Profile photo of Paul Dano

Paul Dano

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

2026
The Wizard of the Kremlin

as Vadim Baranov

Movie
2022
The Fabelmans

as Burt Fabelman

Movie
2022
The Batman

as The Riddler

Movie
2016
Swiss Army Man

as Hank

Movie
2013
12 Years a Slave

as John Tibeats

Movie
2013
Prisoners

as Alex Jones

Movie
2012
Looper

as Seth

Movie
2010
Knight and Day

as Simon Feck

Movie
2007
There Will Be Blood

as Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday

Movie
2006
Little Miss Sunshine

as Dwayne Hoover

Movie
2004
The Girl Next Door

as Klitz

Movie
2025
The Studio

as Paul Dano

TV Show
2022
Pantheon

as Caspian Keyes (voice)

TV Show