An actor for all seasons and all kinds of roles (from dark, difficult characters to more loving ones) Paul Dano has an extensive body of work that includes working with directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Steve McQueen, Dayton & Ferris, Ang Lee, Denis Villenueve, and Paolo Sorrentino; acting with heavyweights such as Harrison Ford, Daniel Day-Lewis, Alan Arkin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Toni Collette, Michael Caine, and Kevin Kline just to mention a few names; and easily making a fine transition in between independent cinema, art-house films, and mainstream Hollywood blockbusters.

Paul Franklin Dano was born on 19 June 1984 in New York City, the son of Gladys (Pipp) and Paul Dano. 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 (1998). 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 acclaimedL.I.E. (2001). 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 inThe Girl Next Door (2004),Taking Lives (2004),The King (2005),Fast Food Nation (2006) andThe Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005).

Dano's rise to stardom came in consecutive films that showcased his talents and made him an important name in the business: as Dwayne, a rebel teen who copes with his teen angst by refusing to speak to everyone in his family, only using of his cold expressions and a notepad inLittle 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. The following year, he appeared in a dual role as twin brothers Paul and Eli Sunday - the latter character, a devoted preacher, is more extensive and challenging than the mysterious Paul, inPaul Thomas Anderson critically acclaimedThere Will Be Blood (2007). The role was given to Dano after a recommendation fromDaniel Day-Lewis who had worked with the young actor inThe Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005) and found him a very talented and interesting role. Anderson followed Day-Lewis' suggestion, and the result was another hit for Dano, who received several awards nominations, including the BAFTA as Best Supporting Actor.

After that, he went on with his career withTaking Woodstock (2009),Cowboys & Aliens (2011),Ruby Sparks (2012) - in which he appears alongside his girlfriendZoe Kazan,Looper (2012), as the tortured suspect inPurizunâzu (2013); the Oscar-winningSore Demo Yoru Ha Akeru (2013); as a young Method actor inGrand Finale (2015); the freak comedySwiss Army Man (2016);Okja (2017); and the miniseriesWar & Peace (2016) andEscape at Dannemora (2018), the latter being a role completely the opposite he ever played in previous years, as an inmate who escapes jail, a very physical work for him. In between those films and projects, he gained notoriety by playing the young Brian Wilson inLove & Mercy (2014), the Beach Boys leader who suffers a nervous breakdown while trying to compose an epic album. That role gave Paul Dano plenty of buzz during awards season, some deserved recognition, and his first Golden Globe nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category.

His career seems to always be going further as each year goes by, always promising. He made his directorial debut inWairudoraifu (2018), which was co-written withZoe Kazan. They've been living together for a decade and have a daughter.

In the 2020s, he provided the voice for a character in the thrillerThe Guilty/ギルティ (2021) and played the Riddler in the box-office hitThe Batman (2022), in one of his most challenging roles. During the 2022/2023 awards season, he received a lot of praise and attention for his role in the acclaimedThe Fabelmans (2022) where he plays a version of Steven Spielberg's father.