Willem Dafoe in full, William James Dafoe is an American film and voice actor, best known for portraying dark and unconventional characters in films. He is a versatile actor who chooses his roles more on the basis of their artistic merit than on their box office potential.
He has acted in a variety of roles that range from that of an idealistic FBI agent in ‘Mississippi Burning’ to the villainous green goblin in ‘Spiderman.’ His well-defined cheekbones and strong jaws give him a look that suits the villainous roles that he often portrays.
But he is also careful not to be typecast as villain and believes in exploring different kinds of roles that would help him develop as an actor. He played negative roles in ‘To Live and Die in L.A,’ ‘The Loveless,’ and ‘Streets of Fire’ during the 1980s.
Desiring some variety in the kind of characters he played, Dafoe portrayed the kind-hearted ‘Sergeant Elias’ in Oliver Stone’s ‘Platoon’—a role which earned him an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor.’ He depicted Jewish boxer ‘Salamo Arouch,’ a holocaust survivor, in the film ‘Triumph of the Spirit.’
Who is Willem Dafoe married to?
Willem Dafoe is a dynamite Hollywood performer and a doting husband! The Poor Things actor has been happily married to his wife, Giada Colagrande, for nearly two decades.
Who is Willem Dafoe’s wife Giada Colagrande?
Born on October 16, 1975, Giada Colagrande is an Italian film director and actress.
In 1995, Giada moved to Rome to begin her filmmaking career, working on contemporary art-themed documentaries.
She worked with the art project VOLUME from 1997 until the year 2000. The project features a series of video portraits of various artists, such as Jannis Kounellis and Sol LeWitt.
By the year 2001, Giada had written, directed, and starred in her first feature film: Aprimi il Cuore, which opened at the Venice Film Festival.
After showing her film at a slew of festivals, Giada was awarded with the Prix de l’Avenir award in 2003.
Her second feature came out in 2005: Before it Had a Name. Her husband, Willem Dafoe, co-wrote and co-starred in the film.
Giada’s next feature came out in 2010, also starring Willem.
She went on to work on The Woman Dress, a short film for the Prada series, The Miu Miu Women’s Tales, as well as a documentary based on the life of opera director Robert Wilson.
Other films Giada worked on include: The Abramovic Method, PADRE, Pasolini, and Castello Cavalcanti.
How Did Willem Dafoe Meet Giada Colagrande?
The Spider-Man star opened up about his unique love story with Giada, which started in Europe on a whim.
“I met my wife on the street in Rome in 2004,” Willem told The Guardian in November 2009. “I knew of her because I’d seen her films, and we had some mutual friends. Getting married was very impulsive and romantic. We were having lunch and I said, ‘Do you want to get married tomorrow?’”
Luckily for the Wisconsin native, Giada felt the exact same way and happily accepted the impromptu proposal.
“I called up City Hall and they said, ‘If you get here in the next couple of hours, you can register and then you can get married tomorrow,’” he recalled. “So, we ran down there. We married the next day with just two witnesses, our best friends: my manager and her editor.”
The pair made their red carpet debut at the Cannes Film Festival shortly after their 2005 wedding. They’ve been happily married ever since, supporting each other’s projects and proving that their love is everlasting.
Over the years, the Hollywood duo have worked together on films, falling more in love with each other as the years have gone on.
“I work with my wife sometimes,” Willem said during an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan in March 2023. “It’s nice. You have special information, you have complicity, you have a shorthand, you have a language, you know?”
In January 2024, Giada was by her husband’s side as he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Finally, thank you to my wife Giada Colagrande, who teaches me gratitude and reminds me not to spit on my luck,” Willem said during his speech at the event.
Does Willem Dafoe Have Kids?
Willem and Giada do not share any children together; however, he is a dad to one son, Jack Dafoe, from his previous relationship with Elizabeth LeCompte.
“I was in a relationship for 27 years,” the Oscar nominee said. “She’s the mother of my son, but we never married because to her, marriage represented ownership and I respected that. But after a while, I was more interested in getting married than she was.”
What is Giada Colagrande’s net worth?
According to Idol Net Worth, Giada has an estimated net worth of around $30million.
Her husband, Willem Dafoe, has an estimated value of around $40million according to Celebrity Net Worth.
He has starred in films such as To Live and Die in L.A., Platoon, The Last Temptation of Christ, Spider-Man, and The Florida Project.
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