Paul Dano

Born:June 19, 1984

Place of Birth:New York City, New York, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

Paul Dano, born on June 19, 1984, is an esteemed American actor known for his versatile performances across stage and screen. Starting his career on Broadway, Dano transitioned seamlessly into the world of film with his debut in The Newcomers in 2000. His talent was quickly recognized, earning him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for his role in L.I.E. in 2001.

One of Dano's breakout roles came in the form of Dwayne Hoover in the critically acclaimed film Little Miss Sunshine in 2006. However, it was his compelling dual portrayal of Paul and Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood in 2007 that truly showcased his acting prowess. This performance earned him a nomination for the prestigious BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor, solidifying his place as a rising star in Hollywood.

Dano continued to impress audiences and critics alike with his roles in impactful films such as 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Prisoners (2013), where he showcased his ability to embody complex and compelling characters. His portrayal of musician Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014) further demonstrated his range as an actor, earning him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In addition to his acting talents, Dano ventured into directing with his debut film Wildlife in 2018, a project that highlighted his creative vision and storytelling abilities. Collaborating with his partner Zoe Kazan, he co-wrote the screenplay for the film, showcasing his multifaceted talents behind the camera as well.

Dano's remarkable performance in the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora in 2018 further solidified his reputation as a versatile and compelling actor. His portrayal earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, highlighting his ability to captivate audiences in both film and television.

Most recently, in 2022, Dano took on the iconic role of Edward Nashton / The Riddler in The Batman, showcasing his ability to bring depth and complexity to a well-known character. With each new project, Paul Dano continues to push boundaries and captivate audiences with his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft.

Images

Filmography

Acting

The Batman

The Riddler

2022

In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler.

Prisoners

Alex Jones

2013

Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street.

The Girl Next Door

Klitz

2004

Exceptionally ambitious high schooler Matthew has aspirations for a career in politics when he falls in love with his gorgeous 19-year-old neighbor, Danielle. But Matthew's bright future is jeopardized when he finds Danielle was once a porn star. As Danielle's past catches up with her, Matthew's love for her forces him to re-evaluate his goals.

There Will Be Blood

Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday

2007

Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview's motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.

12 Years a Slave

John Tibeats

2013

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.

Dumb Money

Keith Gill

2023

Vlogger Keith Gill sinks his life savings into GameStop stock and posts about it. When social media starts blowing up, so do his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes a movement, everyone gets rich—until the billionaires fight back, and both sides find their worlds turned upside down.

Looper

Seth

2012

In the year 2044, time travel has not yet been invented but in 30 years it will have been. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good until the day the mob decides to close the loop, sending back Joe's future self for assassination.

The Fabelmans

Burt Fabelman

2022

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.

Spaceman

Hanuš (voice)

2024

Six months into a solo mission, a lonely astronaut confronts the cracks in his marriage with help from a mysterious creature he discovers on his ship.

Knight and Day

Simon Feck

2010

A fugitive couple goes on a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure where nothing and no one – even themselves – are what they seem. Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with their survival ultimately hinging on the battle of truth vs. trust.

The Guilty

Matthew Fontenot (voice)

2021

A demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk is conflicted when he receives an emergency phone call from a kidnapped woman.

Cowboys & Aliens

Percy Dolarhyde

2011

A stranger stumbles into the desert town of Absolution with no memory of his past and a futuristic shackle around his wrist. With the help of mysterious beauty Ella and the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde, he finds himself leading an unlikely posse of cowboys, outlaws, and Apache warriors against a common enemy from beyond this world in an epic showdown for survival.

Little Miss Sunshine

Dwayne Hoover

2006

A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.

Okja

Jay

2017

A young girl named Mija risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend - a massive animal named Okja.

Where the Wild Things Are

Alexander (voice)

2009

Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.

Youth

Jimmy Tree

2015

Two lifelong friends bond whilst vacationing in a luxury Swiss Alps lodge as they ponder retirement. While Fred has no plans to resume his musical career despite the urging of his loving daughter Lena, Mick is intent on finishing the screenplay for what may be his last important film for his muse Brenda. And where will inspiration lead their younger friend Jimmy, an actor grasping to make sense of his next performance?

Ruby Sparks

Calvin

2012

Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.

Taking Lives

Young Asher

2004

Recruited to assist Montreal police in their desperate search for a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, FBI profiler Illeana Scott knows it's only a matter of time before the killer strikes again. Her most promising lead is a museum employee who might be the killer's only eyewitness.

Fast Food Nation

Brian

2006

A dramatised examination of the health issues and social consequences of America's love affair with fast food.

Production

The Apprentice

Thanks

2024

A young Donald Trump, eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn, the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

Ruby Sparks

Executive Producer

2012

Wildlife

Producer

2018

14-year-old Joe is the only child of Jeanette and Jerry — a housewife and a golf pro — in a small town in 1960s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job (and his sense of purpose) he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves.