Willem Dafoe is an iconic actor who's been working consistently since 1979. Whether he's playing the lead, the villain, a supporting role, or perhaps just a quick cameo, he can't help but stand out. His look and voice are instantly recognizable and he's topped numerous fan dream-castings for the role of the Joker in a possible Batman movie.

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Hypothetical movies aside, Dafoe's 129-film résumé is quite something to behold and those choices have led to some very impressive performances. 6 of his films have also been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

10 He Made For A Sinister Comic Book Villain

Willem Dafoe As Osborn spider-man no way home

2002's Spider-Man, also starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, was a massive worldwide success, becoming the first film to ever hit $100 million in its opening weekend. For the role of the main villain, Norman Osborn, the production needed an actor with a certain level of gravitas to pull off what could have been a silly character.

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Despite wearing an outfit that many compared to a Powers Rangers costume, Dafoe's turn as Osborn and his maniacal alter-ego, the Green Goblin, was a highlight of the film. His chemistry with the rest of the cast was exceptional, switching between a likable father figure and a sneering creep with ease. He was so strong in the role that he returned for cameos in the following sequels, despite the character being killed off at the end of the first film.

9 He Had A Strong Supporting Presence Next To Keanu Reeves

Willem Dafoe in John Wick holding sniper rifle

2014's John Wick has become a massive hit-franchise, led by the always likable Keanu Reeves. Reeves plays the titular character, a retired assassin who returns to that dangerous world after a personal attack. Dafoe plays another killer, Marcus, who has something of a friendship with Wick.

Marcus appears to accept a bounty on Wick's head before ultimately helping him instead, which has unfortunate repercussions for him. The 4th film in the franchise is due for release soon, and while Dafoe hasn't been involved since the original, his character left a strong impact on the series.

8 Dafoe Took On A Hugely Controversial Part

Willem Dafoe as Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ

1988's The Last Temptation of Christ was directed by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and featured Dafoe in the title role of Jesus Christ. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the film was met with considerable criticism and was even the subject of protests and threats against the crew.

That said, Dafoe's performance received high praise for what was undoubtedly a challenging role. The film, unfortunately, performed poorly at the box office despite being nominated for some awards (although Dafoe himself wasn't nominated).

7 Antichrist Has Been Labelled A "Grotesque Masterpiece"

Willem Dafoe in film Antichrist

2009's Antichrist (with zero relation to the previous entry) was also met with extreme backlash due to the subject matter. The film kicked off director Lars von Trier's unofficial Depression Trilogy, followed by Melancholia and Nymphomaniac (the latter of which also stars Dafoe).

Antichrist is a tricky film to try and explain, and it greatly divided critics in the United States. It was well-received critically and financially in other territories such as Denmark, however. Not a film for the faint of heart by any means, but if "arthouse horror" sounds like something for you, then go nuts.

6 The Boondock Saints Is A Cult Classic

Willem Dafoe in The Boondock Saints

1999's The Boondock Saints is a film that surprisingly few people have heard of, despite earning a sequel 10 years later. The film features Dafoe in a supporting role as FBI agent Paul Smecker, who's on the trail of vigilante twins portrayed by Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery.

The movie didn't go down well at the box office and the critical reception wasn't anything special either, but in the years since the film has gained an enthusiastic fanbase, and Dafoe's addition is a big part of it. Interestingly, Sylvester Stallone was the studio's first choice for the role of Smecker.

5 You're Fond Of His Lobster

Willem Dafoe in The Lighthouse

One of the most unique and highly discussed films of the past few years is 2019's The Lighthouse, a black and white artistic horror also starring Robert Pattinson. Pattinson and Dafoe carry virtually the entire film, and both do a tremendous job while being perfectly matched against each other.

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Dafoe plays Thomas Wake, an aging lighthouse keeper on a remote island who has to contend with the arrival of Pattinson's Ephraim Winslow. For such a high-concept film with deep themes, it isn't above some cheap humor in the form of fart jokes, and the lobster discussion became instantly quotable.

4 He Portrayed The Iconic Vincent Van Gogh

Willem Dafoe as artist Vincent Van Gogh

2018's At Eternity's Gate is a biopic based on the legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh. In what can only be called a case of perfect casting, Dafoe excels in the heart-breaking role as he portrays Van Gogh in his final days. Critics called his performance "mesmerizing" and he was nominated for Best Actor at the 2019 Academy Awards.

The film adapts the controversial theory that the disturbed painter was murdered, rather than the widely accepted notion that he was responsible for his own death. It also features a strong supporting cast including Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen, and Oscar Isaac.

3 Togo Told A Remarkable True Story

Willem Dafoe in Disney film Togo

2019's Togo, released on Disney+, is the story of Leonhard Seppala and his sled dog, Togo, who traveled through dangerous conditions to transport diphtheria antitoxin serum in 1925. It was called an "endearing and exciting underdog story" by critics.

The film did a good job retelling the true events of the serum run, with some moments that appeared a little too "cinematic" actually turning out to be factual. One slight alteration was to the number of dogs present on the team, showing 11 canines when the reality was that 6 brave dogs took on the journey.

2 He Got To Show A Softer Side In The Florida Project

Willem Dafoe in film The Florida Project

2017's The Florida Project came from director Sean Baker and tells the story of a 6-year-old girl and her unemployed mother as they live in a motel. Dafoe plays Bobby Hicks, the manager of the motel where they stay.

The film would earn Dafoe another Oscar nomination, this time in the Best Supporting Actor category. The critical reception was overwhelmingly positive and received many further nominations for his powerful performance, as well as for his young c0-star, Brooklynn Prince.

1 Platoon Is Possibly The Greatest War Film Ever Made

Willem Dafoe in film Platoon

1986s Platoon was directed by Oliver Stone and features an all-star cast, including Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp. Dafoe appears in the film as Sgt. Elias and yet again was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor.

The film received considerable acclaim including multiple awards wins and has been selected for preservation in the United States Film Registry. Many consider it the greatest war film of all time and Dafoe's role is particularly iconic, and his famous death scene was even featured in numerous posters and home media covers for the movie.

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