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Paul Dano

Actor, Producer, Director, WriterBorn June 19, 1984 (41 years)
Paul Franklin Dano (born June 19, 1984) is an American actor. He began his career on Broadway before making his film debut in The Newcomers (2000). He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for his role in L.I.E. (2001) and received accolades for his role as Dwayne Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006). For his dual roles as Paul and Eli Sunday in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007), he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Dano has also received accolades for roles such as John Tibeats in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Alex Jones in Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners (2013). His acting portrayal of musician Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014) earned him a Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actor. Dano made his directorial debut with the drama film Wildlife (2018), based on the novel by Richard Ford. He co-wrote the screenplay with his partner Zoe Kazan. In 2018, he starred in the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. In 2022, he played Edward Nashton / The Riddler in The Batman.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • The Girl Next Door
  • Swiss Army Man
  • Wildlife
  • The King
  • The Extra Man
  • The Good Heart
  • For Ellen

Known For

  • There Will Be Blood
  • The Batman
  • Little Miss Sunshine
  • Looper
  • 12 Years a Slave
  • Swiss Army Man
  • Prisoners
  • Ruby Sparks
  • The Fabelmans
  • Dumb Money
  • Love & Mercy
  • The Girl Next Door
  • Wildlife
  • Okja
  • Cowboys & Aliens
  • Knight and Day
  • War & Peace (2016)
  • Spaceman
  • Youth
  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024)
  • Escape at Dannemora
  • L.I.E.
  • Taking Lives
  • Pantheon

Featured Videos

  • Batman Interrogates The Riddler In Prison
    Batman Interrogates The Riddler In PrisonThe BatmanScene
  • Meet The Players: The Riddler
    Meet The Players: The RiddlerThe BatmanBehind the Scenes
  • 12 Years A Slave: Paul Dano On Working With Director Steve McQueen
    12 Years A Slave: Paul Dano On Working With Director Steve McQueen12 Years a SlaveBehind the Scenes
  • Paul Dano On The Script
    Paul Dano On The ScriptPrisonersBehind the Scenes
  • Paul Dano On His Character
    Paul Dano On His CharacterLooperBehind the Scenes
  • Paul Dano On His Writing
    Paul Dano On His WritingRuby SparksBehind the Scenes
  • Paul Dano On The Story
    Paul Dano On The StoryBeing FlynnBehind the Scenes

Paul Dano Filmography

2025
The Wizard of the Kremlin · as Vadim Baranov
2024
Fantasmas (TV Series) · as Jeff
2024
Spaceman · as Hanuš (voice)
2024
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024) (TV Series) · as Hot Neighbor
2023
Dumb Money · as Keith Gill
2022
The Fabelmans · as Burt Fabelman
2022
Pantheon (TV Series) · as Caspian Keyes (voice)
2022
The Batman · as The Riddler
2021
The Guilty · as Matthew Fontenot (voice)
2018
2018
Escape at Dannemora (TV Series) · as David Sweat
2017
Okja · as Jay
2016
2016
War & Peace (2016) (TV Series) · as Pierre Bezukhov
2015
Youth · as Jimmy Tree
2014
Love & Mercy · as Brian Wilson 1960s
2013
12 Years a Slave · as John Tibeats
2013
Prisoners · as Alex Jones
2012
Looper · as Seth
2012
For Ellen · as Joby Taylor
2012
Ruby Sparks · as Calvin
2012
Being Flynn · as Nick Flynn
2011
Cowboys & Aliens · as Percy Dolarhyde
2010
Meek's Cutoff · as Thomas Gately
2010
The Extra Man · as Louis Ives
2010
Knight and Day · as Simon Feck
2009
Where the Wild Things Are · as Alexander (voice)
2009
2009
Taking Woodstock · as Vw Guy
2008
2008
Gigantic · as Brian
2008
Explicit Ills · as Rocco
2007
Light and the Sufferer · as Don (aka: Light)
2007
There Will Be Blood · as Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday
2007
Weapons · as Chris
2006
Fast Food Nation · as Brian
2006
Little Miss Sunshine · as Dwayne Hoover
2005
2005
2004
2004
Taking Lives · as Young Asher
2002
The Emperor's Club · as Martin Blythe
2002
Too Young to Be a Dad · as Matt Freeman
2001
L.I.E. · as Howie Blitzer
2000
The Newcomers · as Joel
1999
The Sopranos (TV Series) · as Patrick Whaley
1997
Smart Guy (TV Series) · as Nicholas

2025
The Studio (2025) (TV Series) · as Paul Dano
2023
The Oscars · as Self - Presenter
2023
The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter
2023
2023
2023
80th Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Audience Member
2020
GMA3: What You Need to Know (TV Series) · as Self
2019
The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee
2017
The IMDb Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2016
2016
73rd Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee
2015
The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Audience Member
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (TV Series) · as Self
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2015
Hot Ones (TV Series) · as Self
2014
Variety: Actors on Actors (TV Series) · as Self
2014
The Oscars · as Self
2014
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers (TV Series) · as Self
2014
2014
Off Camera with Sam Jones (TV Series) · as Self
2014
2011
Big Morning Buzz Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2010
The Talk (TV Series) · as Self
2008
The 80th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member
2008
2008
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2005
Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self
2004
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) · as Self
2002
1995
E! Live from the Red Carpet (TV Series) · as Self
1992
ARD-Morgenmagazin (TV Series) · as Self
1992
HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self
1981
Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self
1975
Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self
1953
The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self
1952
Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1944
Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Audience Member

2018
2012
For Ellen · as Executive Producer
2012
Ruby Sparks · as Executive Producer
2008
Gigantic · as Executive Producer

2018
Wildlife · as Screenplay

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