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Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen was born on October 20, 1958, in New York, and is the eldest of three sons. His father, Viggo Mortensen Sr., is Danish; his mother, Grace, is an American. After spending his early years in Manhattan, Viggo spent the rest of his youth in Denmark, Argentina, Egypt, and Venezuela.

In his early 20’s, Viggo returned to New York and began to study acting at Warren Robertson’s Theatre Workshop. His stage career earned him a Dramalogue Critics Award for the L.A. Coast Playhouse premiere of Bent.

Viggo’s feature film debut came in 1985. He portrayed the Amish brother of Alexander Godunov in the film Witness. Many film performances (over 30 to date) steadily followed, and Viggo became well-known and admired for his great diversity of characters. Some of his most memorable work include roles in The Indian Runner, The Prophecy, Carlito’s Way, Crimson Tide, and The Portrait of a Lady. His role in the film A Perfect Murder was also accompanied by a featuring of Viggo’s own artwork. He will star in Walt Disney’s horse-racing film Hidalgo, (based on a true story) set for release in the summer of 2003. Viggo will portray a Pony Express courier who becomes an international horse-racer. He is also in negotiations to star in Borgia, a historical 15th century drama that follows the lives of the Borgia family. He will play the part of Cesare, a priest who “plunders the nation to further is family’s power”.

Viggo Mortensen is also an accomplished poet, painter, photographer, and jazz musician.

"According to my mother I never went anywhere as a child without a pencil, and I always drew." says Viggo.

He has had many successful gallery exhibitions in both Los Angeles and New York. Recently, he debuted with a photographic exhibition at the Robert Mann Gallery in New York City, and showed new photographs and paintings at Track 16 Gallery (2001-2002) in L.A, and at the Deste Foundation for Contemporary Art in Athens. Viggo has had 3 poetry/jazz album releases, and his published books are Ten Last Night (poetry), Recent Forgeries (poetry, paintings and photography) and the recent Sign Language (photography and paintings). He hopes to have yet another book released very soon.

He speaks several languages, including fluent English, Danish, and Spanish, and as an adult has traveled half the globe. Viggo was briefly married to punk-rock singer Christine Cervenka, and has a 14 year-old son named Henry.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Originally, the role of Aragorn was to be played by Irish actor Stuart Townsend, but Townsend left the production shortly after it begun. The part was offered to Viggo a few days after shooting had begun, and he was wanted in New Zealand immediately.. When Mortensen was uncertain, concerned about the very long film schedule, it was his young son, Henry, who convinced him to accept the role … a decision Viggo admits was one of the best things he ever did. The next day, he was on his way to New Zealand. From the moment filming began Viggo completely threw himself into the character of Aragorn.

Says director Peter Jackson: "Viggo has embraced the character of Aragorn so thoroughly it's difficult to imagine the two being separate now. I'm not sure he even lives in a house anymore." He also stated that he had “never ever witnessed an actor enter into the spirit of a role the way he [Viggo] did”

Off-set, Mortensen wore his ‘ranger’ attire while horseback riding to give it that ‘weatherworn’ look, also mending and washing the costume himself. He became so attached to the horse (Uraeus) he rode in the LOTR films, that he came out from Wellington several times a week for riding lessons.

"He is Aragorn". stated producer Barrie Osbourne.

"I probably won't know for years the effect it has had on me.: says Viggo Mortensen. "Lord of the Rings’ has been such a big part of my life, both professionally and personally, that I'm trying to measure it. The influences are still continuing. Maybe they always will.”