--- name: "Stephen Dorff" canonical: "https://film.one/person/stephen-dorff" fi1m_id: "stephen-dorff" imdb_id: "nm0001151" tmdb_id: 10822 wikidata_id: "Q334195" roles: ["Actor"] born: "29 July 1973" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-10-07T18:19:19.279293+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Stephen Dorff ## Identity Stephen Dorff - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/stephen-dorff - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** stephen-dorff - **IMDb ID:** nm0001151 - **TMDB ID:** 10822 - **Wikidata ID:** Q334195 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Dorff, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334195, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001151/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10822 Actor. Born 29 July 1973 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 29 July 1973, Atlanta, Georgia, USA - **Active:** 1998–present - **Also known as:** Stephen Hartley Dorff Jr. - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (1), 2000s 69 (2), 2010s 80 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 67 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 2, Action 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, History 1, Horror 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $406m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Dorff, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q334195, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001151/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10822 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*True Detective*](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Stephen Dorff > Stephen Dorff can make an underwritten troublemaker worth watching, as *Blade* demonstrates. His quieter dramatic work suggests an actor worth taking seriously, provided intensity does not become the only thing a part asks of him. Deacon Frost has enough energy to make the stretches between fights in *Blade* (1998) worth watching. Stephen Dorff is working with one of the thin supporting parts in David S. Goyer’s screenplay, so there is a limit to what he can supply. We perked up in his scenes because he stopped the wait for the next confrontation feeling quite so long. Wesley Snipes still carries the film, but Dorff makes a useful contribution without needing a fully developed character. That should not be mistaken for a reason to leave his characters underwritten. His early prominence came with *The Power of One* (1992) and *Backbeat* (1994), before *Blade* brought him wider attention. Playing Stuart Sutcliffe in *Backbeat* involved accent work and physical preparation, so the dramatic commitment was there before the vampire. The subsequent career mixed independent and studio films, moving between horror, action and intimate drama. Sofia Coppola’s *Somewhere* (2010) brought renewed attention to his dramatic work. *Blade* also sets a useful limit on our enthusiasm. Dorff keeps Frost’s scenes moving, but he cannot supply the detail Goyer has left out; the film remains worth watching chiefly for Snipes and the action. *Felon* (2008), with Dorff as Wade Porter, offers more substantial dramatic work in a prison setting. He gives that part grounded emotion, although his intensity can become overheated. We value the commitment, but the extra force is not always helpful. Coppola makes good use of a quieter approach in *Somewhere*, where Dorff plays Johnny Marco with vulnerability. It is a useful change from the physically demanding roles he is frequently given, and a reason to keep looking beyond Frost. His extended part as Roland West in the third series of *True Detective* (2019) offers another route through the work. We recommend starting with *Blade*, then trying *Somewhere*. ## Biography Stephen Dorff is an American actor. Born Stephen Hartley Dorff Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia, he began acting as a child and appeared in the horror film *The Gate* (1987). He rose to prominence playing Stuart Sutcliffe in *Backbeat* (1994) and Deacon Frost in *Blade* (1998). Dorff has taken supporting roles in films including *Public Enemies* (2009), *Immortals* (2011) and *The Iceman* (2012). He portrayed Roland West in the third season of the television series *True Detective* (2019). His father is the composer Steve Dorff. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *True Detective* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Roland West — [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md) - *Public Enemies* (2009), Fi1m 64, as Homer Van Meter — [page](https://film.one/film/public-enemies.md) - *Zoolander* (2001), Fi1m 74, as Stephen Dorff — [page](https://film.one/film/zoolander.md) - *Blade* (1998), Fi1m 76, as Deacon Frost — [page](https://film.one/film/blade.md) ## Complete filmography (109) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Deputy* (2026), as Billy Banks - *Permanent Damage* (2026), as LL - *Viper* (2026), Actor - *Vampires of the Velvet Lounge* (2026), as Randall/Ramsey - *Bride Hard* (2025), as Kurt - *Gunslingers* (2025), as Thomas Keller - *The Trainer* (2024), as Will - *Clear Cut* (2024), as Ike - *Blood for Dust* (2024), as Gus - *Divinity* (2023), as Jaxxon - *King of Killers* (2023), as Robert Xane - *Mob Land* (2023), as Clayton Minor · Executive Producer - *Dead Man's Hand* (2023), as Mayor Clarence Bishop · Executive Producer - *The Price We Pay* (2023), as Cody - *Paradise City* (2022), as Robbie Cole - *Traveling Light* (2021), as Todd - *Old Henry* (2021), as Ketchum - *Barely Legal* (2021), as Narrator - *Embattled* (2020), as Cash · Executive Producer - *Deputy* (2020), series, as Bill Hollister - *The Righteous Gemstones* (2019), series, as Vance Simkin - *I'll Find You* (2019), as General Huber - *Don't Go* (2018), as Ben Slater - *Sex Guaranteed* (2017), as Hank - *Leatherface* (2017), as Texas Ranger Hal Hartman - *Jackals* (2017), as Jimmy Levine - *Life Boat* (2017), Actor - *Wheeler* (2017), as Wheeler · Writer, Producer - *Star* (2016), series, as Brody Dean - *Albion: The Enchanted Stallion* (2016), as Connor - *Down by Love* (2016), as Voice - *American Hero* (2015), as Melvin - *The Debt* (2015), as Oliver Campbell - *She's Funny That Way* (2015), as Stephen Dorff - *True Detective* (2014), series, as Roland West — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md) - *Heatstroke* (2013), as Paul - *The Motel Life* (2013), as Jerry Lee - *A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III* (2013), as Stephen - *Officer Down* (2013), as Det. David 'Cal' Callahan - *Tomorrow You're Gone* (2012), as Charlie Rankin - *Zaytoun* (2012), as Yoni · Executive Producer - *The Iceman* (2012), as Joey Kuklinski - *Rites of Passage* (2012), as Professor Nash - *Brake* (2012), as Jeremy Reins · Executive Producer - *Carjacked* (2011), as Roy - *Immortals* (2011), as Stavros - *Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star* (2011), as Dick Shadow - *Somewhere* (2010), as Johnny Marco - *Public Enemies* (2009), as Homer Van Meter — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/public-enemies.md) - *XIII* (2008), series, as Ross Tanner - *Felon* (2008), as Wade Porter · Executive Producer - *Botched* (2007), as Ritchie - *The Passage* (2007), as Luke - *Nanking* (2007), as Lewis Smythe - *.45* (2006), as Reilly - *World Trade Center* (2006), as Scott Strauss - *Covert One: The Hades Factor* (2006), series, as Jon Smith - *Covert One: The Hades Factor* (2006), as Jon Smith - *Tennis Anyone?* (2006), as T.C. Jackson - *Shadowboxer* (2005), as Clayton Mayfield - *Stacked* (2005), series, Actor - *Alone in the Dark* (2005), as Richard Burke - *Cold Creek Manor* (2003), as Dale Massie - *Den of Lions* (2003), as Mike Varga - *FearDotCom* (2002), as Mike - *Steal* (2002), as Slim - *Deuces Wild* (2002), as Leon - *Ultimate Fights from the Movies* (2002), as Deacon Frost (Blade) (archive footage) - *Zoolander* (2001), as Stephen Dorff — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/zoolander.md) - *Cecil B. Demented* (2000), as Cecil B. Demented - *Quantum Project* (2000), as Paul Pentcho - *Earthly Possessions* (1999), as Jake Simms, Jr. - *Entropy* (1999), as Jake Walsh - *Blade* (1998), as Deacon Frost — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/blade.md) - *City of Industry* (1997), as Skip Kovich - *Space Truckers* (1996), as Mike Pucci - *Blood and Wine* (1996), as Jason - *I Shot Andy Warhol* (1996), as Candy Darling - *Santa's Christmas Snooze* (1995), Actor - *Reckless* (1995), as Tom Jr. - *Innocent Lies* (1995), as Jeremy Graves - *One Hundred and One Nights* (1995), as Mute Actor in Hollywood - *S.F.W.* (1995), as Cliff Spab - *Backbeat* (1994), as Stuart Sutcliffe - *Rescue Me* (1993), as Fraser Sweeney - *Judgment Night* (1993), as John Wyatt - *An Ambush of Ghosts* (1993), as George Betts - *The Power of One* (1992), as P.K. Age 18 - *Always Remember I Love You* (1990), as Robert Mendham - *What a Dummy* (1990), series, as Tucker Brannigan - *Blossom* (1990), series, Actor - *The Outsiders* (1990), series, as Bobby Dean - *A Son's Promise* (1990), as Charles O'Kelly - *Do You Know the Muffin Man?* (1989), as Sandy Dollison - *I Know My First Name Is Steven* (1989), series, as Pete - *Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story* (1988), as Kale Wedemeyer - *Roseanne* (1988), series, Actor — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md) - *Empty Nest* (1988), series, as Billy at 14 - *Hiroshima Maiden* (1988), as Johnny Bennett - *The Gate* (1987), as Glen - *Married... with Children* (1987), series, as Boz - *In Love and War* (1987), as Stan Age 9 - *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Martin - *People Not Places*, Actor - *Lear Rex*, as Poor Tom - *No Place Like Rome*, as Connor - *Slant*, as Sid - *What the F*ck Is My Password?!*, Actor - *Red Stick Hoods*, Actor ## Gallery - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-98f27f2374a4.jpg) Stephen Dorff — gdcgraphics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdcgraphics/, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/StephenDorff08TIFF.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Toronto International Film Festival 2012. Most generous star at TIFF2012.](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-aadf6494775c.jpg) Toronto International Film Festival 2012. Most generous star at TIFF2012. — Gordon Correll, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Stephen_Dorff_%288084618366%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-6c61f8c3889c.jpg) Stephen Dorff — Image via TMDB - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-2bfa7074f39a.jpg) Stephen Dorff — Image via TMDB - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-18459df59a4a.jpg) Stephen Dorff — Image via TMDB - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-354961686320.jpg) Stephen Dorff — Image via TMDB - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-e38ac223b115.jpg) Stephen Dorff — Image via TMDB - ![Stephen Dorff](https://film.one/media/person/88040/gallery-244018fdfeb3.jpg) Stephen Dorff — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - MTV Movie Award for Best Villain 1999: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain (won), for *Blade* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/stephen-dorff