10 Villainous Performances From Actors Who Also Played Jesus

Willem Dafoe unusual looks and intensity set him apart as an actor and led to a number of collaborations with world-class directors. Sam Raimi, Lars von Trier, Wes Anderson, the list goes on and on. One of his most rewarding relationships was with Martin Scorsese, which only produced two films, but one of them was the controversial and riveting The Last Temptation of Christ.

A retelling of the Christ story from a humanist perspective that included some controversial moments involving Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Dafoe infused his Jesus with flaws and doubts that make him utterly relatable.

Though he has played delightfully over the top villains in films like Spider-Man and Once Upon A Time In Mexico, it is the surprising humanity he brings to the vampire Max Schreck that makes Shadow Of The Vampire such an effective chiller.

Playing a real vampire that acts as a pretend in the film while secretly feeding on those around him, Dafoe’s Schreck is both the predator and the outcast, cursed to feed on that which he can never be. His tragic death that wraps the film shoot works remarkably despite the total lack of remorse for his murderous ways.