Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born June 19, 1984
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.
MovieSia: Nostalgic for the Present
2026
MovieThe Wizard of the Kremlin
2026
as Vadim Baranov
TVThe Studio
2025
as Paul Dano
TVFantasmas
2024
as Jeff
MovieSpaceman
2024
as Hanuš (voice)
TVMr. & Mrs. Smith
2024
as Hot Neighbor
MovieDumb Money
2023
as Keith Gill
MovieA Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam
2023
as Self - Narrator
MovieThe Fabelmans: A Family in Film
2023
as Self
MovieThe Fabelmans
2022
as Burt Fabelman
TVPantheon
2022
as Caspian Keyes (voice)
MovieThe Batman
2022
as The Riddler
MovieThe Guilty
2021
as Matthew Fontenot (voice)
MovieThe Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
2020
as Prior Walter
TVEscape at Dannemora
2018
as David Sweat
MovieOkja
2017
as Jay
MovieSwiss Army Man
2016
as Hank
TVWar and Peace
2016
as Pierre Bezukhov
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self
MovieLove & Mercy
2015
as Brian Wilson 1960s
MovieYouth
2015
as Jimmy Tree
TVThe Late Late Show with James Corden
2015
as Self
TVHot Ones
2015
as Self
TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014
as Self
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
TVOff Camera with Sam Jones
2014
as Self
Movie12 Years a Slave
2013
as John Tibeats
MoviePrisoners
2013
as Alex Jones
TVClique
2013
as Self - Guest
MovieLooper
2012
as Seth
MovieRuby Sparks
2012
as Calvin
MovieBeing Flynn
2012
as Nick Flynn
MovieFor Ellen
2012
as Joby Taylor
MovieFlatscreen
2012
as Paul
MovieCowboys & Aliens
2011
as Percy Dolarhyde
MovieMeek's Cutoff
2011
as Thomas Gately
MovieThe Extra Man
2010
as Louis Ives
MovieKnight and Day
2010
as Simon Feck
MovieWhere the Wild Things Are
2009
as Alexander (voice)
MovieThe Good Heart
2009
as Lucas
MovieTaking Woodstock
2009
as VW Guy
MovieGigantic
2008
as Brian
MovieLight and the Sufferer
2008
as Don (AKA: Light)
MovieExplicit Ills
2008
as Rocco
MovieThere Will Be Blood
2007
as Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday
MovieThe Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
2007
as Self
MovieWeapons
2007
as Chris
MovieFast Food Nation
2006
as Brian
MovieLittle Miss Sunshine
2006
as Dwayne Hoover
MovieThe King
2006
as Paul
MovieThe Ballad of Jack and Rose
2005
as Thaddius
MovieThe Girl Next Door
2004
as Klitz
MovieTaking Lives
2004
as Young Asher
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Emperor's Club
2002
as Martin Blythe
MovieToo Young to Be a Dad
2002
as Matt Freeman
MovieL.I.E.
2001
as Howie Blitzer
MovieThe Newcomers
2000
as Joel
TVThe Sopranos
1999
as Patrick Whaley
TVSmart Guy
1997
as Nicholas
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self - Guest
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Audience Member
MovieThe Chaperones
Bunker
Vegas: A Love Story
as Ryder
Possession
Sensei Rainbow and the Dojo Kids
as Paul
