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
Did you know that Paul Dano was originally cast in a minor role as Paul Sunday in "There Will Be Blood," but director Paul Thomas Anderson was so impressed he expanded his part to also include the pivotal role of Eli Sunday?
His dual roles as the manipulative preacher Eli Sunday and his quieter brother Paul in Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" (2007) are widely considered his defining moment. This intense performance, holding his own against Daniel Day-Lewis, earned him a BAFTA nomination and established him as a master of complex, unsettling characters.
Paul Dano has cemented his legacy as a versatile actor known for his compelling and often intense portrayals of complex characters. He is celebrated for his ability to bring depth and nuance to both independent films and major blockbusters.
Also known as: P. Dano