10 Willem Dafoe roles that prove he can literally play anything

Willem Dafoe was born on July 22, 1955, in Appleton, Wisconsin. He is one of the most successful and versatile actors of modern times. Dafoe is loved for his versatility, fearlessness in role selection, and authoritative presence on screen. His career has been thriving for more than four decades. He has worked on over 150 films.

In his initial years of work as a film actor, Dafoe had performed bizarre and challenging characters. He first appeared in Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (1980) in a very small role and as a credited cameo. Later, he came to prominence with his performances.

He starred in films such as To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) and The Loveless (1981). He was cast in these two because of the commanding presence he had and because he could play characters with multifaceted morals.

His biggest career break came in Platoon (1986), which was written and directed by Oliver Stone. In the movie, he played Sgt. Elias Grodin, a man of extremely high values. He was nominated for his first Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for the role.

Throughout the late 1980s and the 1990s, Dafoe continued to establish himself. He continued playing difficult and sometimes dangerous roles.

He played Jesus in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). He played an FBI agent in Mississippi Burning (1988) and played troubled poet T.S. Eliot in Tom & Viv (1994).

He established a reputation for exploring the darker, grittier aspects of the human psyche. He reappeared as the unheimlich Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire (2000), a fact-and-fiction-tinted yarn that earned him his second Academy Award nomination.

He was the Green Goblin, the antagonist, in Spider-Man (2002). This put him in front of a much bigger fan base and demonstrated he could do work with large, flashy roles, too.

Dafoe's film career shows that he is such a versatile actor. He has portrayed all kinds of characters, even doing voice work. He lent his voice to a fish in Finding Nemo (2003). He has worked with Wes Anderson as well in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).

Later, Dafoe continued to be critically acclaimed. He acted in The Florida Project (2017), At Eternity's Gate (2018)—where he played painter Vincent van Gogh—and The Lighthouse (2019). He received further Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for these performances.

Dafoe has been nominated for four Academy Awards during his career. Besides that, he has been shortlisted for a BAFTA and various Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has won the Independent Spirit Awards twice.

He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2024. It is a testament to the lasting influence he has had on the world of film. Dafoe never stops loving art and is always passionate about what drives individuals. He still pushes the boundaries with daring risks and provocative experiments.

Here are ten performances that show just how diverse Willem Dafoe is—and why he's one of the most exciting actors of our time.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer’s opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

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Sgt. Elias Grodin in Platoon (1986)

It was a major role for Dafoe in his career. He played the role of Sgt. Elias, a combatant of the Vietnam War. Elias is a courageous, truthful, and compassionate person, but a sad and war-weary person. Dafoe portrayed both bravery and suffering in the character.

His acting is regarded as being among the best in war films. It highlighted how war will break good human beings. Dafoe was nominated for the first time at the Oscars.

He made Elias believable, with raw emotions and silent heroism.

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Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

In this film by Martin Scorsese, Willem Dafoe played the role of Jesus. However, this is not the regular Jesus. This Jesus has uncertainties, fear, and human instincts.

Dafoe demonstrated Jesus not only as a sacred character but also as a man agonizing over his direction. The film was controversial, yet numerous people lauded Dafoe's daring acting.

He demonstrated a rich, emotional aspect of Jesus that caused people to reflect. It demonstrated that Dafoe wasn't afraid to step out and portray risky, challenging roles.

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Max Schreck / Count Orlok in Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

Willem Dafoe played a real vampire, acting like an actor in an old horror movie. The character is creepy and humorous. He had heavy makeup and was frightening.

Dafoe completely lost himself in the character. His voice, face, and body language were all altered. He received another Oscar nomination for this bizarre and brilliant acting.

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Norman Osborn / Green Goblin in Spider-Man Series (2002, 2004, 2007, 2021)

Dafoe portrayed the Green Goblin, Spider-Man's nemesis. He's an insane scientist who becomes a crazy villain. Dafoe brought a frenzied, out-of-control energy to the character. His voice, grin, and appearance were unforgettable.

He reprised the character in several Spider-Man movies, every time bringing a new emotion to it—anger, sadness, madness. Fans and critics all agree on one point: Dafoe turned the Green Goblin into one of the greatest supervillains in history.

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Bobby Hicks in The Florida Project (2017)

Dafoe played Bobby, a manager of a low-rate motel close to Disney World. He isn't flashy or strong. But he quietly assists the poor families who reside there. Bobby attempts to do the right thing in a difficult world.

Dafoe didn't overact. He was calm, kind, and full of heart. For this, he received another Oscar nomination.

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Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate (2018)

Dafoe played the iconic artist Vincent van Gogh. He learned to paint and copied van Gogh's style. The film shows the final years of van Gogh—years that were full of sadness, beauty, and madness.

Dafoe portrayed the suffering and brilliance of the artist in a soft, powerful way. He was incredibly moving and was nominated for his fourth Oscar.

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Thomas Wake in The Lighthouse (2019)

Dafoe portrayed a crotchety old lighthouse keeper marooned with a young fellow (played by Robert Pattinson). The film is black-and-white, and the old-fashioned dialogue is odd.

Dafoe employed a gruff accent and unkempt facial expressions. He sounded like a pirate and played like a man losing his sanity.

It's one of his most over-the-top and brazen performances. The role allowed him to go big, weird, and memorable.

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Gill in Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016)

Dafoe provided the voice of Gill, a gruff fish who resides in a tank. Gill is a tough guy, but he also has a soft spot. Although it's only his voice, Dafoe made the character deep and powerful.

He provided Gill with emotion and intelligence, making him different from the other fish.

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He in Antichrist (2009)

This film is dark and intense. Dafoe portrays a man attempting to assist his wife after their child passes away. The couple goes to a cabin in the woods, but things get very disturbing.

The film is full of frightening and emotional scenes, and Dafoe's performance is bold. He acts out pain, fear, and control, and slowly descends into insanity.

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Dr. Godwin Baxter in Poor Things (2023)

Dafoe is an odd doctor who resuscitates a woman. The movie is odd, hilarious, and moving. There are scars on his face. He behaves like a smart, odd, and tender person all at once.

The character combines humor, horror, and drama, and Dafoe gets all three just right. He was applauded for this courageous and poignant performance by critics.