- Willem Dafoe receives long-overdue Hollywood Walk of Fame star, with support from colleagues and family.
- Despite numerous nominations, Dafoe is yet to win an Oscar or Golden Globe, but values camaraderie among fellow actors.
- Colleagues praise Dafoe’s talent, calling him the greatest American actor of our time, who always elevates material.
Willem Dafoe, a recognizable face in cinema for nearly 50 years, became the first recipient of a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2024. The honor was supported by various collaborators, friends, and family, including filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, Patricia Arquette, and Camila Morrone. Dafoe’s iconic roles span a wide range of movies, from playing the Green Goblin in both Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home to appearing in Pixar animation Finding Nemo and biblical epic The Last Temptation of Christ.
At the ceremony, Dafoe expressed his disbelief at achieving such recognition, recalling his childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin. He remarked at how humbling it was to be in the company of those with stars, including another Appleton native, Harry Houdini. Dafoe also emphasized his love for filmmaking, describing it as the most collaborative of art forms.
Despite four Oscar and four Golden Globe nominations, Dafoe has never won either award, but he cherishes the sense of camaraderie with fellow stars. He expressed his gratitude for being part of a community of artists and entertainers who share experiences and connect people through storytelling.
During the event, Patricia Arquette praised Dafoe’s ability to exceed expectations when working with him, highlighting his truth, humanity, and talent across more than 150 films. Pedro Pascal also lauded Dafoe, calling him the greatest American actor of our time with a unique and unparalleled career.
Willem Dafoe currently stars in the Golden Globe-winning film Poor Things and has several upcoming movies, including Beetlejuice 2 and Nosferatu.