Viggo Mortensen has spent years impressing audiences with his intense acting, rugged looks, and fearless roles. But outside of Hollywood, there’s another part of his life that has made people curious.
For years, Mortensen has been photographed sharing affectionate moments with a certain man. These photos have led to questions and speculation—is there a bigger story behind it? Now, Mortensen himself is finally addressing it, and his answer may surprise many.
At 66 years old, Mortensen is a three-time Academy Award nominee and is best known for playing Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. But before the fame, his journey was far from easy.
Born in Watertown, New York, to a Danish father and an American mother, Mortensen’s childhood was full of travel. He lived in Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina before settling in the U.S. at 11. Acting wasn’t always his plan—after studying at St. Lawrence University, he worked odd jobs in Denmark, driving trucks and selling flowers.
His first film role didn’t even make it to the screen.
At 24, Mortensen moved back to the U.S. to chase his acting dreams. His debut role in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) was cut from the final film. But he didn’t give up, slowly building his career with smaller roles.
His big break came in 1997 when he starred with Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. The film didn’t do well, and Moore faced harsh criticism, but Mortensen was praised for his performance as Command Master Chief Jack Urgayle.
Then came the role that changed everything.
In 2001, Mortensen became Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. He wasn’t just playing a warrior—he became one. The film’s sword expert even called him “the best swordsman I’ve ever trained.” He did most of his own stunts and even broke his toes while filming a scene.
His love for horses wasn’t just for the movie. He did all his riding stunts in Hidalgo (2004) and even bought some of the horses after filming.
Surprisingly, he was a last-minute replacement for the role. He almost turned it down, but his son, a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, convinced him to accept.
His dedication was so intense that director Peter Jackson called him ‘Aragorn’ for over 30 minutes—and Mortensen didn’t even notice.
Now that’s commitment.