Which actor portrays the character of John Doe in David Fincher's Se7en?

Kevin Spacey portrays John Doe in David Fincher’s Se7en. Doe is the film’s methodical serial killer, who stages murders around the seven deadly sins and deliberately draws detectives William Somerset and David Mills into his design.

Spacey’s casting was kept unusually secret because John Doe’s identity is withheld for much of the film. The filmmakers initially shot Doe’s scenes with another actor, then replaced that performance after deciding Spacey was the right choice. Spacey filmed his scenes in only 12 days and reportedly asked that his name be left out of the film’s marketing and opening credits.

A common mix-up is confusing Spacey’s character with the detectives investigating him. Morgan Freeman plays the experienced Somerset, while Brad Pitt plays the impulsive Mills. Gwyneth Paltrow portrays Tracy Mills, David’s pregnant wife. Released in 1995, Se7en became one of Fincher’s defining psychological crime thrillers.