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Early Life & Background
- Full Name: Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. (Viggo Mortensen)
- Born: October 20, 1958, in New York City, USA.
- Parents: Danish father and American mother.
- Childhood: Lived in Argentina, Venezuela, and Denmark, becoming fluent in English, Spanish, and Danish (later learning several other languages).
- Education: Graduated from St. Lawrence University (New York) with a degree in Spanish and Political Science.
Acting Career
- Early Roles (1980s–1990s)
- Made his film debut in Witness (1985) with Harrison Ford.
- Acted in Carlito’s Way (1993), G.I. Jane (1997), and A Perfect Murder (1998).
- Breakthrough: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001–2003)
- Played Aragorn, the heroic Ranger, in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Initially not the first choice for the role but became an iconic part of the franchise.
- Gained global fame and critical acclaim.
- Post-LOTR Success (2004–Present)
- Starred in David Cronenberg’s films:
- A History of Violence (2005)
- Eastern Promises (2007) – Oscar nomination for Best Actor
- A Dangerous Method (2011)
- Played diverse roles in The Road (2009), Captain Fantastic (2016 – Oscar-nominated), and Green Book (2018 – Won Best Picture).
- Directed and starred in Falling (2020).
Other Interests & Achievements
- Multilingual: Speaks English, Spanish, Danish, French, and Italian.
- Artist & Poet: Publishes poetry, photography, and paintings.
- Musician: Plays guitar and collaborates on music projects.
- Political Activism: Supports independent cinema and speaks on human rights issues.
Legacy & Personal Life
- Known for his dedication to roles, often performing his own stunts.
- Has a reputation for being private, humble, and intellectual.
- Continues to work in film, literature, and music.
