‘Tenzing’ Star Willem Dafoe Goes Viral Again for His Bizarre Poses in a New Photoshoot

Some actors build reputations through their filmography alone, but Willem Dafoe has spent recent years cultivating an entirely different kind of internet fame. His candid magazine photoshoots have consistently found their way into meme culture, turning red carpet appearances and editorial shoots into unexpected viral moments that have little to do with his actual film work.

That trend has been building steadily, with older GQ Italia images repeatedly resurfacing as memes and another set of unusual photos from Collectible DRY Issue 31 spreading widely online back in June. Fans have grown so accustomed to the pattern that any new Dafoe photoshoot now arrives with genuine anticipation for what strange pose he might attempt next.

That anticipation has been rewarded once again. Willem Dafoe has gone viral for a fresh batch of bizarre poses in a new photoshoot, this time appearing in A Rabbit’s Foot Issue 16.

The shoot, titled “The Chameleon” and captured by photographer Daniel Sannwald in a Rome studio, features the 71-year-old actor stretching across the floor, folding his body into yoga-like positions, balancing on furniture and staring intensely into the camera while holding a candle. At one point, Dafoe dismantled and stacked pieces of a prop table while music played in the studio, later explaining his mindset during the accompanying interview.

Reflecting on his approach to the shoot, Dafoe offered a rare moment of self-awareness about just how unusual his photoshoot instincts have become over the years. “Sometimes, I don’t know why I do these things,” Dafoe said, according to Dexerto, before adding, “But if I’m going to do it, I may as well do it right.”

That candid admission captures the same committed, full-body performance energy that’s defined Dafoe’s photoshoots for years, treating each session less like a standard modeling assignment and more like an extension of his theatrical background. Social media reaction to the new images was immediate, with one widely shared post declaring simply that new Willem Dafoe poses had just dropped, racking up significant engagement within hours.

Other fans focused specifically on the actor’s flexibility, with several commenters identifying some of his positions as recognizable yoga poses. One popular reply joked about his apparent fondness for forward folds, reflecting the same mix of admiration and amusement that’s followed his photoshoots for years.

Beyond the viral poses, the wider interview accompanying the shoot touched on several other aspects of Dafoe’s current life and career, including his time living on a farm outside Rome and his work as a theater director for the Venice Biennale. He also discussed his upcoming reunion with director Robert Eggers on the project “Werwulf,” continuing a creative partnership that’s spanned several acclaimed collaborations over the years.

That mix of serious artistic pursuits alongside his willingness to fully commit to unconventional photoshoots speaks to Dafoe’s broader reputation as an actor unafraid to embrace both the theatrical and the absurd in equal measure. His willingness to lean into internet culture’s fascination with his poses, rather than distance himself from the memes, has only deepened his appeal among younger audiences who may know him as much for his viral photo moments as for his decades of acclaimed film work.

Given how consistently Dafoe’s photoshoots have generated this kind of online reaction, it seems unlikely this will be the last time his unusual posing style captures widespread attention. Whether intentional or simply a byproduct of his theatrical instincts, his approach to magazine photography has become as much a part of his public persona as any of his on-screen roles.

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