- Daniel Day-Lewis was so impressed by his work in the film, The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005), that he suggested him to Paul Thomas Anderson for the role of "Paul Sunday" in the film, There Will Be Blood (2007).
- As of 2023, has appeared in 4 films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Little Miss Sunshine (2006), There Will Be Blood (2007), 12 Years a Slave (2013), and The Fabelmans (2022). 12 Years a Slave (2013) won in the category.
- In a long-term relationship with Zoe Kazan since 2007. They had a daughter together. They co-starred in Ruby Sparks (2012), which she wrote, and also co-wrote the screenplay for Wildlife (2018), which he directed.
- Has a daughter, Alma Bay Dano (b. at the end of August 2018), with Zoe Kazan.
- Packed on 20 lbs of muscle to play real-life convicted murderer and escapee David Sweat in the TV series Escape at Dannemora (2018).
- Matt Reeves wrote his part of The Riddler in The Batman (2022) with him in mind.
- Lead guitar and vocals in the band Mook, based out of Wilton, Connecticut.
- Paul's paternal grandparents, John Dano and Anna Herzo, were both from Rusyn/Carpathian families that immigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Paul's mother is of Slovenian/Bohemian Czech descent on one side and Swedish descent on the other.
- Made his Broadway debut at the age of 12 in Inherit The Wind opposite George C. Scott and Charles Durning.
- Has worked with five Directors that have won a Best Director Oscar: Ang Lee, Bong Joon-ho, Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, and Steven Spielberg.
- Daughter Alma was born to Dano and his longtime partner Zoe Kazan in August 2018.
- Father is a financial advisor, mother is a homemaker.
- Was ranked #5 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actors list. (2008).
- He and Billy Kay were already friends at the time L.I.E. (2001) was filmed, having worked together on an earlier film (The Newcomers (2000)).
- He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant: 12 Years a Slave (2013).
- Graduated from high school on June 22, 2002.
- No relation to actor Royal Dano.
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