Willem Dafoe appears with novice actor Brooklynn Prince in “The Florida Project.” (Photo courtesy of A24)
Willem Dafoe plays the manager of a budget motel in the shadows of Disney World in “The Florida Project.” (Photo courtesy of A24)
Corliss Phillabaum, an emeritus professor of theater at UWM, directed Willem Dafoe in two productions at the university in 1973 and 1974. Phillabaum is shown here with his wife, Katja, in front of the stage at the Globe Theatre in London. (Photo courtesy of Corliss Phillabaum)
Willem Dafoe appears as Mike Hogan in this 1974 UWM production of Eugene O'Neill’s “Moon for the Misbegotten.” “He was very, very good in a role that only appears in the first 10 minutes of the play,” said Corliss Phillabaum, who directed the play. (Photo courtesy of Corliss Phillabaum)
Willem Dafoe appears as Mike Hogan in this 1974 UWM production of Eugene O'Neill’s “Moon for the Misbegotten.” “He was very, very good in a role that only appears in the first 10 minutes of the play,” said Corliss Phillabaum, who directed the play. (Photo courtesy of Corliss Phillabaum)
Willem Dafoe appears as Mike Hogan in this 1974 UWM production of Eugene O'Neill’s “Moon for the Misbegotten.” “He was very, very good in a role that only appears in the first 10 minutes of the play,” said Corliss Phillabaum, who directed the play. (Photo courtesy of Corliss Phillabaum)
The program for “Moon for the Misbegotten” shows Dafoe listed as William Dafoe in the role of Mike Hogan.
Dafoe played the role of Hippolytus in the 1973 UWM production of Phaedra. (Photo courtesy of Corliss Phillabaum)
Dafoe played the role of Hippolytus in the 1973 UWM production of Phaedra. (Photo courtesy of Corliss Phillabaum)
Dafoe was billed as William Dafoe in the program for the 1973 UWM production of Phaedra.
Willem Dafoe was fresh out of high school and eager to learn about acting when he arrived at UWM in 1973.
He threw himself into the theater, slighting his other classes and many times sleeping in the theater building.
“I was young and very unsophisticated, but eager to train and perform,” Dafoe said.
Corliss Phillabaum, who directed Dafoe in two productions at UWM, could see right away that his student had uncommon talent. “….There was something really special about him,” Phillabaum said.
