Willem Dafoe Used to Be “Willem DaFINE”

Turns out Willem Dafoe wasn’t always playing intense villains and tortured geniuses . . . he was once just a ridiculously handsome theater kid in the 1970s. And now, thanks to the internet doing what it does best (digging up forgotten footage and turning it into a thirst trap), a decades-old clip of young Dafoe is blowing people’s minds.

In the viral video, the Oscar-nominated actor is around 20 years old, performing in a stage production from 1975. And let’s just say the internet did a double take.

Fans have taken to calling him “Willem DaFINE,” because apparently none of us were prepared for this level of retro heartthrob energy.

One viewer summed it up perfectly: “Wow, I’ve never seen him young.” Another chimed in with, “He has the swagger and confidence of a man who knows he’s blessed by the gods.” And of course, there’s always one person who just keeps it simple: “Oh God, he’s just my type help.”

The resurfaced clip has also surprised fans by revealing that Dafoe used to pronounce his name “William DAY-foe”.

Born July 22nd, 1955, Dafoe turns 70 this month, and yet somehow, this old footage has managed to launch a whole new wave of fandom. It’s like discovering your favorite grizzled movie villain used to look like he belonged on the cover of a vintage romance novel.

Dafoe has always had a bit of a cult following, but this new burst of attention is giving younger fans a chance to appreciate the man behind roles like the Green Goblin, Vincent van Gogh, and literally anything where his face does 80% of the acting.

And if you didn’t think “young Willem Dafoe” would ever be trending, well . . . the internet is here to surprise you again.

Searches for the clip have been popping off on platforms like Reddit and BuzzFeed, with users marveling not just at his looks but at his magnetic stage presence even as a college-age actor. So yes, Willem Dafoe has always been THAT guy, and now, we have the receipts.