Paul Franklin Dano is an American actor and producer. He has had lead or ensemble roles in independently produced films such as L.I.E., Little Miss Sunshine, Gigantic, Meek's Cutoff, Being Flynn, and Ruby Sparks; and supporting roles in studio-produced films like The Girl Ne...
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominations
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor, Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Satellite Award for...
I want to get better and I want to do more. It's less about stardom and more about being somebody who wants to help create work I want to see.
2
When you play a part like that, so far from yourself, it's a turn-on. There's this mystery to be solved. That's my biggest challenge as an actor, figuring out what brought this person to where we meet them.
3
Taking Woodstock (2009), which is a small part, was basically just to spend a couple days on set with Ang Lee, who I admire a lot, just because I feel like he's doing something different, every time out. I feel like he hasn't lost the hunger to try new things. I really admire that and would like to, as an actor, be that way. I'd also want to make a film someday, so getting a chance to work with directors who I like is really important, because I definitely want to make a film or two.
4
(On if he watches his own films) Yeah, I like to see things once just to have closure. Anything beyond that, I don't know. It's probably not a good thing. Then I start to pick away at myself, you know? Maybe there's something you can learn from it, but I kind of like to see things once, just to know what the movie is. I feel like a lot of the films I do, part of the reason I like doing them is I'm not 100 percent sure what it's going to be. It's exciting. I read an equal amount of very generic scripts, and you kind of know exactly what those are and that doesn't whet my appetite. I already know what it is or I already know what the character is. It's just a lot harder to get interested.
5
Cereal. I love cereal. I eat several bowls a day, mostly a few late at night. Crispix, Honey Nut Cheerios, Kashi, and Oh's are a few favorites.
6
[on working with Steve Carell] "I knew Steve from The Daily Show (1996) and that funny scene he had in Bruce Almighty (2003). I didn't maybe know him by name at that point, but I was just like, "That dude is hilarious!". He's genuinely a very down-to-earth, sweet guy. I have a lot of respect for him. We became good friends. Nobody was really on a pedestal or anything. When you're working with people you look up to and they put you on the same level, it makes your job a little easier, confidence-wise. I never felt nervous, it was just a lot of fun".
7
[on preparing for his role in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)] "In my house, I tried not talking for a couple days and it was almost impossible to be at a dinner table with my parents and not point out to them what I thought was silly that they were saying. You just want to rebel! It was so difficult".
8
[on working with Daniel Day-Lewis in the movie, The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)] "It was incredible. I mean, Daniel Day-Lewis and I were enemies in the movie. I'm the "snake" and his daughter Rose is the "rose". You couldn't get any more opposite from the character I play in (The Girl Next Door (2004)) than the one I play in that. I'm the villain, the snake, sleazy and like this sexual creature. There were days when we wouldn't even look at each other until the end of the day because we were intense. I got into that; it was great. It would help me, too. You know, I look up to him. Before I even auditioned for the movie I did, so it was incredible.
9
Everything you do, every experience that you have, enlightens you a little bit or worsens you. L.I.E. (2001) was big for me. I think it's one of the best things I've been a part of in my life, so far.
10
[on why he chooses acting over music] "I think I'd be too stubborn and have to do it on my own terms. There's a lot of hope in music and there are some really amazing artists out there, but as far as popular music goes, a lot of it is just not for me. So I don't know where I'd fit in or whatever."
Paul's paternal grandparents, John Dano and Anna Herzo, were both from Slovak families that immigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Paul's mother is of half Austrian (including Bohemian/Czech) and half Swedish descent.
3
Was ranked #5 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actors list. (2008).
performer: "Cotton Eye Joe", "Jurassic Park", "Intro Song", "Where Did You Come From?", "Cave Ballad", "When I Think About Mom", "Talk To Her", "Montage", "River Rocket", "Goodbye/Hello"
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Love & Mercy
2014
performer: "God Only Knows", "You Still Believe In Me", "Caroline, No", "Good Vibrations", "Surf's Up", "Black Hole", "Be My Baby" uncredited
12 Years a Slave
2013
performer: "Run Nigger Run"
Meek's Cutoff
2010
performer: "Nearer, My God, To Thee" - uncredited
The Good Heart
2009
"Lullaby for Kitten"
The King
2005
performer: "My Arms Belong to Jesus", "Sad and Beautiful World" 2000, "Helplessly Hoping" 1969
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wildlife
2017
producer filming
Ruby Sparks
2012
executive producer
For Ellen
2012
executive producer
Gigantic
2008
executive producer
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wildlife
2017
filming
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wildlife
2017
adaptation filming
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Night Moves
2013
thanks
Snowpiercer
2013
special thanks
Don Jon
2013
the producers would like to thank
What Goes Up
2009
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2016
TV Series
Himself
Birthday Stories with Lynn Hirschberg
2016
TV Series short
Himself
21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards
2016
TV Movie
Himself
73rd Golden Globe Awards
2016
TV Special
Himself - Nominee
The Late Late Show with James Corden
2015-2016
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
2016
TV Series
Himself
Off Camera with Sam Jones
2015
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series
Himself
The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards
2015
TV Special
Himself - Audience Member
Made in Hollywood
2012-2015
TV Series
Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Good Morning America
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest
12 Years a Slave: A Historical Portrait
2014
Video documentary
Himself
The 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards
2014
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
Looper: The Future from the Beginning
2013
Video short
Himself
Looper: The Science of Time Travel
2013
Video short
Himself
The Hour
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Canada A.M.
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Big Morning Buzz Live
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Igniting the Sky: The Making of Cowboys & Aliens
2011
Video documentary short
Himself
HBO First Look
2009
TV Series documentary
Himself
13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards
2008
TV Special
Himself
13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards Red Carpet Premiere
2008
TV Special
Himself
The Manufacturing of 'Fast Food Nation'
2007
Video documentary
Himself
The 12th Annual Critics' Choice Awards
2007
TV Special
Himself
E! Live from the Red Carpet
2007
TV Series
Himself
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2007
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Dusty Wright's Culture CatchCulture Catch
2005
TV Series
Himself
Cartaz Cultural
2003
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Peace, Love and Cinema
2009
Documentary short
VW Guy
Ceremonia de inauguración - 56º Festival internacional de cine de San Sebastián
2008
TV Movie
Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday (uncredited)
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
EDA Award
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
Virtuoso Award
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Youth (2015)
2015
BSFC Award
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
DFWFCA Award
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
FFCC Award
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
Gotham Independent Film Award
Gotham Awards
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
NYFCO Award
New York Film Critics, Online
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
SFFCC Award
San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2013
BFCC Award
Black Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Ensemble
12 Years a Slave (2013)
2013
NBR Award
National Board of Review, USA
Best Ensemble
Prisoners (2013)
2012
New Hollywood Award
Deauville Film Festival
2008
Chlotrudis Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Best Supporting Actor
There Will Be Blood (2007)
2007
Critics Choice Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Best Young Actor
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
2007
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Ensemble Cast
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
2007
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
2006
ACCA
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Best Cast Ensemble
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
2006
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Ensemble Cast
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
2003
Directors' Week Award
Fantasporto
Best Actor
L.I.E. (2001)
2002
Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Debut Performance
L.I.E. (2001)
2001
Grand Jury Award
L.A. Outfest
Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film
L.I.E. (2001)
2001
Best Actor
Stockholm Film Festival
L.I.E. (2001)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
AACTA International Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
Critics Choice Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
Chlotrudis Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Supporting Male
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
ALFS Award
London Critics Circle Film Awards
Actor of the Year
Love & Mercy (2014)
2016
NCFCA Award
North Carolina Film Critics Association
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
DFCS Award
Detroit Film Critic Society, US
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
DFCC
Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
ICP Award
Indiewire Critics' Poll
Best Lead Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
ICP Award
Indiewire Critics' Poll
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
SDFCS Award
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
SFFCC Award
San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
SLFCA Award
St. Louis Film Critics Association, US
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
VVFP Award
Village Voice Film Poll
Best Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
VVFP Award
Village Voice Film Poll
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2015
WAFCA Award
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Love & Mercy (2014)
2014
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Ensemble Cast
12 Years a Slave (2013)
2014
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
$10 Million
