Born in Appleton, WI. A member of New York's acclaimed experimental theater company the Wooster Group, Dafoe achieved instant star status as Sgt. Elias in PLATOON (1986). His sharp facial features originally landed him in villainous roles but he has proved his versatility with MISSISSIPPI BURNING (1988), as a by-the-book FBI man, and in the demanding title role of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988). In 2001, he was again nominated for supporting actor for his eerie performance as Max Schreck opposite John Malkovich in SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE. Other notable screen credits include STREETS OF FIRE (1984), TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985), OFF LIMITS (1988), BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989), WILD AT HEART (1990), FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER (1991), BODY OF EVIDENCE (1993), CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER and TOM & VIV (both 1994), BASQUIAT and THE ENGLISH PATIENT (both 1996), AFFLICTION (1997), EXISTENZ (1999), AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000), THE RECKONING and BULLFIGHTER (both 2001), SPIDER-MAN and AUTO FOCUS (both 2002), FINDING NEMO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO and THE CLEARING (all 2003), SPIDER-MAN 2, THE LIFE ACQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU, CONTROL and THE AVIATOR (all 2004), RIPLEY UNDER GROUND, xXx: STATE OF THE UNION, BEFORE IT HAD A NAME and MANDERLAY (all 2005), AMERICAN DREAMZ, INSIDE MAN and PARIS, JE T'AIME (all 2006), THE WALKER, MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY, SPIDER-MAN 3, GO GO TALES and ANAMORPH (all 2007), and ADAM RESURRECTED, FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN, DAYBREAKERS and BEAST OF BATAAN (all scheduled for 2008).  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1986: PLATOON  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2000: SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE 2 nominations