Willem Dafoe Goes Viral After Being Asked 'What Do You Do for a Living?' in TikTok Video

Mar. 15, 2025

Willem Dafoe attends the UK Premiere of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” at the Cineworld Leicester Square on August 29, 2024 in London, England.Photo:WireImage

WireImage

Willem Dafoeisn’t afraid to get candid on the street.TheSpider-Manstar, 69, recently wentviral on TikTokfor his responses after someone stopped him, in what appeared to be New York City, and asked him in an impromptu interview about his job and career advice.In the video, an interviewer could be seen stopping Dafoe on the street before asking him, “What do you do for a living?,” which prompted him to respond, “I’m an actor.”The interviewer went on to ask him his name and what he liked about his job, and Dafoe replied, “It’s always different. Nothing’s ever the same.”Willem Dafoe in ‘Spider-Man.'.Zade Rosenthal/ColumbiaWhen asked about what kind of “advice” he would give up and coming actors or others interested in the field, theNosferatustar said that he doesn’t “give advice” because “everybody’s got to find their own way.” He added that they should just “enjoy” their path.The interviewer then asked Dafoe how he wanted “to be remembered,” to which the actor replied, “I don’t think about that.” He also shared that he didn’t “know” where he could be in the next five years, adding, “I mean, I have a hard time thinking beyond tomorrow.”The video prompted several responses from fans who joked about the interviewer not knowing who the beloved actor was. One person wrote, “dude just asked the most recognizable man in the world who he was.” Another chimed in, saying, “not knowing Willem Dafoe is a crime.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Willem Dafoe as Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz in ‘Nosferatu.'.Aidan Monaghan/Focus FeaturesOther people joked about the questions asked, including one person who wrote, “asking Wllem Dafoe what he does for a living is criminalllllll.” Another said, “bro stopped Willem Dafoe and asked him how he wants to be remembered.”Others praised Dafoe for his responses, including several who described the actor as “so humble” for taking some time to speak to the person.ThePoor Thingsactor previously shared in an interview with NBC News’Sunday TODAY with Willie Geistin December 2023 that he’s gotten recognized many times on the streets of New York City since starring in the 2000s-eraSpider-Mantrilogy as villain the Green Goblin due to his “distinctive face.”“Some guys got on the train — and they’re sitting and they’re looking at me and they’re looking kind of rough and I think, ‘Oh God, even with my son here, they’re going to roll me for money or something. Something bad is going to happen,’ " he said.“They were looking kind of mean and they were looking at each other, and then I heard one say, ‘Yeah, it’s gotta be him. Nobody looks like that m—–f——,’ " he continued. “That’s when I knew [I was recognizable].”Dafoe has been acting for the screen since he made his debut in 1980’sHeaven’s Gate. Since then, he has received fourAcademy Awardnominations in three separate decades, most recently earning Oscar nods two consecutive years for his performances in 2017’sThe Florida Projectand 2018’sAt Eternity’s Gate.

Willem Dafoeisn’t afraid to get candid on the street.

TheSpider-Manstar, 69, recently wentviral on TikTokfor his responses after someone stopped him, in what appeared to be New York City, and asked him in an impromptu interview about his job and career advice.

In the video, an interviewer could be seen stopping Dafoe on the street before asking him, “What do you do for a living?,” which prompted him to respond, “I’m an actor.”

The interviewer went on to ask him his name and what he liked about his job, and Dafoe replied, “It’s always different. Nothing’s ever the same.”

Willem Dafoe in ‘Spider-Man.'.Zade Rosenthal/Columbia

Zade Rosenthal/Columbia

When asked about what kind of “advice” he would give up and coming actors or others interested in the field, theNosferatustar said that he doesn’t “give advice” because “everybody’s got to find their own way.” He added that they should just “enjoy” their path.

The interviewer then asked Dafoe how he wanted “to be remembered,” to which the actor replied, “I don’t think about that.” He also shared that he didn’t “know” where he could be in the next five years, adding, “I mean, I have a hard time thinking beyond tomorrow.”

The video prompted several responses from fans who joked about the interviewer not knowing who the beloved actor was. One person wrote, “dude just asked the most recognizable man in the world who he was.” Another chimed in, saying, “not knowing Willem Dafoe is a crime.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Willem Dafoe as Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz in ‘Nosferatu.'.Aidan Monaghan/Focus Features

Aidan Monaghan/Focus Features

Other people joked about the questions asked, including one person who wrote, “asking Wllem Dafoe what he does for a living is criminalllllll.” Another said, “bro stopped Willem Dafoe and asked him how he wants to be remembered.”

Others praised Dafoe for his responses, including several who described the actor as “so humble” for taking some time to speak to the person.

ThePoor Thingsactor previously shared in an interview with NBC News’Sunday TODAY with Willie Geistin December 2023 that he’s gotten recognized many times on the streets of New York City since starring in the 2000s-eraSpider-Mantrilogy as villain the Green Goblin due to his “distinctive face.”

“Some guys got on the train — and they’re sitting and they’re looking at me and they’re looking kind of rough and I think, ‘Oh God, even with my son here, they’re going to roll me for money or something. Something bad is going to happen,’ " he said.

“They were looking kind of mean and they were looking at each other, and then I heard one say, ‘Yeah, it’s gotta be him. Nobody looks like that m—–f——,’ " he continued. “That’s when I knew [I was recognizable].”

Dafoe has been acting for the screen since he made his debut in 1980’sHeaven’s Gate. Since then, he has received fourAcademy Awardnominations in three separate decades, most recently earning Oscar nods two consecutive years for his performances in 2017’sThe Florida Projectand 2018’sAt Eternity’s Gate.

source: people.com