Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. (Danish: [ˈviko ˈmɒːtn̩sn̩]; born October 20, 1958) is an American actor known for his diverse range of roles across film and television. He began his cinematic journey with a minor role in Peter Weir's 1985 thriller Witness. Over the years, Mortensen has appeared in numerous noteworthy films, including The Indian Runner (1991), Carlito's Way (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), Daylight (1996), The Portrait of a Lady (1996), G.I. Jane (1997), A Perfect Murder (1998), A Walk on the Moon (1999), and 28 Days (2000).


However, Mortensen truly captured global attention with his portrayal of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003). His collaboration with director David Cronenberg in the thrillers A History of Violence (2005) and Eastern Promises (2007) further solidified his reputation as a versatile and talented actor. His performance in Eastern Promises earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Mortensen continued to impress with his roles in films such as A Dangerous Method (2011), garnering critical acclaim for his portrayal of Sigmund Freud.


In recent years, Mortensen received additional Academy Award nominations for his leading performances in Captain Fantastic (2016), where he played an unconventional father, and Green Book (2018), portraying the character Tony Lip. Beyond acting, Mortensen is a multifaceted artist, delving into fine arts, photography, poetry, and music. In 2002, he established the Perceval Press to showcase his own works as well as those of emerging artists and writers. Mortensen has also contributed to the music world, lending his voice and musical talents to part of The Lord of the Rings soundtrack and collaborating with guitarist Buckethead on various albums.
In 2020, Mortensen made his directorial debut with the film Falling, in which he also starred. This marked another milestone in his illustrious career, demonstrating his versatility and creative prowess beyond acting.


Viggo Mortensen was born in New York City on October 20, 1958, to Grace Gamble (née Atkinson) and Viggo Peter Mortensen Sr. His mother, an American, and his father, who hailed from Denmark, met in Norway. Mortensen's maternal grandfather was Canadian, hailing from Nova Scotia, while his paternal grandmother hailed from Trondheim, Norway.
The family's journey took them to various countries, including Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina, where they settled. In Argentina, they lived in provinces such as Córdoba, Chaco, and Buenos Aires. During this time, Mortensen attended primary school and became fluent in Spanish while his father managed poultry farms and ranches. He was baptized Lutheran, following his father's tradition.


At the age of 11, Mortensen experienced his parents' divorce, leading him and his brothers to return to the United States with their mother. Mortensen spent the remainder of his childhood in New York State, graduating from Watertown High School in 1976. He furthered his education at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, earning a bachelor's degree in Spanish studies and politics in 1980.
After graduating, Mortensen embarked on a journey to Europe, residing in the United Kingdom and Spain before returning to Denmark. During his time in Denmark, he held various jobs, including driving trucks in Esbjerg and selling flowers in Copenhagen. Eventually, he returned to the United States to pursue his passion for acting.

Mortensen's journey in film began with a role in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), although his scenes were ultimately cut from the final version. His official on-screen debut came in Peter Weir's Witness, where he portrayed an Amish farmer. Mortensen's distinctive features led to his casting in Witness, despite initially being considered for a soldier role in Shakespeare in the Park's production of Henry V. Opting for the film role, Mortensen credited the experience as the catalyst for his film career.


In addition to his film endeavors, Mortensen appeared on television, landing the role of Bragg in the TV series Search for Tomorrow in 1985. His stage performance in Bent at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles earned him a Dramalogue Critics' Award in 1987. This play, centered around homosexual prisoners in a concentration camp, featured an acclaimed performance by Ian McKellen, who would later co-star with Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Throughout the 1990s, Mortensen took on various supporting roles in a diverse range of films. Some of his notable appearances include Jane Campion's The Portrait of a Lady, Sean Penn's The Indian Runner, Brian de Palma's Carlito's Way, and the action drama G.I. Jane, where he portrayed Master Chief John Urgayle. Mortensen's versatility and talent were evident as he seamlessly transitioned between roles in films such as Daylight, A Walk on the Moon, and The Reflecting Skin.


His involvement in Philip Ridley's The Passion of Darkly Noon and the 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho further showcased his adaptability as an actor. Mortensen's impactful performances during this era solidified his reputation as a versatile actor capable of embodying a wide range of characters across various genres.

In 1999, Viggo Mortensen experienced a significant breakthrough when he was cast as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson. Interestingly, Mortensen was a last-minute replacement for Stuart Townsend and initially hesitated to accept the role until his son's enthusiasm for the J.R.R. Tolkien novel convinced him otherwise. His portrayal of Aragorn garnered critical acclaim, with Mortensen being ranked No. 15 on Empire's 2015 survey of "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters."


Mortensen's dedication to his craft was evident during the filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Renowned swordmaster Bob Anderson described him as "the best swordsman I've ever trained." Despite sustaining injuries, including two broken toes, while performing his own stunts, Mortensen remained committed to his role. During the shooting of The Two Towers, he, Orlando Bloom, and Brett Beattie all endured painful injuries, earning them the playful moniker "the walking wounded" from director Peter Jackson. Additionally, Mortensen's bond with his on-screen horses, Uraeus and Kenny, was so strong that he purchased them after filming concluded.


In 2004, Mortensen starred as Frank Hopkins in Hidalgo, a film depicting an ex-army courier's journey to Arabia to compete in a perilous desert race with his horse, Hidalgo.
Continuing his collaboration with director David Cronenberg, Mortensen delivered a compelling performance in the 2005 film A History of Violence as a family man with a dark past. His portrayal earned him a nomination for a Satellite Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. Cronenberg praised Mortensen's dedication, noting that he was the only actor who would return from weekends with his family with props he had purchased for use on set.

References

1.  Stone, Andrew; Carolyn Bain; Michael Booth; Fran Parnell (2008). "Cinema". Lonely Planet Denmark. Lonely Planet. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-74104-669-4. Although [Mortensen] was born in New York and has lived outside of Denmark for most of his life, he retains Danish citizenship.
2. ^ Nielsen, Marie Ravn (October 23, 2010). "Viggo Mortensen slået til ridder". DR (in Danish). Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
3. "UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020". United Press International. October 20, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021. ...actor Viggo Mortensen in 1958 (age 62)...
4. ^ " Flawed father role a test for Viggo Mortensen" Archived August 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Toronto Star, Michael O'Sullivan, July 16, 2016.
5. ^ "Viggo Mortensen gets nude for 'Eastern Promises' fight scene". HamptonRoads.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.
6. a b "St. Lawrence University: Commencement". stlawu.edu. May 21, 2006. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
7. ^ "Film: Viggo Mortensen magret seg ned 15 kilo for drømmerollen VG Nett". Vg.no. May 20, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2010.