Biography of Willem Dafoe

Eclectic face

July 22, 1955
William Dafoe, Willem, was born on 22 July 1955 in Appleton, a town in Wisconsin (USA). Seventh of eight children, is the only one in the family to have embarked upon an artistic career. Very particular and peculiar expressivity-faced actor Willem Dafoe has established itself as one of the most versatile actors hard Hollywood movie universe and heterodox currently in circulation, capable of ranging from most commercial films to those more related to authorial projects (as happened in the shocking, and censuratissimo "the last temptation of Christ" by Martin Scorsese). His was a long and tiring because the harbingers of his career were not among the most promising. Surprised indeed to shoot a film by contained very sexually explicit, apparently broke into the movie business in this somewhat anomalous. What that in Puritan America cost him a suspension from school (the Einstein Junior High School, in his hometown, where he was nicknamed "Billy"). A debut so far. Later stage actor (Meanwhile had entered reluctantly at the University of Wisconsin), things did not went to this any better.
Indeed. Despite the nobility of his intent was rejected in an audition and even insulted by what will be his companion and the mother of his son, Elizabeth LeCompte. Joined the company, experimental "Theatre X," runs in Europe and the United States. After two years he moved to New York, and in 1977 he joined the vanguard company "Wooster Group," whose artistic director was precisely, Elizabeth LeCompte, who would become his wife and mother of his son Jack. The debut takes place in 1980, with a minor role in Michael Cimino's film "Heaven's Gate", followed by other films culminating in title that gave him the fame: it's the poignant "Platoon" by Oliver Stone, for which also gets an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
In 2001 the second nomination, as best supporting actor for the interpretation of the bleak Max Schreck in "shadow of the Vampire" opposite John Malkovich. Before this turned many other films and, true to its unpredictability, the list of titles is testament to its versatility: they range from a box office movie like "Speed 2" to the film on the cursed artist Basquiat, from classic drama "the English patient" hallucinated "eXistenZ" of the controversial David Cronenberg. A kaleidoscopic career which cannot but arouse admiration. Despite his accomplishments and the fact that he's risen to international star, Willem Dafoe is not a detestable obtrusive nor loves the spotlight, hence held indeed well away. Hard to catch him in an attitude like a Vip for the use and consumption of the paparazzi. Almost entirely absent at various parties and social events, is very careful to protect his private life, devoting himself mainly to handicrafts which fascinate him so much. Among the many films made in recent years, Dafoe hit particularly for his portrayal of goblins, the number one enemy of the superhero film "Spiderman".
Another movie to remember is "Go Go Tales" (2007), directed by Abel Ferrara, shot entirely in Cinecittà and screened out of competition at the 60th Cannes Film Festival. In 2009 is the protagonist of the visionary "Antichrist" by Lars von Trier. In 2014 interprets Pier Paolo Pasolini in the biopic from Director Abel Ferrara.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.