A career in three acts: the movies that define Willem Dafoe

Every story must have three acts – the set-up, the confrontation and the resolution – and every actor has their own anecdote. For Willem Dafoe, it’s nearly impossible to pin down his definitive three acts, given his career spanning nearly five decades and upwards of 113 films. 

From being expelled from high school for making what the school deemed a ‘pornographic’ short film to multiple Academy Award nominations and various blockbusters, Dafoe has always emphasised the importance of starring in both arthouse films and mainstream cinema.

Over his varied career, he’s made friends and collaborated with directors such as Oliver Stone, Wes Anderson, and Lars von Trier. Given his sinister grin and unique looks, he has spent much of this career avoiding being typecast as the villain.

Most recently, he has developed a cult following due to his work on mostly independent films in the past decade. With what is sure to be another career-defining role coming up in the form of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake, let’s do the impossible task of pinning down the three acts of Willem Dafoe’s career. 

Three films that define Willem Dafoe:

The Last Temptation of Christ (Martin Scorsese, 1988)

After early years of being typecast as the villain, Dafoe gained an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of sympathetic Sergeant Elias Grodin in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam flick Platoon. But while this was a major break for Dafoe, his defining film of the 1980s is undoubtedly his portrayal of Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. A passion project that had long been in the works for the director, it was initially cast with a different actor in the lead role, but thankfully, due to being dropped by Paramount, Dafoe was cast in the end. 

Dafoe’s portrayal of the Messiah in The Last Temptation of Christ earned him widespread acclaim for his emotionally charged performance. The film boasted a unique cast and was well-received critically, but it was the immense controversy surrounding its release that cemented it as a pivotal moment in Dafoe’s career. Its unorthodox take on religious themes—particularly the inclusion of a romantic scene between Christ and Mary Magdalene—sparked boycotts, protests, and even an arson attack on a Paris cinema. This controversy not only solidified Dafoe’s reputation as a gifted actor but also set him on a path of embracing challenging and unconventional roles throughout his career.

Spider-Man (Sam Raimi, 2002)

Though not one of his most critically acclaimed roles, Dafoe’s portrayal of the supervillain the Green Goblin in Spider-Man would define the actor for an entire generation. Never able to fully shirk typecasting as a villain, Dafoe fully gives himself over to villainy as Norman Osman. He insisted on wearing the uncomfortable costume himself as he felt that a stunt double would not get the movement right. But given the fact the mask prohibited emotion, Dafoe had to emote and terrify with his voice. I’m sure some Gen Z fans will still have The Green Goblin’s growling whispers and maniacal laugh imprinted on their brains. 

Dafoe’s eye-narrowing, lip-curling grin in the mirror also served as the perfect contrast to Toby Maguire’s youthful, fresh-faced Peter Parker. It may not have gained Dafoe any huge nominations or awards, but the popularity of the adaptation and the eerie, pompous quality Dafoe brings to the Green Goblin cemented him as one of the most iconic supervillains in live-action superhero history. The role also cemented him as a regular blockbuster actor in the 2000s, landing right in the middle of a slew of mainstream hits.

The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers, 2019)

The 2010s saw Dafoe become defined as an arthouse actor with a devoted cult following. Beloved for often playing quirky characters, he was nominated a further two times during the decade. Once as ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his role as empathetic motel manager Bobby in The Florida Project; once for ‘Best Actor’ in the Vincent Van Gogh biopic At Eternity’s Gate. But his defining arthouse film of the period has to be a disgruntled and unstable lighthouse keeper in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse.

While his co-star Robert Pattinson was lauded for his performance, Dafoe was viewed by many critics as stealing the show with his Shakespearean, almost god-like performance. His voice, comedic timing, and physical presence culminated in a showstopping performance that solidified him as a powerhouse. Once again, his gruff, older presence was the ideal juxtaposition to Robert Pattinson’s youthful, elegant features, with the two becoming almost past and future versions of the same person.

Since then, he has continued to work with Eggers and Wes Anderson and, unsurprisingly, developed a professional relationship with the Greek Weird Wave director Yorgos Lanthimos. He even garnered a fourth Academy Award in 2024 for his role in Poor Things. So while The Last Temptation of Christ, Spider-Man, and The Lighthouse were three career-defining moments, Dafoe clearly still has a few acts up his sleeve.

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