Paul Dano is an American actor. He made his acting debut in L.I.E. and gained wider recognition for playing Dwayne Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine. His work includes both independent film and blockbusters, and his accolades include nominations for a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for playing Paul & Eli Sunday in Paul Thomas Anderson’s period drama There Will Be Blood. After supporting roles in mainstream films such as Knight and Day, Cowboys & Aliens, and Looper, Dano had critically acclaimed roles in 12 Years a Slave and Prisoners.
For his portrayal of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy, he earned a nomination for the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Dano made his directorial debut with the drama film Wildlife, which he also co-wrote with his partner, Zoe Kazan. He has also written the comic book The Riddler: Year One. In June 2025, it was announced that Dano would write and potentially direct and produce “a high-concept comedy” for Universal Pictures, produced by The Daniels.
Birth Name
Paul Franklin Dano
Nickname
Paul
Profession
Actor, Director, Screenwriter
Nationality
American
Personal Life
Birthday / Date of Birth
Paul Dano was born on the 19th of June 1984, in New York City, New York, United States.
Age
He’s currently 41 years old.
Sun Sign
Gemini
Ethnicity
Mixed
Religion
Christianity
Education
He attended Browning School, a private boys’ school in New York City. He later studied at Eugene Lang College (The New School), where he focused on acting and theater studies while continuing to build his professional career.
Family Details
- Father – Paul A. Dano (Financial Advisor)
- Mother – Gladys Ann Pipp (Homemaker)
- Siblings – Sarah Dano (Sister)
Marital Status
Committed
Girlfriend / Spouse
Paul Dano has dated –
- Zoe Kazan – In 2007, Dano began dating actress Zoe Kazan. They have a daughter named Alma. In late 2022, the couple welcomed their second child.
Physical Statistics
Height
- In feet – 6 feet 0½ inches
- In centimeters – 184 cm
- In meters – 184 m
Weight
- In Kilograms – 75 kg
- In Pounds – 165 lbs
Body Measurements
- Measurements – 30-13-38
- Waist – 30 Inches
- Biceps – 13 Inches
- Chest – 38 Inches
Body Build
Slim
Eye Color
Blue
Hair Color
Light Brown
Shoe Size
He wears a size 11 (US) shoe.
Sexuality
Straight
Professional Statistics
Famous For
Paul rose to fame as Dwayne in the hit film Little Miss Sunshine. His role as John Tibeats in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave earned him 12 film award nominations. He also received acclaim for his roles in the PT Anderson drama There Will Be Blood and the Showtime series Escape at Dannemora.
Television Debut
In 1997, Dano made his television debut in Smart Guy as Nicholas.
Film Debut
In 2000, Paul made his feature film debut with The Newcomers. His major breakthrough came with Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and There Will Be Blood (2007), where he famously played two roles opposite Daniel Day-Lewis.
Paul Dano Net worth
Paul Dano has an estimated net worth of $14 million dollars as of 2026.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Paul Dano
- Paul was born in New York City. He is of Rusyn, Slovenian/Czech, and Swedish descent. At an early age he was already appearing in community plays and by his early teens he got his first TV appearance on an episode of Smart Guy.
- His first major role was as Howie Blitzer, a trouble teenager who gets involved with an older man, played by Brian Cox, in the controversial and acclaimed L.I.E. . For the role, Dano was awarded an Independent Spirit Award in the Best Debut Performance category, along with some other awards from indie cinema.
- From then on, he moved on to supporting roles in The Girl Next Door (2004), Taking Lives (2004), The King (2005), Fast Food Nation (2006) and The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005).
- Dano’s rise to stardom came in consecutive films Little Miss Sunshine (2006), he was praised by critics and audiences, a role that earned him, among other awards, the Screen Actors Guild as Best Ensemble Cast.
- In 2008, he starred in Gigantic, a poorly-reviewed film about a man seeking to adopt a Chinese baby, co-starring Zooey Deschanel.
- In 2015, Paul appeared with Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel in the Italian comedy-drama Youth; Dano portrayed Jimmy Tree, an actor doing research for an upcoming role who is frustrated to be best known for a previous role as a robot.
- In January 2016, Dano appeared as Pierre Bezukhov in the BBC’s six-part adaptation of Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
- In 2018, he portrayed escaped inmate David Sweat in the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora alongside Patricia Arquette and Benicio del Toro, for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series.
- In October 2019, Dano was cast as The Riddler in Matt Reeves’s 2022 superhero film The Batman. Reeves wrote the role with Dano in mind after seeing Dano’s portrayal of Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy.
- He made his directorial debut in Wildlife (2018), which was co-written with Zoe Kazan.
- In the 2020s, he provided the voice for a character in the thriller The Guilty (2021) and played the Riddler in the box-office hit The Batman (2022), in one of his most challenging roles.
- In April 2021, Paul was cast in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age film The Fabelmans as Burt Fabelman, a character loosely based on Spielberg’s father Arnold.
- In 2022, Dano starred in AMC’s animated drama Pantheon.
- In March 2025, Paul appeared in The Studio as a guest star.
- In December 2025, Dano was reported to have joined the cast of Florian Zeller’s psychological thriller Bunker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paul Dano?
He is an Actor who first rose to fame as Dwayne in the hit film Little Miss Sunshine. His role as John Tibeats in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave earned him 12 film award nominations. He also received acclaim for his roles in the PT Anderson drama There Will Be Blood and the Showtime series Escape at Dannemora.
What is the real name of Paul Dano?
His real name is Paul Franklin Dano.
What is the age of Paul Dano?
He is 41 years old (19th of June 1984).
What is Paul Dano Height?
The Height of Paul is 1.84 m (6′0½”).
What is Paul Dano Educational Background?
He attended Browning School, a private boys’ school in New York City. He later studied at Eugene Lang College (The New School), where he focused on acting and theater studies while continuing to build his professional career.
What is Paul Dano Known For?
He rose to fame as Dwayne in the hit film Little Miss Sunshine. His role as John Tibeats in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave earned him 12 film award nominations. He also received acclaim for his roles in the PT Anderson drama There Will Be Blood and the Showtime series Escape at Dannemora.
What is the Net worth of Paul Dano?
He has an estimated net worth of $14 million dollars as of 2026.