Willem Dafoe calls his on-screen deaths a "beautiful exercise" while discussing why he enjoys when his characters die in films

American actor Willem Dafoe recently opened up about his recurring on-screen deaths in a conversation with Empire Magazine on December 27, 2024. The actor, known for portraying eccentric and boundary-pushing characters, described these moments as a "beautiful exercise." According to the 68-year-old actor, it allows him to explore the heightened stakes of mortality within the safety of fiction.

Dafoe has built a career around characters that teeter on the edge of chaos, often meeting dramatic and memorable ends. From being crucified as Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ to being decapitated and mummified in The Northman, his performances have captivated audiences worldwide. Reflecting on these experiences, he explained:

"Everyone, unless they're asleep, has an imagination about their death. So when you're in a little fiction... something about that experience is elevated. It's not normal. It's very specific and it's personal, but it's not you."

Regarding this recurring theme, he admitted:

"It raises the stakes. It's a fantasy of imagining a version of what could happen to you... it's a beautiful exercise."

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Willem Dafoe's work from Antichrist to the upcoming Nosferatu

Willem Dafoe's penchant for unconventional characters has been evident since his debut in Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate in 1980. Over the decades, he has worked with directors such as Lars von Trier, David Lynch, and Yorgos Lanthimos, immersing himself in roles that explore the unorthodox and the grotesque.

For instance, in Antichrist (2009), Willem Dafoe played a psychotherapist navigating the grief of his wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg). The film's haunting imagery and intense themes earned it both acclaim and controversy. In the movie, Dafoe voiced the infamous line, "Chaos reigns," spoken by a self-cannibalizing fox.

The actor's upcoming role in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu continues this tradition. Willem Dafoe embraces the esoteric and otherworldly through his portrayal of Professor von Franz, an alchemy-obsessed vampire hunter.

"I'm interested in the unseen world... the illogical, the unseen, the unexplainable," the actor told Empire.

Dafoe has met his cinematic demise in countless ways, including being buried alive in The Lighthouse, shot in Platoon, and burned in Shadow of the Vampire.

His role preparation often involves unique methods to immerse himself fully. For The Lighthouse, he opted to live in a rustic fisherman's cottage, aligning his daily routine with the character's environment, as per Lifestyle Asia.

However, in the interview with Empire Magazine, Dafoe distinguishes his approach from method acting, emphasizing that he activates his performance within the frame rather than maintaining it off-camera.

Willem Dafoe's fascination with characters on society's fringes stems from his curiosity about alternative perspectives.

"If you're functioning in society, you're ruled by the rules of society. But people forced outside of that... have a different perspective," he explained.

This inclination has driven him to explore belief systems, spirituality, and the supernatural throughout his career.

As a young filmmaker, Willem Dafoe was expelled from high school for interviewing unconventional individuals, including a drug dealer and a Satan worshiper.

Willem Dafoe's collaboration with Robert Eggers in Nosferatu marks their third partnership. While describing the character of von Franz, the actor noted that there are layers of mysticism, science, and sacrifice within the story.

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Dafoe has a full slate of projects, including Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things and Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, with Nosferatu on the horizon.