Stephen Dorff

Stephen Dorff (born Stephen Hartley Dorff Jr. on 1973-07-29) is an American actor whose career spans more than three decades, beginning in childhood and evolving into a versatile body of work across horror, drama, and action genres. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he is the son of composer and music producer Steve Dorff and Nancy, and grew up in Los Angeles where he appeared in commercials for Kraft and Mattel before landing his first starring role in the cult horror film The Gate (1987). Dorff’s early television work included guest spots on Diff'rent Strokes, Family Ties, Blossom, Roseanne, and Married... with Children, establishing a foundation that would support his transition to feature films. He first attracted critical attention playing Peter Philip Kennith Keith (“PK”) in The Power of One (1992) and earned further acclaim as Stuart Sutcliffe, the “fifth Beatle,” in Backbeat (1994), a performance praised by Paul McCartney for its emotional depth. In 1998 he achieved mainstream recognition as the vampire Deacon Frost in the Marvel‑based blockbuster Blade, solidifying his status as a leading man in genre cinema. Throughout the 2000s Dorff continued to choose eclectic projects, starring in John Waters’ Cecil B. DeMented (2000), Sofia Coppola’s contemplative drama Somewhere (2010), and the historical crime film Public Enemies (2009). He also embraced television, most notably portraying Detective Roland West in the third season of HBO’s acclaimed anthology series True Detective (2019). Outside of acting, Dorff has appeared in music videos for Aerosmith (“Cryin’”) and Britney Spears (“Everytime”), and has participated in advertising campaigns for blu eCigs, showcasing his enduring appeal across media. With a career marked by both commercial hits and indie favorites, Stephen Dorff remains a dynamic and respected figure in contemporary cinema.