Paul Dano
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
Series
The Daily Show
Self - Guest
1996
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014
Series
The Sopranos
Patrick Whaley
1999
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Series
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self
2015
Series
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest
2015
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member
1944
Series
Hot Ones
Self
2015
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Series
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
Film
The Batman
The Riddler
2022
Series
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Self
2014
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
The Studio
Paul Dano
2025
Series
Pantheon
Caspian Keyes (voice)
2022
Film
The Girl Next Door
Klitz
2004
Film
Prisoners
Alex Jones
2013
Film
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Vadim Baranov
2026
Series
Smart Guy
Nicholas
1997
Series
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Hot Neighbor
2024
Film
Cowboys & Aliens
Percy Dolarhyde
2011
Series
War and Peace
Pierre Bezukhov
2016
Film
There Will Be Blood
Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday
2007
Film
12 Years a Slave
John Tibeats
2013
Film
Looper
Seth
2012
Film
Knight and Day
Simon Feck
2010
Film
The Fabelmans
Burt Fabelman
2022
Film
The Guilty
Matthew Fontenot (voice)
2021
Film
Spaceman
Hanuš (voice)
2024
Film
Okja
Jay
2017
Series
Fantasmas
Jeff
2024
Film
Little Miss Sunshine
Dwayne Hoover
2006
Series
Escape at Dannemora
David Sweat
2018
Film
Dumb Money
Keith Gill
2023
Film
Swiss Army Man
Hank
2016
Film
Taking Lives
Young Asher
2004
Film
Youth
Jimmy Tree
2015
Film
Where the Wild Things Are
Alexander (voice)
2009
Film
Ruby Sparks
Calvin
2012
Film
Taking Woodstock
VW Guy
2009
Film
Being Flynn
Nick Flynn
2012
Film
Love & Mercy
Brian Wilson 1960s
2015
Film
The Emperor's Club
Martin Blythe
2002
Film
L.I.E.
Howie Blitzer
2001
Film
The Good Heart
Lucas
2009
Film
The Newcomers
Joel
2000
Film
Gigantic
Brian
2008
Film
Fast Food Nation
Brian
2006
Film
Meek's Cutoff
Thomas Gately
2011
Film
The King
Paul
2006
Film
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
Self
2007
Film
The Chaperones
Film
For Ellen
Joby Taylor
2012
Film
The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Thaddius
2005
Film
The Extra Man
Louis Ives
2010
Film
Weapons
Chris
2007
Film
The Fabelmans: A Family in Film
Self
2023
Sensei Rainbow and the Dojo Kids
Paul
Bunker
Film
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Prior Walter
2020
Film
Too Young to Be a Dad
Matt Freeman
2002
Film
Explicit Ills
Rocco
2008
Film
Light and the Sufferer
Don (AKA: Light)
2008
Vegas: A Love Story
Ryder
Film
Flatscreen
Paul
2012
Film
A Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam
Self - Narrator
2023