Viggo Mortensen
Birthdate: Oct 20, 1958
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
A fascinating and adventurous actor whose work uniquely spans the range from the blockbuster realm of The Lord of the Rings to the striking arthouse stylizations of filmmaker Lisandro Alonso, Viggo Mortensen (birthname: Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr.) is as involved in a diverse range of moves as any working actor.
Working in nearly every genre and in multiple languages (not only English but Spanish and Danish, in which he is fluent), Mortensen is both celebrated in Hollywood—he is a three-time Oscar nominee—and a prominent face in international auteur cinema, including movies by David Cronenberg, with whom he collaborated on Crimes of the Future (2022), with Lea Seydoux and Kristen Stewart.
Impressively, Viggo Mortensen’s first screen roles, in 1985, were under the direction of Woody Allen (The Purple Rose of Cairo) and Peter Weir (Witness, with Harrison Ford), although his role in Allen’s movie was cut. His performance in Witness opened the door to a steady stream of supporting roles in movies in the late 1980s and the 1990s, including Sean Penn’s The Indian Runner (1991), with David Morse and Patricia Arquette; Tony Scott’s Crimson Tide (1995), with Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman; Jane Campion’s The Portrait of a Lady (1996), with Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich; the hit Ridley Scott movie starring Demi Moore, G.I. Jane (1997); and Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot Psycho remake (1998), with Vince Vaughn and Julianne Moore.
What is notable about Mortensen’s major career turn, as Aragorn in the ensemble of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003), is that while he was one of the prominent faces of that period’s biggest movie franchise, the actor opted out of a predictably commercial career track.
Almost immediately following the Rings trilogy, Mortensen did his first of four movies with Cronenberg, the remarkable A History of Violence (2005), for which he was named best actor by the New York Film Critics Circle. In 2007, Cronenberg and Mortensen joined forces again for the gangster drama, Eastern Promises, with Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel, starting a fascinating period of continuously creative and challenging work in a wide range of movies.
These included a film version of C.P. Taylor’s Good (2008), John Hillcoat’s unsparing version of Cormac McCarthy’s post-Apocalyptic novel, The Road (2009); Sigmund Freud in Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method (2011), with Keira Knightley; and Hossein Amini’s fine version of Patricia Highsmith’s The Two Faces of January (2014). Viggo Mortensen served as actor, producer, and composer for Lisandro Alonso’s superb period Argentine drama, Jauja (2014), a sign that Mortensen was using his money to support auteur Latin American cinema.
Viggo Mortensen took on the ambitious role of Ben Cash in Matt Ross’s wild family drama, Captain Fantastic (2016), with Frank Langella and Kathryn Hahn, but it was his role as true-life bouncer Tony Lip in the Best Picture Oscar winner Green Book (2018) that placed Mortensen at the center of Hollywood. Again, though, rather than cash in fame with commercial studio products, Mortensen made his own debut movie as writer-producer-director, as well as composer, the family drama Falling (2020), with Lance Henriksen.
Mortensen once again reunited with Cronenberg for the body horror drama, Crimes of the Future, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2022, Mortensen joined the cast of Ron Howard’s dramatization of the Thai cave rescue, Thirteen Lives, with Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton, followed by the starring role in Alonso’s kidnap drama, Eureka, with Chiara Mastroianni.
Mortensen will be starring in the true story drama, Unabomb (date to be announced), about the FBI hunt for the Unabomber, followed by another true story dramatization about the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War, Two Wolves (date to be announced), the feature narrative directing debut of famed documentary filmmaker, Alex Gibney.
Gallery
Personal Details
A native of the northern New York State burg of Watertown, Viggo Mortensen was raised by an American-born mother Grace Gamble, and a Danish-born father Viggo Mortensen Sr. He has two younger brothers, Charles and Walter. His family left New York for Venezuela, Denmark, and the Argentine cities of Chaco, Cordoba, and Buenos Aires. When his parents divorced, Mortensen and his brothers returned with his mother Grace to Watertown, where he attended high school and studied political science and Spanish at St. Lawrence University.
After traveling and working in Spain, England, and Denmark, Mortensen changed his career choices and began to study acting. Mortensen was married to the co-lead singer of the band, X, Exene Cervenka, from 1987 to 1998; his current partner is Spain-based actor, Ariadna Gil, though Mortensen actually spends most of his downtime between projects in northern Idaho. He has one child, Henry, with Cervenka.
Known For
Eastern Promises
(2007)
The Road
(2009)
Awards
Three-time Nominee, Best Actor, Academy Awards (2008, 2017, 2019); Three-time Nominee, Best Actor, BAFTA Awards (2008, 2017, 2019); Winner, Special Award (Actor with Unique Visual Sensitivity), Cameraimage (2008); Nominee, Best Male Lead, Independent Spirit Awards (2017); Four-time Nominee, Best Actor/Supporting Actor, Golden Globes Awards (2008, 2012, 2017, 2019); Best Actor/Supporting Actor, New York Film Critics Awards (2005, 2007, 2011); Winner, Best Actor, Fenix Film Awards (2014); Winner, Best Cast, Screen Actors Guild (2020); Winner, Silver Medallion Award, Telluride Film Festival (2009). Recipient, Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (2010).
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Critics Choice Award
Critics Choice Awards
Filmography
actor
Previous (70)
- 2024 |
- 2024 | The Dead Don’t HurtasHolger Olsen
The Dead Don’t Hurt
Two pioneers fight for their lives and their love on the American frontier during the Civil War.
- 2022 | Thirteen LivesasRick Stanton
Thirteen Lives
A rescue mission is assembled in Thailand where a group of young boys and their soccer coach are trapped in a system of underground caves that are flooding.
- 2022 | Crimes of the FutureasSaul Tenser
Crimes of the Future
Humans adapt to a synthetic environment, with new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice, Saul Tenser, celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances.
- 2021 | Skating Polly: Ugly Pop
- 2020 | Falling
- 2020 | Falling
- 2020 | Falling
- 2020 | Falling
- 2020 | Fallingas John Peterson
- 2020 | TIFF Talks: Viggo Mortensen & David Cronenberg on Crash
- 2018 | Green BookasTony Lip
Green Book
A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.
- 2017 | Disappointment Valley: A Modern Day Western
- 2016 | Captain FantasticasBen
Captain Fantastic
In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be...
- 2014 | Far from Menas Daru
- 2014 | Jauja
- 2014 | Jauja
- 2014 | Jaujaas Gunnar Dinesen
- 2014 | Los lemmings contraatacan
- 2014 | The Two Faces of Januaryas Chester
- 2012 | Everybody Has a Plan
- 2012 | Everybody Has a Planas Agustín
- 2012 | Everybody Has a Planas Pedro
- 2012 | On the Roadas Old Bull Lee
- 2012 | On the Roadas William S. Burroughs
- 2011 | A Dangerous Methodas Sigmund Freud
- 2009 | Reclaiming the Blade
- 2009 | The People Speak
- 2009 | The Roadas Man
- 2008 | Goodas Halder
- 2008 | Appaloosaas Everett Hitch
- 2007 | Eastern Promisesas Nikolai
- 2006 | Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeeras Diego Alatriste
- 2005 | Ringers: Lord of the Fans
- 2005 | A History of Violenceas Tom Stall
- 2004 | Cheshmane John Malkovich 1: Viggo Mortensen
- 2004 | Hidalgoas Frank Hopkins
- 2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingasAragorn
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
- 2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersasAragorn
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
- 2001 | Orientations: Chris Doyle - Stirred But Not Shaken
- 2001 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingasAragorn
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
- 2000 | 28 Daysas Eddie Boone
- 1999 | A Walk on the Moonas Walker Jerome
- 1998 | A Perfect Murderas David Shaw
- 1997 | My Brother's Gunas Juanito
- 1997 | G.I. Janeas Master Chief John James Urgayle
- 1996 | Albino Alligatoras Guy Foucard
- 1996 | The Portrait of a Ladyas Caspar Goodwood
- 1996 | Daylightas Roy Nord
- 1995 | Black Velvet Pantsuitas Worthless Junkie
- 1995 | Gimletas Hombre
- 1995 | The Passion of Darkly Noonas Clay
- 1995 | The Prophecyas Lucifer
- 1995 | Crimson Tideas Weps
- 1994 | The Crewas Phillip
- 1993 | American Yakuzaas David Brandt
- 1993 | American Yakuzaas Nick Davis
- 1993 | The Young Americansas Carl Frazer
- 1993 | Carlito's Wayas Lalin
- 1992 | Deceptionas Johnny Faro
- 1993 | Boiling Pointas Ronnie
- 1991 | The Indian Runneras Frank Roberts
- 1990 | The Reflecting Skinas Cameron Dove
- 1990 | Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre IIIas Tex
- 1989 | Tripwireas Hans
- 1988 | Fresh Horsesas Green
- 1987 | Prisonas Burke
- 1987 | Prisonas Forsythe Electrocution
- 1987 | Salvation!as Jerome Stample
- 1960 |
Some Facts About Viggo Mortensen
Dual Citizen: Viggo Mortensen is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Denmark, the country of his father.
Multi-Media: Mortensen’s creative energies extend far beyond acting, and even filmmaking. He has long been active as a poet, photographer, painter, and musician.
Career Honors: Viggo Mortensen has been honored for his career body of work by a remarkable number of festivals and organizations, including the Telluride, Stockholm, Sitges, San Sebastián, Chicago, Camera image, Lleida festivals, and the Danish Bodil Awards, The U.K.-based Empire Awards, and the Russian National Movie Awards.
Paintings on Screen: Mortensen’s own paintings appear on screen in the Michael Douglas-starring A Perfect Murder, in which Mortensen plays a painter.
Publisher: In 2002, Viggo Mortensen formed a publishing firm in Santa Monica, Perceval Press.
Chivalry Isn’t Dead: Mortensen received the ancient Danish order of chivalry, the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, in 2010.
Prolific: Viggo Mortensen has published over 18 books of poetry, art, and photographs in English, Spanish, and Danish. He has also recorded 21 discs, many in collaboration with guitarist Buckethead.
