(2013)

    as L

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Furnace(2013)

    as John Petty

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Love's Routine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Barry

  • The Smile Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Willem

  • Saving Norman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Lionel Pembrooke

  • Odd Thomas(2013)

    as Wyatt Porter

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow You're Gone(2012)

    as The Buddha

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • 4:44 Last Day on Earth(2011)

    as Cisco

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • John Carter(2012)

    as Tars Tarkas

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Hunter(2011)

    as Martin David

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Miral(2010)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • A Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Max Oliver

  • My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done(2009)

    as Detective Hank Havenhurst

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Into the Deep: America, Whaling & The World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator

  • Daybreakers(2009)

    as Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day(2009)

    as Paul Smecker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant(2009)

    as Gavner Purl

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Fantastic Mr. Fox(2009)

    as Rat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Farewell(2009)

    as Feeney

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Antichrist(2009)

    as He

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Dust of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as A

  • Adam Resurrected(2008)

    as Commandat Klein

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Fireflies in the Garden(2008)

    as Charles Waechter

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Go Go Tales(2007)

    as Ray Ruby

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Wintergasten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ripley Under Ground(2005)

    as Neil Murchison

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • To Each His Own Cinema(2007)

    as (segment "Occupations") (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Anamorph(2007)

    as Stan Aubray

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Procedure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Christopher

  • Spider-Man 3(2007)

    as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Bean's Holiday(2007)

    as Carson Clay

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Walker(2007)

    as Larry Lockner

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Paris, Je T'aime(2006)

    as Le cow-boy (Place des Victoires)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Inside Man(2006)

    as John Darius

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • American Dreamz(2006)

    as Chief of Staff

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Colbert Report (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Before It Had a Name(2005)

    Screenplay · as Leslie

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Manderlay(2005)

    as Grace's Father

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Jiminy Glick in Lalawood(2004)

    as Willem Dafoe (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • xXx: State of the Union(2005)

    as Gen. George Octavius Deckert

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Aviator(2004)

    as Roland Sweet

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou(2004)

    as Klaus Daimler

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Control(2004)

    as Dr. Michael Copeland

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate(2004)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Clearing(2004)

    as Arnold Mack

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man 2(2004)

    as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Reckoning(2003)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Abel Ferrara: Not Guilty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Once Upon a Time in Mexico(2003)

    as Armando Barillo

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Finding Nemo(2003)

    as Gill (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Globehunters(2002)

    as Hunter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Auto Focus(2002)

    as John Carpenter

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man(2002)

    as Green Goblin / Norman Osborn

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Edges of the Lord(2001)

    as Priest

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Pavilion of Women(2001)

    as Father Andre

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Animal Factory(2000)

    as Earl Copen

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Bullfighter(2000)

    as Father Ramirez

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Shadow of the Vampire(2000)

    as Max Schreck

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • American Psycho(2000)

    as Donald Kimball

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • eXistenZ(1999)

    as Gas

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • New Rose Hotel(1998)

    Co-Producer · as X

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Boondock Saints(1999)

    as Paul Smecker

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator

  • Lulu on the Bridge(1998)

    as Dr. Van Horn

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Affliction(1997)

    as Rolfe Whitehouse

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Speed 2: Cruise Control(1997)

    as Geiger

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Wrong Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Jack Straw

  • Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Axel Heyst

  • The English Patient(1996)

    as David Caravaggio

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Basquiat(1996)

    as The Electrician

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Night and the Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as The Writer

  • The Kingdom(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Grand Duc

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Clear and Present Danger(1994)

    as John Clark

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Tom & Viv(1994)

    as Tom Eliot

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Faraway, So Close!(1993)

    as Emit Flesti

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Brace Up! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Colonel Alexander Ignatyevich Vershinin

  • White Homeland Commando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Karl

  • Body of Evidence(1993)

    as Frank Dulaney

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Rhyme 'Em to Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Light Sleeper(1992)

    as John LeTour

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • White Sands(1992)

    as Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • North on Evers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Flight of the Intruder(1991)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Wild at Heart(1990)

    as Bobby Peru

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Cry-Baby(1990)

    as Hateful Guard

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Born on the Fourth of July(1989)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Commandant (voice) · as The Commandant / Jack Lassen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Triumph of the Spirit(1989)

    as Salamo Arouch

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mississippi Burning(1988)

    as Agent Alan Ward

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Last Temptation of Christ(1988)

    as Jesus

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Off Limits(1988)

    as Buck McGriff

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam(1987)

    as Elephant Grass (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Platoon(1986)

    as Sergeant Elias Grodin

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • To Live and Die in L.A.(1985)

    as Rick Masters

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • O Panama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Roadhouse 66(1984)

    as Johnny Harte

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Streets of Fire(1984)

    as Raven Shaddock

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • New York Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Boyfriend

  • The Loveless(1981)

    as Vance

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Atalanta Strategy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Immigration Staff

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeffrey Hunt

  • The Hunger(1983)

    as 2nd Phone Booth Youth

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Heaven's Gate(1980)

    as Willy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Carol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Ebenezer Scrooge

  • American Nails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Cuddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Dante

  • Lincoln in the Bardo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • run 003 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Sleeping Shepherd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Time Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Tropico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · as Raymond

  • White Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 191 titles, 181 of them dated from 1980 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

$1.9B worldwide

Highest rated

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Tenzing (2026)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19802026

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 75 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 4 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting189 of 191: 184 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thWriting1 of 191: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing5 of 191: 1 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew1 of 191: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

191 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s18 · acting1990s27 · 27 acting · 1 crew2000s45 · 45 acting · 1 crew2010s49 · 48 acting · 1 crew2020s42 · 41 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 24% of 118 roles
838893980308131823

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

5 major awards from 25 major nominations, 1987–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
  2. 2020
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Supporting Male
  3. 2019
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actor
  4. 2018
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +3 other major bodies · 3 wins and 1 nomination
      • Venice award, won · Best Actor
      • Venice award, won
      • Berlinale award, won
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  5. 2015
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  6. 2005
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
  7. 2001
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Supporting Male
  8. 1997
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast
Show 2 earlier years
  1. 1991
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
  2. 1987
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Male Lead

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Willem Dafoe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 135; across their 124 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 124

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 124

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 124

Midcredits score across 138 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up52
  • 50th to 74th38
  • 25th to 49th25
  • Below 25th23

Shape of the crowd

66 of their 138 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved21
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser66
  • Broadly Agreed12
  • Mixed33

Most divisive · actor

Gonzo Girl (2023)

94th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 110 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Willem Dafoe's work okay for kids?

Across up to 73 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore63 titles37–92 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity73 titles12–80 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity63 titles29–87 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs60 titles16–72 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense60 titles33–86 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Willem Dafoe work with?

People who share at least 2 of Willem Dafoe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Schrader shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles