Known for taking on different roles in a series of feature films, Willem Dafoe was best recognized for starring in the 1986 war movie "Platoon" as Sergeant Elias. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor as well as Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Male Lead. He also nabbed Best Actor Oscar nomination for appearing in the 2000 film "Shadow of the Vampire" as Max Schreck.

Dafoe, moreover, was also known for portraying the role of Green Goblin/Norman Osborn in "Spider-Man" (2002) and reprising the role in its sequels "Spider-Man 2" and "Spider-Man 3". Since making his film debut in "Heaven's Gate" (1980), he had starred in dozens of films which among others included the controversial "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), "Cry-Baby" (1990), "The English Patient" (1996), "Affliction" (1997), "American Psycho" (2000), "The Aviator" (2004), "Mr. Bean's Holiday" (2007), "The Fault in Our Stars" (2014), and "Pasolini" (2015). "Journey on Rio" (2002), "Finding Nemo" (2003), "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (2009), and "Finding Dory" (2016) were among the big screen projects that he lent his voice to.

Willem Dafoe was born William J. Dafoe in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA on July 22, 1955. He has a son, Jack, born in 1982 with then girlfriend director Elizabeth LeCompte. On March 25, 2005 he married Italian actress, director and screenwriter Giada Colagrande.