Pedro Pascal once called Willem Dafoe “the greatest American actor of our lifetime” as he revealed how much he admired the acting legend.
During the ceremony to give Dafoe a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Pascal praised the 69-year-old actor, saying he was the best teacher he ever had. Patricia Arquette, Mark Ruffalo and Guillermo del Toro were also present at the event.
In this onstage tribute, Pascal recalled how he saw Dafoe in Platoon with his father in 1986 when he was 10 years old, which affected him emotionally and made him want to become an actor. He said, “Willem is a good time and a wonderful friend.” And to this Dafoe replied, “It’s beautiful, but it also makes me feel old.”
For Pascal, the Spider-Man actor redefined rebellion and originality, combining them with generosity, integrity and kindness. He also spoke about his meeting with him in China, where they met on his birthday before working together again for The Great Wall (2017).
Pascal summed up the importance of this movie star to him, saying that Dafoe was the greatest American actor of his generation, whose career was incomparable. At the end of his speech, Pascal thanked Dafoe for his contributions as an artist. He stressed, “I would go as far as to say that he is the greatest American actor in our lifetime. You can’t compare his career to anyone else’s, really. So it was our good fortune to have him and I am personally very grateful.”
Dafoe also thanked his fans who gathered for him and his friends who came to support him at the ceremony. He said on stage, “I can’t stop smiling, I feel like a real fool, it’s amazing.”
The four-time Academy Award nominee shared his thoughts on the importance of the arts and entertainment community. He emphasized that shared experiences and storytelling help build connections that encourage important conversations, especially as people are increasingly disconnected from one another amid rapid technological advancements.
Willem Dafoe has made significant contributions to major Hollywood films such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, American Psycho, Death Note, Poor Things, The Lighthouse, Nosferatu, Sons of Kindness, John Wick. He has also worked with West Anderson five times. He is also to work with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Monica Bellucci and Jenna Ortega in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Also read: Willem Dafoe appointed artistic director of Venice Biennale theatre department; details inside
