Willem Dafoe Has Needed a “Stunt Penis” at One Point in His Career, and the Reason Is Quite the Humblebrag

Willem Dafoe is one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, with a career spanning over four decades. He has earned respect for his work in independent films, blockbuster franchises, and auteur-driven projects.

One notable film in his diverse career is Antichrist, released in 2009. Directed by Lars von Trier, this horror art film stars Dafoe alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg. The film follows a married couple who, after their infant son’s accidental death, retreat to a cabin in the woods. There, the man experiences unsettling visions, while the woman displays increasingly violent, sexual, and sadomasochistic behavior.

While the film may not have been particularly memorable for American audiences, it gained international notoriety for its shocking scenes, nudity, and graphic depictions of violence and sex. In one notable scene, Willem Dafoe appears fully nude, but it turns out that the penis shown was not actually his.

Director Lars von Trier revealed that a stunt penis was used because Dafoe’s own member was considered too distracting for the scene. Dafoe himself mentioned that his genitals might draw too much attention away from the intended focus of the scene—quite a humble remark.

“It was a good decision because, if it was me, then that’s all that people would talk about. Obviously, Lars wants the characters to have genitals, but it would become a distraction.”

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However, von Trier was unreserved in his comments about the unusual situation:

“I wouldn’t let him treat her in any other way than with his d***; he has an enormous d***. We had to take those scenes out of the film. We had a stand-in for him because we had to take the scenes out with his own d***.”

Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time Willem Dafoe’s nudity has caused problems on set. In an interview with Mel Magazine, Dafoe humorously recounted a situation from The Last Temptation of Christ. During a naked scene as Jesus, his large member became visible while he was hanging on the cross for a wide shot. Director Martin Scorsese promptly instructed someone to address the issue, but the Roman stuntmen refused to help. Eventually, a helpful costume assistant climbed a ladder and discreetly fixed the problem, allowing the scene to proceed.

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