---
name: "Karl Urban"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/karl-urban"
fi1m_id: "karl-urban"
imdb_id: "nm0881631"
tmdb_id: 1372
wikidata_id: "Q132430"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "7 June 1972"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-05T13:02:39.096941+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Karl Urban

## Identity

Karl Urban

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/karl-urban
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** karl-urban
- **IMDb ID:** nm0881631
- **TMDB ID:** 1372
- **Wikidata ID:** Q132430
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Urban, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132430, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881631/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1372

Actor. Born 7 June 1972 in Wellington, New Zealand.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 7 June 1972, Wellington, New Zealand
- **Active:** 2002–present
- **Also known as:** Karl-Heinz Urban
- **Frequently works with:** [Chris Pine](https://film.one/person/chris-pine.md), [J.J. Abrams](https://film.one/person/j-j-abrams.md), [Roberto Orci](https://film.one/person/roberto-orci.md), [Zachary Quinto](https://film.one/person/zachary-quinto.md), [Alex Kurtzman](https://film.one/person/alex-kurtzman.md), [Bryan Burk](https://film.one/person/bryan-burk.md), [Damon Lindelof](https://film.one/person/damon-lindelof.md), [Zoe Saldaña](https://film.one/person/zoe-saldana.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 84 (4), 2010s 64 (5), 2020s 50 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 70 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 8, Adventure 8, Science Fiction 4, Fantasy 3, Action & Adventure 1, Animation 1
- **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,643m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Urban, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132430, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881631/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1372

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Star Trek*](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md) (81), [*The Bourne Supremacy*](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-supremacy.md) (81), [*Star Trek Beyond*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-beyond.md) (70), [*Star Trek Into Darkness*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-into-darkness.md) (60)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Boys*](https://film.one/tv/the-boys.md) (72), [*Walking with Dinosaurs*](https://film.one/film/walking-with-dinosaurs.md) (42)
- **Disney+:** [*Thor: Ragnarok*](https://film.one/film/thor-ragnarok.md) (74)
- **HBO Max:** [*Mortal Kombat II*](https://film.one/film/mortal-kombat-ii.md) (50)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Karl Urban

> Karl Urban makes McCoy’s impatience funny without softening it. We rate him as a supporting actor in busy genre films, especially when the writing gives him something funny to do.

McCoy sounds as though he has already had enough, and Karl Urban makes that impatience worth listening to. In *Star Trek* (2009), his doctor gives a busy ensemble a distinct temperament without needing the film to stop for him. We laughed at his irritation because it gives the crew some welcome friction while the introductions are still being made. We rate him most when the gruffness has something funny beneath it.

Peter Jackson’s *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002) and *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003) brought him international recognition as Éomer. Supporting action and science-fiction parts followed. As the assassin Kirill in *The Bourne Supremacy* (2004), he belongs to a film whose pursuit we found tense and involving. Paul Greengrass keeps Matt Damon’s troubled hero central, with Urban’s assassin among the threats around him. It is worth distinguishing the effectiveness of that company from the more individual impression Urban makes as McCoy.

J.J. Abrams gives him that opportunity in *Star Trek*, alongside Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto’s central pairing. Urban catches the spirit of DeForest Kelley’s McCoy and gives the doctor a comic temperament of his own. The supporting cast matters here: Zoe Saldaña’s confidence and Bruce Greenwood’s steadiness give Urban’s impatience useful contrasts. The villain is thin and the action sometimes overworked, but these differences between the crew members help make the film worth an evening.

*Dredd* (2012) gave him the lead as Judge Dredd, with a helmeted performance noted for its physical commitment. Television brought the longer-running lead of Billy Butcher in *The Boys* (2019). Those larger parts remain within the genre work that has defined much of his career, and they leave the question of what he might do elsewhere largely unanswered. For his humour, we would start with *Star Trek*.

## Biography

Karl Urban is a New Zealand actor, also credited as Karl-Heinz Urban. Born in Wellington in 1972, he began his career with appearances in New Zealand television series such as *Xena: Warrior Princess* and the film *Chunuk Bair* (1992).

His first Hollywood role was in the 2002 horror film *Ghost Ship*. He is known for playing Éomer in *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002) and *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Kirill in *The Bourne Supremacy* (2004), Dr Leonard 'Bones' McCoy in the *Star Trek* films (2009–2016), and Billy Butcher in the series *The Boys* (2019–). Other credits include *Thor: Ragnarok* (2017) as Skurge and *Dredd* (2012) as Judge Dredd.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Mortal Kombat II* (2026), Fi1m 50, as Johnny Cage — [page](https://film.one/film/mortal-kombat-ii.md)
- *The Boys* (2019), Fi1m 72, as Billy Butcher — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-boys.md)
- *Thor: Ragnarok* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Skurge — [page](https://film.one/film/thor-ragnarok.md)
- *Star Trek Beyond* (2016), Fi1m 70, as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-beyond.md)
- *Star Trek Into Darkness* (2013), Fi1m 60, as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-into-darkness.md)
- *Walking with Dinosaurs* (2013), Fi1m 42, as Uncle Zack — [page](https://film.one/film/walking-with-dinosaurs.md)
- *Star Trek* (2009), Fi1m 81, as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md)
- *The Bourne Supremacy* (2004), Fi1m 81, as Kirill — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-supremacy.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Éomer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002), Fi1m 85, as Éomer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md)

## Complete filmography (47)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *I, Object* (2026), as Frank · Producer
- *Mortal Kombat II* (2026), as Johnny Cage — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/mortal-kombat-ii.md)
- *The Bluff* (2026), as Captain Connor
- *ARK: The Animated Series* (2024), series, as Bob (voice)
- *Gen V* (2023), series, as Billy Butcher
- *The Sea Beast* (2022), as Jacob Holland (voice)
- *DC Showcase - Batman: Death in the Family* (2020), as Sergeant Rock (voice)
- *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* (2019), as Stormtrooper (uncredited) — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker.md)
- *The Boys* (2019), series, as Billy Butcher · Producer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-boys.md)
- *DC Showcase: Sgt. Rock* (2019), as Sgt. Rock (voice)
- *Bent* (2018), as Danny Gallagher
- *Hangman* (2017), as Detective Ruiney
- *Acts of Vengeance* (2017), as Strode
- *Thor: Ragnarok* (2017), as Skurge — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/thor-ragnarok.md)
- *Pete's Dragon* (2016), as Gavin
- *Star Trek Beyond* (2016), as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-beyond.md)
- *The Loft* (2014), as Vincent Stevens
- *Walking with Dinosaurs* (2013), as Uncle Zack — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/walking-with-dinosaurs.md)
- *Almost Human* (2013), series, as John Kennex
- *Riddick* (2013), as Lord Vaako
- *Riddick: Blindsided* (2013), as Vaako
- *Star Trek Into Darkness* (2013), as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-into-darkness.md)
- *Dredd* (2012), as Judge Dredd
- *Priest* (2011), as Black Hat
- *RED* (2010), as William Cooper
- *And Soon the Darkness* (2010), as Michael
- *Star Trek* (2009), as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md)
- *Comanche Moon* (2008), series, as Woodrow F. Call
- *Pathfinder* (2007), as Ghost
- *Out of the Blue* (2006), as Nick Harvey
- *Doom* (2005), as John "Reaper" Grimm
- *The Bourne Supremacy* (2004), as Kirill — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-supremacy.md)
- *The Chronicles of Riddick* (2004), as Vaako
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), as Éomer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002), as Éomer — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md)
- *Ghost Ship* (2002), as Munder
- *The Price of Milk* (2001), as Rob
- *The Irrefutable Truth About Demons* (2000), as Harry Ballard
- *Heaven* (1999), as Sweeper
- *Via Satellite* (1998), as Paul
- *Amazon High* (1997), as Kor
- *Xena: Warrior Princess* (1995), series, as Mael, Julius Caesar, Cupid, Kor — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/xena-warrior-princess.md)
- *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys* (1995), series, as Cupid, Julius Caesar
- *White Fang* (1993), series, as David
- *Shortland Street* (1992), series, as Jamie Forrest
- *Chunuk Bair* (1992), as Wellington soldier
- *The Boys*, as Billy Butcher

## Gallery

- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-774585c1f959.jpg) Karl Urban — John Manard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Karl_Urban_GalaxyCon_Raleigh_July%2C_25%2C_2026_112.jpg/1280px-Karl_Urban_GalaxyCon_Raleigh_July%2C_25%2C_2026_112.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in the “Mortal Kombat II” trailer. (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-90bbe4aacfef.png) Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in the “Mortal Kombat II” trailer. (2025) — Mortal Kombat, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Johnny_Cage_as_depicted_in_Mortal_Kombat_II_%282026_film%29.png/1280px-Johnny_Cage_as_depicted_in_Mortal_Kombat_II_%282026_film%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in the “Mortal Kombat II” trailer. (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-fe7569770e3e.png) Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in the “Mortal Kombat II” trailer. (2025) — Mortal Kombat, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Johnny_Cage_as_depicted_in_Mortal_Kombat_II_%282026_film%29_%28cropped%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![The Boys SXSW 2022 Panel](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-ad8343b070fc.jpg) The Boys SXSW 2022 Panel — Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Karl_Urban%2C_Laz_Alonso_%26_Karen_Fukuhara_%2851958529971%29.jpg/1280px-Karl_Urban%2C_Laz_Alonso_%26_Karen_Fukuhara_%2851958529971%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-55591a27502c.jpg) Karl Urban — Image via TMDB
- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-0d3829e8710b.jpg) Karl Urban — Image via TMDB
- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-294756f3d7e0.jpg) Karl Urban — Image via TMDB
- ![The Boys SXSW 2022 Panel](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-1e4d39626666.jpg) The Boys SXSW 2022 Panel — Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Karl_Urban%2C_Laz_Alonso_%26_Karen_Fukuhara_%2851958595158%29.jpg/1280px-Karl_Urban%2C_Laz_Alonso_%26_Karen_Fukuhara_%2851958595158%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The Boys SXSW 2022 Panel](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-6265123dad28.jpg) The Boys SXSW 2022 Panel — Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Karl_Urban%2C_Laz_Alonso_%26_Karen_Fukuhara_%2851958826639%29.jpg/1280px-Karl_Urban%2C_Laz_Alonso_%26_Karen_Fukuhara_%2851958826639%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-ec90bd832d23.jpg) Karl Urban — Image via TMDB
- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-b802cd76e477.jpg) Karl Urban — Image via TMDB
- ![Karl Urban](https://film.one/media/person/98545/gallery-bf12a346fc48.jpg) Karl Urban — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/karl-urban