Movies
Mortensen's film debut took place when the aspiring actor turned 26 years old. The first episodic role was played in the drama “Witness”. But already in the mid-1990s, the artist appeared in minor roles in the popular films “Carlito’s Way,” “The Fugitive Indian,” “The Prophecy” and “A Perfect Murder.” In these films, Viggo Mortensen demonstrated increased acting skills, which did not pass the attention of Hollywood directors.
"Fugitive Indian"
"The Perfect Murder"
The second half of the 1990s was marked by romance: the actor starred in melodramas as a hero-lover. As it soon turned out, this role revealed Viggo Mortensen to many directors. “G.I. Jane” with Demi Moore and “Portrait of a Lady” with Nicole Kidman became the steps that helped the actor begin his rapid ascent to real fame. Remakes of Alfred Hitchcock's cult films Psycho and A Perfect Murder cemented Mortensen in the niche of a new Hollywood star.
"GI Jane"
"Portrait of a Lady"
Film "Psychosis" 1998
Viggo's talent sparkled with all its facets in the fantastic and mega-popular project "The Lord of the Rings". The film was an adaptation of a book that is considered a true icon for roleplayers and geeks all over the world - the novel “The Lord of the Rings” by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
"Lord of the Rings"
Viggo Mortensen played the role of the ranger Aragorn, who is in love with an elven princess. Together with other heroes, Aragorn unites into the Fellowship of the Ring, whose goal is to destroy the magical One Ring, which was created to subjugate and enslave the peoples of Middle-earth.
At the same time, Mortensen’s hero also has his own storyline related to the succession to the throne and the search for the real ruler of the kingdom of the people of Gondor.
The role of Aragorn turned out to be truly stellar. The fame was such that Mortensen had to address his fans on television, asking for an apology for his inability to answer everyone’s letters. It is noteworthy that in “The Lord of the Rings” Viggo Mortensen performed all the risky stunts himself, which is why he received a number of injuries.
Viggo Mortensen did not receive personal awards for these three films, but in all parts of the trilogy, the Lord of the Rings actors were recognized by critics as the best cast in a feature film of the year.
The artist’s collaboration with the famous Hollywood director David Cronenberg brought a new round of deafening popularity. High marks from critics followed the release of the film Justified Cruelty. But great fame came after the next project - the film “Vice for Export”.
"Justified Cruelty"
"Vice for export"
The premiere took place in 2007. Fans of Viggo Mortensen's talent and film critics unanimously proclaimed the role of the Russian bandit played by the actor as the strongest in his career. Such authenticity was given to the actor through long and painstaking preparation.
To better get into character, Mortensen even visited Russia, living incognito in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Yekaterinburg for 2 months. In addition, the actor communicated with a former Russian prisoner, learned slang expressions, and also studied Russian with a teacher from Princeton University, also Russian by birth, Stanislav Shvabrin.
The prestigious Golden Globe award came to the Hollywood artist after the release of the biopic A Dangerous Method, based on the biographies of famous psychoanalysts, in which the actor played the role of Sigmund Freud. The role of Carl Jung went to Michael Fassbender.
"Dangerous Method"
In addition to cinematography, Viggo is the founder of a publishing house and writes and publishes his own novels and collections of poetry. In addition, he is interested in photography and sings beautifully (he has recorded 3 albums). Mortensen is also a good artist. Viewers were able to see his work in the film “A Perfect Murder,” where the actor played the role of an artist.
Career[ | ]
Mortensen made his film debut quite late - at the age of 26, playing in the drama “Witness”. During the 1990s, he was regularly cast in supporting roles as negative characters: he could be seen opposite Sean Penn in The Runaway Indian (1991), alongside Al Pacino in Carlito's Way (1993), and in the film The Prophecy "(1995) he played Lucifer himself, who removes the heart from the chest of Christopher Walken's character and devours it.
In the second half of the 1990s, Mortensen increasingly took on less typical roles, often with a romantic flair. It was they who allowed him to fully reveal his acting talent. Films from this period include O (1996) with Nicole Kidman and GI Jane (1997) with Demi Moore.
In 1998, Viggo starred in two remakes of Alfred Hitchcock's films, Psycho and A Perfect Murder. In both films, he plays the lover of the main character and in them there is a crime associated with the same amount - 400 thousand dollars.
Mortensen at the premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003
His most famous role - Aragorn - went to Mortensen by accident. The director of the project, Peter Jackson, changed his mind about casting Irish actor Stuart Townsend in the role of Aragorn, considering that he was too young to play this role (Mortensen is 14 years older than Townsend). After working in three films of the Lord of the Rings saga, Mortensen became so popular that he officially published a letter to fans on the Internet and the media with an apology and a request not to expect him to respond to their letters, because there were too many letters. Viggo performed all his own stunts in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). During the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo lost a piece of his front tooth when he was hit in the face with a sword. During the filming of The Two Towers, he broke his toe when he unsuccessfully kicked a helmet lying on the ground. This frame was captured in the film.
In 2005, Viggo began working with David Cronenberg, the result of their work was the film Justified Cruelty. Later, this collaboration continued successfully: Mortensen’s most significant film work after “The Lord of the Rings” was the main role in the film “Vice for Export” (2007), which many film critics hastened to proclaim the best in his film career. For his role as a Russian gangster, Viggo Mortensen traveled to Russia to learn the Russian language and understand Russians. He lived in Russia for two months, visiting Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg incognito.
In 2011, he met with Cronenberg again on the set of the biopic A Dangerous Method, in which he played the role of the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. The transformation was enthusiastically received by the film press and earned Mortensen a Golden Globe nomination.
In addition to working in the film industry, Viggo Mortensen founded the Perceval Press publishing house, publishes books with his poems and stories, and is interested in photography and singing (he has released several albums where he sings and reads his poetry). Viggo has released three CDs of jazz music. Mortensen also draws (in the film “A Perfect Murder,” where he played an artist, his paintings were shown).
In 2020, Mortensen played the lead role in the comedy drama Captain Fantastic. The role of a radical leftist father who teaches and raises his children himself, living with them and his wife in the forest, earned him a Companion Award, as well as nominations for the Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
In 2020, Mortensen played the role of Tony Lip in the biographical film Green Book, for which he was again nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA, and also received an award from the US National Board of Film Critics.
In October 2020, it was announced that Mortensen would make his directorial debut with the drama The Fall from his own script, in which he would also play the lead role[1].
Personal life
The Hollywood star was legally married only once. His love for music brought him closer to the composer and singer Exene Cervenka. They legalized their relationship in 1987. A year later, the couple had a son, Henry. But in 1997, when the boy was 10 years old, Exene and Viggo broke up.
Viggo Mortensen's personal life changed for the better in 2006, when the artist met his colleague Ariadne Gil on the set of the film Captain Alatriste. Since then, the couple has been together, but their relationship is not burdened by the bonds of official marriage.
Personal life of Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen has always been distinguished by his visual appeal, originality and numerous creative abilities. It is not surprising that he was not deprived of the attention of the girls. The aspiring actor met his wife in 1987 on the set of the film “Salvation.” His chosen one, Exin Cervenka, was an extravagant lead singer of a punk rock band and easily won over the guy. Therefore, the couple got married quite quickly. A year later (in 1988), their son Henry was born, and the family decided to move to the quiet state of Idaho.
Viggo Mortensen has always been a favorite of women
However, family happiness was short-lived. Already in 1992, the couple decided to live separately, and in 1997 the marriage was dissolved. However, Viggo and Exene remain on good terms. Their son lived either with his mother or with his father, as his parents periodically went on filming or touring.
Viggo Mortensen and his ex-wife, Exene Cervenka
Mortensen began a new serious relationship only in 2006. He met his chosen one, actress Ariadna Gil, on the set of the film “Captain Alatriste”.
Viggo Mortensen and Ariadna Gil, his new chosen one
Filmography
- The Last Voyage of Demeter (2021) ... Henry Clemens
- Green Book (2018) ... Tony Lip
- Captain Fantastic (2016) ... Ben
- Far from people / Loin des hommes (2014) ... Daru
- The Two Faces of January (2014) ... Chester MacFarland
- Jauja (2014) ... Gunnar Dinesen
- On the Road (2012) ... Old Bull Lee / William S. Burroughs
- Everybody Has a Plan (2012) ... Agustín/Pedro
- A Dangerous Method (2011) ... Sigmund Freud
- Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street
- Legacy (2010) … Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Years of the Montreal Canadiens (2009) ... voice-over
- The Road (2009) ... Man
- Appaloosa (2008) ... Everett Hitch
- Good (2008) ... Halder
- Vice for Export / Eastern Promises (2007) ... Nikolai
- Captain Alatriste / Alatriste (2006) ... Diego Alatriste
- Justified Cruelty / A History of Violence (2005) ... Tom Stall
- Hidalgo: Desert Chase / Hidalgo (2004) ... Frank Hopkins
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) ... AragornTop100
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) (computer game) ... Aragorn
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) ... Aragorn
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) ... AragornTop100
- 28 Days (2000) ... Eddie Boone
- A Walk on the Moon (1999) ... Walker Jerome
- A Perfect Murder (1998) ... David Shaw
- Psycho / Psycho (1998) … Sam Loomis
- Vanishing Point (1997) ... Jimmy Kowalski
- My Brother's Weapon / La pistola de mi hermano (1997) ... Juanito
- GI Jane (1997) Master Chief John James Urgayle
- Albino Alligator (1996) ... Guy Foucard
- Daylight (1996) ... Roy Nord
- Portrait of a Lady (1996) ... Caspar Goodwood
- Black Velvet Pantsuit (1995) ... Worthless Junkie
- Crimson Tide (1995) ... Lt. Peter `Weps` Ince
- Gimlet (1995) ... Hombre
- The Prophecy (1995) ... Lucifer
- Dark Noon / The Passion of Darkly Noon (1995) ... Clay
- Floundering (1994) ... Homeless Man
- On the High Seas / The Crew (1994) ... Phillip
- Gospel According to Harry (1994) ... Wes
- American Yakuza (1993) ... Nick Davis/David Brandt
- The Young Americans (1993) ... Carl Frazer
- Carlito's Way (1993) ... Lalin
- Ruby Cairo (1993) ... John E. 'Johnny' Faro
- Boiling Point (1993) ... Ronnie
- The Indian Runner (1991) ... Frank Roberts
- Young Guns II: Blaze of Glory (1990) ... John W. Poe
- Once in a Blue Moon (1990)
- The Reflecting Skin (1990) ... Cameron Dove
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3: Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) ... Tex
- Tripwire (1989) ... Hans
- Fresh Horses (1988) ... Green
- Prison (1988) ... Burke/Forsythe Electrocution
- Salvation!: Have You Said Your Prayers Today? (1987) ...Jerome Stample
- Witness (1985) ... Moses Hochleitner
- George Washington (1984) (TV series) ... Lieutenant at LeBoeuf
- Miami Vice (1984-1989) (TV series) ... Detective Eddie Trumbull
- ABC Afterschool Specials / ABC Afterschool Specials (1972-1995) (TV series) ... Tim
- Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986) (TV series) ... Bragg
