Paul DanoActor Evolution · YouTube
Paul Dano
Known for
One of the great actors of contemporary American independent cinema. International breakthrough with Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007) alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. Starred in 12 Years a Slave (2013), Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners (2013), Love & Mercy (2014) as Brian Wilson, and Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) as the Riddler. American actor and screenwriter of wide range between auteur cinema and major productions, recognized for his interpretive intensity and presence in productions by notable directors.
Paul Dano
38 Movies
8 Series
One of the great actors of contemporary American independent cinema. International breakthrough with Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007) alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. Starred in 12 Years a Slave (2013), Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners (2013), Love & Mercy (2014) as Brian Wilson, and Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) as the Riddler. American actor and screenwriter of wide range between auteur cinema and major productions, recognized for his interpretive intensity and presence in productions by notable directors.
Movies
Plays The Riddler
The Batman
2022
Plays Alex Jones
Prisoners
2013
Plays Klitz
The Girl Next Door
2004
Plays Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday
There Will Be Blood
2007
Plays Burt Fabelman
The Fabelmans
2022
Plays Seth
Looper
2012
Plays John Tibeats
12 Years a Slave
2013
Plays Percy Dolarhyde
Cowboys & Aliens
2011
Plays Simon Feck
Knight and Day
2010
Plays Dwayne Hoover
Little Miss Sunshine
2006
Plays Keith Gill
Dumb Money
2023
Plays Matthew Fontenot (voice)
The Guilty
2021
Plays Vadim Baranov
The Wizard of the Kremlin
2026
Producer
Plays Calvin
Ruby Sparks
2012
Plays Jimmy Tree
Youth
2015
Plays Hanuš (voice)
Spaceman
2024
Plays Alexander (voice)
Where the Wild Things Are
2009
Plays Jay
Okja
2017
Plays Hank
Swiss Army Man
2016
Plays Young Asher
Taking Lives
2004
Plays Brian Wilson 1960s
Love & Mercy
2015
Plays Brian
Fast Food Nation
2006
Plays Thomas Gately
Meek's Cutoff
2011
Plays VW Guy
Taking Woodstock
2009
Plays Howie Blitzer
L.I.E.
2001
Plays Nick Flynn
Being Flynn
2012
Plays Thaddius
The Ballad of Jack and Rose
2005
Plays Martin Blythe
The Emperor's Club
2002
Plays Lucas
The Good Heart
2009
Plays Don (AKA: Light)
Light and the Sufferer
2008
Producer
Plays Brian
Gigantic
2008
Plays Paul
The King
2006
Plays Chris
Weapons
2007
Plays Rocco
Explicit Ills
2008
Plays Joel
The Newcomers
2000
TV Shows
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Bunker
Full Filmography
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Vadim Baranov
2026
Film
The Studio
Paul Dano · 1 episode
2025
TV
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Hot Neighbor · 3 episodes
2024
TV
Fantasmas
Jeff · 1 episode
2024
TV
Spaceman
Hanuš (voice)
2024
Film
Dumb Money
Keith Gill
2023
Film
A Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam
Self - Narrator
2023
Film
The Fabelmans
Burt Fabelman
2022
Film
Pantheon
Caspian Keyes (voice) · 16 episodes
2022–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Paul Dano and where are they from?
Paul Dano is 42 years old, born on June 19, 1984 in New York City, New York, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Paul Dano?
Paul Dano is best known for roles in Prisoners, The Batman, 12 Years a Slave.
How many movies has Paul Dano been in?
Over a 26-year career (since 2000), Paul Dano has appeared in 37 movies and 8 TV shows.
What was Paul Dano's first movie?
The career of Paul Dano began with The Newcomers (2000).
What is Paul Dano's most recent movie or series?
Paul Dano's most recent release is Sia: Nostalgic for the Present, which premiered on July 23, 2026.
What TV shows has Paul Dano appeared in?
On television, Paul Dano has appeared in The Sopranos, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Does Paul Dano have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Paul Dano's upcoming work includes: Bunker (2027).
Paul Dano
1984-06-19 · New York City, New York, USA
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.