and
Michael Shannon at the
2012 Toronto International Film Festival Dorff started acting in the late 1980s, landing a few minor roles before being cast as the star of
The Gate (1987), a
horror film about a boy who, along with a friend, discovers a hole in his back yard that is a gateway to hell. The film was a moderate box office success. He made guest appearances in television programs such as ''
Diff'rent Strokes, Family Ties, Blossom, Roseanne, and Married... with Children. He appeared in the television movies In Love and War, I Know My First Name is Steven and What a Dummy. In 1990, he landed a leading role opposite Patty Duke in the TV movie Always Remember I Love You. In 1992, he starred in The Power of One'' opposite Sir
John Gielgud,
Morgan Freeman, and
Daniel Craig. In 1993, director
Marty Callner hired him to star alongside teen idol
Alicia Silverstone in the music video
Cryin' by American rock band
Aerosmith. He had a leading role as the love interest of
Reese Witherspoon's character in
S.F.W. (1994). In 1994, Dorff starred in the
Iain Softley film
Backbeat as the "fifth Beatle"
Stuart Sutcliffe during the early days of the Beatles' existence as a group. Dorff's performance was critically acclaimed, with
Paul McCartney remarking that while he was disappointed with some aspects of the film, "I was quite taken, however, with Stephen Dorff's astonishing performance as Stu." In 1996, he starred in the movie
Space Truckers and as
Candy Darling in
I Shot Andy Warhol, a film about
Valerie Solanas, the woman infamous for
attempting to assassinate pop art icon
Andy Warhol. In 1997 he appeared as the protagonist of
Blood and Wine alongside an all-star cast. He was one of the first actors to act in the first digitally downloadable movie,
SightSound.com's
Quantum Project, also starring
John Cleese. He played the protagonist, XIII, of a live action TV series of the comic/video game of
XIII. He is known for his part as the evil
vampire Deacon Frost in the
Marvel Comics superhero horror film,
Blade (1998). In 1999 he starred opposite
Susan Sarandon in
Earthly Possessions. He played Dale Massie in the 2003 thriller
Cold Creek Manor, alongside
Dennis Quaid and
Sharon Stone. In 2004, Dorff starred in the music video for "
Everytime" by
Britney Spears, playing Spears' boyfriend. He appeared in the 2009 films
Public Enemies and
Black Water Transit. In 2010, he starred in the drama
Somewhere opposite
Elle Fanning, directed by
Sofia Coppola. He described what landing the role meant to him after the loss of his mother as "It almost felt like a savior, this movie, because I felt like it helped me ... I was real empty inside so this was an incredible thing that made me smile." Dorff appeared as porn star Dick Shadow in the sex industry comedy
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star, a film produced by
Adam Sandler, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Dorff has appeared in television and print advertisements for
blu eCigs, an
electronic cigarette company. Dorff also starred in
The Motel Life opposite
Emile Hirsch,
Dakota Fanning and
Kris Kristofferson and in the crime drama film
Officer Down. In 2013, he was a guest of honor on 6th Off Plus Camera In 2017, he played obsessed Texas Ranger Hal Hartman in the
Texas Chain Saw Massacre prequel
Leatherface. Dorff starred as Detective Roland West in Season 3 of HBO's series
True Detective. ==Filmography==