Willem Dafoe net worth: How much is the ‘Shameless’ actor worth?
Willem Dafoe net worth-
William Dafoe is an American actor best known for portraying dark and unconventional characters in films. He is a versatile actor who chooses his roles more on the basis of their artistic merit than on their box office potential.
He has acted in a variety of roles that range from that of an idealistic FBI agent in ‘Mississippi Burning’ to the villainous green goblin in ‘Spiderman.’ His well-defined cheekbones and strong jaws give him a look that suits the villainous roles that he often portrays.
But he is also careful not to be typecast as villain and believes in exploring different kinds of roles that would help him develop as an actor. He played negative roles in ‘To Live and Die in L.A,’ ‘The Loveless,’ and ‘Streets of Fire’ during the 1980s.
Desiring some variety in the kind of characters he played, Dafoe portrayed the kind-hearted ‘Sergeant Elias’ in Oliver Stone’s ‘Platoon’—a role which earned him an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor.
As of January 2024, William Dafoe’s net worth is estimated to be $40 Million.
Early life and education
William James Dafoe was born on July 22, 1955, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the son of Muriel Isabel (née Sprissler; 1922–2012) and Dr. William Alfred Dafoe (1917–2014).
He recalled in 2009, “My five sisters raised me because my father was a surgeon, my mother was a nurse and they worked together, so I didn’t see either of them much.” His brother, Donald, is a surgeon and research scientist.
His surname, Dafoe, is the English version of the Swiss surname Thévou. During an interview, he said that half of his family puts the emphasis on the first syllable of the surname while the other half emphasizes the second syllable.
In high school, he acquired the nickname Willem, the Dutch version of the name William. He later took the new interpretation as part of his stage name because he had become more used to it than his birth name.
After attending Appleton East High School, Dafoe studied drama at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, but left after 18 months to join the experimental theater company Theatre X in Milwaukee, before moving to New York City in 1976.
He then apprenticed under Richard Schechner, the director of the avant-garde theater troupe The Performance Group, where he met and became romantically involved with director Elizabeth LeCompte.
Following tensions between Schechner and other members after they started staging their own productions outside of the group, Schechner left and the remaining members (including LeCompte and her ex-boyfriend Spalding Gray) renamed themselves The Wooster Group.
Dafoe soon joined the new company and is credited as one of its co-founders. He continued his work with the group into the 2000s, well after establishing himself as a Hollywood film star.
Career
Willem Dafoe was cast in a minor role in Michael Cimino’s ‘Heaven’s Gate’ in 1980, but his screen time was cut from the film during editing. He landed a role in an independent film titled ‘The Loveless’ in 1982 which was about a motorcycle gang.
He played a minor part in the romantic horror ‘The Hunger’ in 1983. He acted in three movies in 1984, but none of them did well at the box office.
He got his breakthrough in the 1985 thriller film ‘To Live and Die in L.A’ where he played the role of counterfeiter ‘Rick Masters.’ The film was a success and Dafoe got noticed for his acting skills.
Dafoe’s portrayal of ‘Sergeant Elias’ in the ‘Academy’ award-winning war film ‘Platoon’ (1986) cemented his place as a character actor. He was nominated for ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor.’
He experimented with a variety of roles in some of his subsequent films, notably as ‘Jesus Christ’ in ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ (1988), a Jewish boxer in ‘Triumph of the Spirit’ (1989), and a Lieutenant Commander in ‘Flight of the Intruder’ (1991).
In the 1990s, he starred in many films like ‘Tom & Viv’ (1994), ‘Victory’ (1996), ‘The English Patient’ (1996), and ‘New Rose Hotel’ (1998).
He enjoyed a very successful decade in the new millennium. He played ‘Max Schreck,’ a vampire, in ‘Shadow of the Vampire’ (2000), a role which won him numerous accolades. He portrayed the villainous ‘Green Goblin’ in ‘Spiderman’ (2002) and lent his voice to ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003).
In 2005, he starred in the film ‘Before it had a Name’ which was directed by his wife Giada Colagrande. Dafoe and Colagrande had co-written the script. Towards the end of the decade, he appeared in a number of films like ‘Inside Man’ (2006), ‘The Walker’ (2007), ‘Adam Resurrected’ (2008), etc.
He went on to act in films like ‘Daybreakers’ (2009), a science-fiction horror, and ‘The Hunter’ (2011), an adventure thriller in which he played the title role.
From 2012 to 2019, he was cast in several movies like ‘Tomorrow You’re Gone,’ ‘Out of the Furnace,’ ‘Odd Thomas,’ ‘John Wick,’ ‘Bad Country,’ ‘My Hindu Friend,’ ‘A Family Man,’ ‘The Great Wall,’ ‘The Florida Project,’ ‘Opus Zero,’ ‘Aquaman,’ ‘At Eternity’s Gate,’ ‘Tommaso,’ and ‘Motherless Brooklyn.’
Apart from acting in films, he has also voiced several characters in many films and television series. His upcoming films include ‘Nightmare Alley,’ ‘The Card Counter,’ and ‘The Northman.’
How much is Willem Dafoe worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, William Dafoe has a net worth of around $40 million as of 2024.
Major Works
Willem Dafoe’s role as the compassionate sergeant ‘Elias’ in the 1986 war film ‘Platoon’ is considered one of his best character portrayals. He earned a nomination for ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for this film and was also nominated for the ‘Independent Spirit Award’ for ‘Best Male Lead.’
David Lynch’s crime thriller ‘Wild at Heart’ (1990) had Dafoe playing the role of the criminal ‘Bobby Peru,’ who is hired to kill the lead character. He was nominated for the ‘Best Supporting Male’ at the ‘Independent Spirit Awards’ for his role.
He was nominated for ‘Screen Actors Guild Award’ for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture’ for his role as ‘David Caravaggio,’ a former thief, in the romantic drama ‘The English Patient’ (1996).
‘Shadow of the Vampire’ (2000) is perhaps Dafoe’s most appreciated film. His portrayal of ‘Max Schreck,’ a vampire in the guise of a theatre performer, won him several awards, notably ‘Saturn Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor,’ ‘The Independent Spirit Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Male,’ and ‘The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor.’
He played the role of ‘He’ in the dark art film ‘Antichrist’ (2009) for which he won the ‘Bodil Award’ for ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role.’ The film reaffirmed Dafoe’s reputation as an unconventional actor who prefers to play dark and unstable characters.
Awards & Achievements
He was awarded the ‘Special Award: For immense contribution to the art of film’ (2002) at ‘The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Plus Camerimage,’ which is a festival dedicated to cinematography.
He won the ‘Stockholm Achievement Award’ (2012) presented at ‘The Stockholm International Film Festival,’ Sweden. This award was given to Dafoe for being one of the world’s most talented and multifaceted actors.
Personal Life & Legacy
Willem Dafoe was in a relationship with director Elizabeth LeCompte for many years before breaking up in 2004. They have a son. Currently, he is married to Italian actress, director, and screenwriter Giada Colagrande.
What is Willem Dafoe’s net worth?
Willem Dafoe is an American actor who has a net worth of $40 million. Willem Dafoe is best known for his performances in such films as “To Live and Die in L.A.,” “Platoon,” “The Last Temptation of Christ,” “Shadow of the Vampire,” “Spider-Man,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “The Florida Project.”
He has collaborated frequently with the filmmakers Abel Ferrara, Julian Schnabel, Paul Schrader, Wes Anderson, and Lars von Trier. Dafoe has also done voice acting for animated films including “Finding Nemo” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”
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