Actor
Paul Dano
Born 19 June 1984 · New York City, New York, USA
Paul Dano is an American actor and director who began on Broadway and became a leading figure in American independent film. He is known for intense, offbeat roles in There Will Be Blood and Little Miss Sunshine, and for playing the Riddler in The Batman. He made his directing debut with Wildlife.
Key films
L.I.E. (2001)
Early breakout role as a troubled teenager, earning him an Independent Spirit Award for best debut performance.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Played the silent, disaffected teenager Dwayne in a hit indie ensemble comedy that raised his profile.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Played preacher Eli Sunday opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Paul Thomas Anderson's acclaimed epic.
Love & Mercy (2015)
Portrayed the young Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, a performance that drew a Golden Globe nomination.
Wildlife (2018)
His directorial debut, a family drama adapted from Richard Ford's novel and co-written with Zoe Kazan.
Key awards
- 2002 Independent Spirit Award, Best Debut Performance (L.I.E.)
- 2008 BAFTA nomination, Best Supporting Actor (There Will Be Blood)
- 2016 Golden Globe nomination, Best Supporting Actor (Love & Mercy)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 48
- 2000The Newcomers · as JoelActor
- 2001L.I.E. · as Howie BlitzerActor
- 2002The Emperor's Club · as Martin BlytheActor
- 2002Too Young to Be a Dad · as Matt FreemanActor
- 2004The Girl Next Door · as KlitzActor
- 2004Taking Lives · as Young AsherActor
- 2005The Ballad of Jack and Rose · as ThaddiusActor
- 2006Little Miss Sunshine · as Dwayne HooverActor
- 2006Fast Food Nation · as BrianActor
- 2006The King · as PaulActor
- 2007There Will Be Blood · as Paul Sunday / Eli SundayActor
- 2007Weapons · as ChrisActor
- 2007The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation' · as SelfActor
- 2008Gigantic · as BrianActor
- 2008Explicit Ills · as RoccoActor
- 2008Light and the Sufferer · as Don (AKA: Light)Actor
- 2009Where the Wild Things Are · as Alexander (voice)Actor
- 2009Taking Woodstock · as VW GuyActor
- 2009The Good Heart · as LucasActor
- 2010Knight and Day · as Simon FeckActor
- 2010The Extra Man · as Louis IvesActor
- 2011Cowboys & Aliens · as Percy DolarhydeActor
- 2011Meek's Cutoff · as Thomas GatelyActor
- 2012Looper · as SethActor
- 2012Ruby Sparks · as CalvinActor
- 2012Being Flynn · as Nick FlynnActor
- 2012For Ellen · as Joby TaylorActor
- 2012Flatscreen · as PaulActor
- 2013Prisoners · as Alex JonesActor
- 201312 Years a Slave · as John TibeatsActor
- 2015Youth · as Jimmy TreeActor
- 2015Love & Mercy · as Brian Wilson 1960sActor
- 2016Swiss Army Man · as HankActor
- 2017Okja · as JayActor
- 2018WildlifeDirector
- 2020The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America · as Prior WalterActor
- 2021The Guilty · as Matthew Fontenot (voice)Actor
- 2022The Batman · as The RiddlerActor
- 2022The Fabelmans · as Burt FabelmanActor
- 2022The Batman: Unpacking the Icons · as HimselfActor
- 2023Dumb Money · as Keith GillActor
- 2023The Fabelmans: A Family in Film · as SelfActor
- 2023A Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam · as Self - NarratorActor
- 2024Spaceman · as Hanuš (voice)Actor
- 2026The Wizard of the Kremlin · as Vadim BaranovActor
- 2026Sia: Nostalgic for the PresentActor
- 2026Bunker · as AndrewActor
- 2027PossessionActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.