Which actor plays Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ?

Willem Dafoe plays Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ.

The 1988 film presents a fictionalized interpretation of the life of Jesus and is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’s 1955 novel The Last Temptation of Christ. Dafoe portrays Jesus as a carpenter who struggles with human fear, temptation, and the burden of his perceived mission.

Harvey Keitel plays Judas Iscariot, while Barbara Hershey portrays Mary Magdalene. The screenplay was written by Paul Schrader, and the film’s music was composed by Peter Gabriel. Its release generated controversy and protests in several countries because of its imaginative treatment of Christian themes.

Scorsese approached the project as a spiritual exploration rather than a conventional biblical retelling. The film distinguishes itself from many religious epics by emphasizing interior conflict and symbolic possibilities. Although it was not a major commercial success, it became an important example of Scorsese’s interest in faith, doubt, guilt, and redemption.