Paul Dano

Born in New York City on June 19, 1984, Paul Franklin Dano made his professional theatre debut in 1996, playing the role of Howard in Inherit the Wind at the Royale Theatre (now named Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre). He later starred in a production of A Christmas Carol at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Making his performing debut at 12, Dano was set for an impressive acting career. Currently, he has received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the 2014 film Love & Mercy, as well as a BAFTA nomination in 2007 for his dual roles of Paul and Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood. Other notable film credits include Little Miss Sunshine, Fast Food Nation, Where the Wild Things Are, Cowboys & Aliens, Looper, 12 Years a Slave, and Swiss Army Man.

Dano’s first professional theatre performance as an adult actor came in 2007, when he played the role of Charles in Things We Want at Theatre Row. His True West co-star Ethan Hawke directed this production. He then played the role of Meriweather Lewis in A Free Man of Color at the Vivian Beaumont Theater from October 23, 2010 to January 9, 2011.

Paul Dano returned to Broadway to play the role of Austin in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Sam Shepard's True West from December 27, 2018 through March 17, 2019.