Cast & creator
Paul Dano
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers
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.
Also known as: Paul Franklin Dano
59
film credits
24
television credits
73
1944–2027 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (83)
Showing 83 of 83 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
The Daily Show
Self - Guest
1996
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self
2015The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest
2015
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
The Sopranos
Patrick Whaley
1999
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member
1944
Hot Ones
Self
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
The Batman
The Riddler
2022
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Self
2014
The Oscars
Self
1953
The Studio
Paul Dano
2025
Clique
Self - Guest
2013
Pantheon
Caspian Keyes (voice)
2022
Smart Guy
Nicholas
1997
Prisoners
Alex Jones
2013
The Girl Next Door
Klitz
2004
There Will Be Blood
Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday
2007
12 Years a Slave
John Tibeats
2013
Dumb Money
Keith Gill
2023
Knight and Day
Simon Feck
2010
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Hot Neighbor
2024
The Fabelmans
Burt Fabelman
2022
Looper
Seth
2012
Little Miss Sunshine
Dwayne Hoover
2006
Cowboys & Aliens
Percy Dolarhyde
2011
War and Peace
Pierre Bezukhov
2016
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Vadim Baranov
2026
Taking Lives
Young Asher
2004
The Apprentice
Thanks
2024
The Guilty
Matthew Fontenot (voice)
2021
Youth
Jimmy Tree
2015
Ruby Sparks
Calvin
2012Ruby Sparks
Executive Producer
2012
Spaceman
Hanuš (voice)
2024
Escape at Dannemora
David Sweat
2018
Swiss Army Man
Hank
2016
Fantasmas
Jeff
2024
Where the Wild Things Are
Alexander (voice)
2009
Okja
Jay
2017
Love & Mercy
Brian Wilson 1960s
2015
Wildlife
Screenplay
2018Wildlife
Director
2018Wildlife
Producer
2018
Taking Woodstock
VW Guy
2009
The Emperor's Club
Martin Blythe
2002
Meek's Cutoff
Thomas Gately
2011
Being Flynn
Nick Flynn
2012
Fast Food Nation
Brian
2006
Bunker
Andrew
2026
Sia: Nostalgic for the Present
2026
The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Thaddius
2005
The Chaperones
The Extra Man
Louis Ives
2010
L.I.E.
Howie Blitzer
2001
For Ellen
Joby Taylor
2012For Ellen
Executive Producer
2012
The Fabelmans: A Family in Film
Self
2023
Flatscreen
Paul
2012
The Good Heart
Lucas
2009The Batman: Unpacking the Icons
Himself
2022Sensei Rainbow and the Dojo Kids
Paul
Gigantic
Brian
2008Gigantic
Executive Producer
2008
Light and the Sufferer
Don (AKA: Light)
2008
The Newcomers
Joel
2000Vegas: A Love Story
Ryder
Too Young to Be a Dad
Matt Freeman
2002
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Prior Walter
2020
Possession
2027
Weapons
Chris
2007
The King
Paul
2006
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
Self
2007
Explicit Ills
Rocco
2008Untitled Paul Dano Comedy Film
Writer
Untitled Paul Dano Comedy Film
Director
Untitled Paul Dano Comedy Film
Producer
A Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam
Self - Narrator
2023