Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1958-10-20
- Born Place: Watertown, New York, USA
Also Known As:
Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr., 비고 모텐슨, 维戈·莫滕森, ヴィゴ・モーテンセン, Вігго Мортенсен, ویگو مورتنسن
Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. is a highly acclaimed Danish-American actor, filmmaker, musician, poet, painter, and photographer, known for his intense performances and diverse artistic pursuits. Born on October 20, 1958, in Watertown, New York, he spent his early childhood living in various countries, including Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina, due to his Danish father's work in farming. This early exposure to different cultures allowed him to become fluent in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Danish, a skill he has utilized in several of his roles. After his parents divorced, he returned to New York with his mother and eventually graduated from St. Lawrence University with a degree in Spanish studies and government in 1980. He then spent several years in Europe, working various odd jobs before returning to the U.S. to pursue acting.Mortensen made his film debut with a small role in Peter Weir's "Witness" (1985). Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he built a solid career with supporting roles in a variety of films, establishing a reputation for playing tough or complex characters. These included "The Indian Runner" (1991), "Carlito's Way" (1993), "Crimson Tide" (1995), "The Portrait of a Lady" (1996), "G.I. Jane" (1997), and "A Perfect Murder" (1998).His career reached global superstardom when he was cast as Aragorn in Peter Jackson's epic "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003)). His dedication to the role, including performing many of his own stunts and immersing himself in the character's background, became legendary and cemented his place as a beloved fantasy hero.Following The Lord of the Rings, Mortensen continued to select challenging and critically lauded roles. He formed a highly successful collaboration with director David Cronenberg, starring in "A History of Violence" (2005), "Eastern Promises" (2007) – for which he received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor – and "A Dangerous Method" (2011). He earned further Academy Award nominations for his powerful performances as a nonconformist father in "Captain Fantastic" (2016) and as Tony Lip in the Best Picture-winning "Green Book" (2018).In 2020, Mortensen made his directorial debut with "Falling," a film he also wrote and starred in, further showcasing his multifaceted artistic talents. Beyond acting and filmmaking, he is an accomplished artist, having exhibited his paintings and photographs, published books of poetry, and released music albums, often collaborating with guitarist Buckethead. In 2002, he co-founded Perceval Press, an independent publishing house dedicated to works by little-known artists and authors. Viggo Mortensen is widely regarded as one of the most respected and dedicated actors of his generation.
