Willem Dafoe describes joining 1986 People Power Revolution “an incredible feeling”

The Green Goblin villain was once an ally — or a “Da-Friend” — too.

Willem Dafoe describes joining 1986 People Power Revolution “an incredible feeling”
(Screengrabs from Vanity Fair)

Among the thousands that trooped to EDSA to topple the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, who would have known that they march among a certain Willem Dafoe?

In a video interview with Vanity Fair, the known Spider-Man nemesis recounted his experiences while shooting the war film Platoon in the Philippines in 1986, including one where production had to cease due to the ongoing People Power protest, thereby letting him participate. 

“I arrived in the Philippines, and my plane was the last plane in because there was a revolution. [I was told] ‘sit tight, the movie’s cancelled. We’ll get you out when we can’,” Dafoe shared. “So, for about three to four days, me and a couple of other people that were there ahead of time were out on the streets with the people.”

“And it was an incredible feeling because it was a revolution that happened, for the most part, without violence.”

Watch Dafoe’s recollection of the 1986 protests below, which begins at around the 3:30 mark:

The People Power Revolution, which lasted from February 22 to 25, 1986, saw an estimated 2 million protesters fill EDSA to fight for freedom and democracy amidst the tyrannical Marcos regime that has persisted for over 20 years. It ended with Marcos and his family fleeing the country.

Dafoe also recalled that shooting for Platoon resumed shortly after the ousted dictator fled the Philippines. He along with fellow cast members Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen flew back to the country to finish the film, which was shot in various locations in Mount Makiling in Laguna, Villamor Air Base in Manila, and in Cavite.

(Image: Roland Neveu/LightRocket)

The film premiered in December of that year and earned Dafoe an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor — the first Oscars nomination of his career.

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