---
name: "Viggo Mortensen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/viggo-mortensen"
fi1m_id: "viggo-mortensen"
imdb_id: "nm0001557"
tmdb_id: 110
wikidata_id: "Q171363"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 October 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-05T00:28:11.724605+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."
---

# Viggo Mortensen

## Identity

Viggo Mortensen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/viggo-mortensen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** viggo-mortensen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001557
- **TMDB ID:** 110
- **Wikidata ID:** Q171363
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viggo_Mortensen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q171363, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/110

Actor. Born 20 October 1958 in Watertown, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 October 1958, Watertown, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1984–present
- **Also known as:** Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr.
- **Frequently works with:** [Barrie M. Osborne](https://film.one/person/barrie-m-osborne.md), [David Cronenberg](https://film.one/person/david-cronenberg.md), [Elijah Wood](https://film.one/person/elijah-wood.md), [Fran Walsh](https://film.one/person/fran-walsh.md), [Ian McKellen](https://film.one/person/ian-mckellen.md), [Peter Jackson](https://film.one/person/peter-jackson.md), [Philippa Boyens](https://film.one/person/philippa-boyens.md), [Sean Astin](https://film.one/person/sean-astin.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 3 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (2), 1990s 69 (3), 2000s 85 (6), 2010s 66 (3), 2020s 64 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 72 across 13 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 6 of 13 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Crime 6, Adventure 5, Thriller 5, Action 4, Comedy 3
- **Screen time:** 31 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,802m across 14 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viggo_Mortensen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q171363, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/110

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Carlito's Way*](https://film.one/film/carlitos-way.md) (86), [*Eastern Promises*](https://film.one/film/eastern-promises.md) (79), [*The Road*](https://film.one/film/the-road-2009.md) (78)
- **Disney+:** [*The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md) (88), [*The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers*](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md) (85)
- **Tubi:** [*Witness*](https://film.one/film/witness.md) (84), [*Captain Fantastic*](https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md) (63)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) (90)
- **Apple TV:** [*A History of Violence*](https://film.one/film/a-history-of-violence.md) (88)
- **Netflix:** [*Green Book*](https://film.one/film/green-book.md) (64)

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

## Fi1m on Viggo Mortensen

> Viggo Mortensen makes quiet men worth watching, suggesting unease without spelling it out. We value him most with David Cronenberg, where his restraint makes ordinary lives worth worrying about, though it can sometimes leave a character too distant.

In *A History of Violence* (2005), Viggo Mortensen makes Tom Stall’s ordinariness convincing without asking us to stop looking at him. He does little to tell us what to think, and that makes the performance unusually absorbing. David Cronenberg gives that restraint a purpose by making Tom’s marriage matter as much as the thriller. We were more upset than we expected by the strain between Tom and Edie, because Maria Bello gives their earlier closeness such warmth and ease. Mortensen’s quietness works here because Bello makes us care about the life they share.

Small parts, including *Witness* (1985), led into the supporting roles of the 1990s, among them Lalin in Brian De Palma’s *Carlito’s Way* (1993). Lalin’s whimpering is a useful reminder that Mortensen has other ways of making a man uncomfortable to watch. Aragorn in *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy (2001–2003) brought international recognition. After that breakthrough he favoured smaller, more challenging projects over maintaining his mainstream visibility.

The continuing partnership with Cronenberg runs through *Eastern Promises* (2007), *A Dangerous Method* (2011) and *Crimes of the Future* (2022). His gangster role in *Eastern Promises* requires physical commitment as well as the close control of gesture. Lisandro Alonso’s *Jauja* (2014) extends the independent, international side of his work. We welcome that willingness to work beyond familiar leading roles, provided the film gives us enough reason to care about the man being so sparing with his feelings.

The limitation is that his reticence can leave a character’s inner life uncertain for too long. *A History of Violence* comes close enough to that difficulty to show why the writing and the other actors matter: Tom has an established marriage, not merely an air of mystery. The plot is sometimes too tidy, but Mortensen and Bello make its discomfort feel earned. Start there, and give Bello her share of the credit.

## Biography

Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. is an American actor. He was born on 20 October 1958 in Watertown, New York.

Mortensen played Lalin in the 1993 film *Carlito's Way*. He is also known for portraying Aragorn in *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002) and *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Tony Lip in *Green Book* (2018), and Ben Cash in *Captain Fantastic* (2016).

He has received a Screen Actors Guild Award and nominations for three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.

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

## On Fi1m (15)

- *I Love Boosters* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Documentary Narrator - Heine Schlumpf (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/i-love-boosters.md)
- *Green Book* (2018), Fi1m 64, as Tony Lip — [page](https://film.one/film/green-book.md)
- *Captain Fantastic* (2016), Fi1m 63, as Ben Cash — [page](https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md)
- *A Dangerous Method* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Sigmund Freud — [page](https://film.one/film/a-dangerous-method.md)
- *The Road* (2009), Fi1m 78, as Father — [page](https://film.one/film/the-road-2009.md)
- *Eastern Promises* (2007), Fi1m 79, as Nikolai Luzhin — [page](https://film.one/film/eastern-promises.md)
- *A History of Violence* (2005), Fi1m 88, as Tom Stall / Joey Cusack — [page](https://film.one/film/a-history-of-violence.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Aragorn — [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 Aragorn — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), Fi1m 90, as Aragorn — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md)
- *Daylight* (1996), Fi1m 54, as Roy Nord — [page](https://film.one/film/daylight.md)
- *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), Fi1m 68, as Caspar Goodwood — [page](https://film.one/film/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md)
- *Carlito's Way* (1993), Fi1m 86, as Lalin — [page](https://film.one/film/carlitos-way.md)
- *Witness* (1985), Fi1m 84, as Moses Hochleitner — [page](https://film.one/film/witness.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as Detective Eddie Trumbull — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)

## Complete filmography (67)

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

- *I Love Boosters* (2026), as Documentary Narrator - Heine Schlumpf (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/i-love-boosters.md)
- *The Dead Don't Hurt* (2024), as Holger Olsen · Director, Writer, Producer, Original Music Composer
- *Eureka* (2024), as Murphy
- *Sweet Death* (2023), Producer
- *Thirteen Lives* (2022), as Rick Stanton
- *Crimes of the Future* (2022), as Saul Tenser
- *Falling* (2020), as John (50 Yrs) · Director, Producer, Writer, Original Music Composer
- *Green Book* (2018), as Tony Lip — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/green-book.md)
- *The Revolution Televised* (2016), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Captain Fantastic* (2016), as Ben Cash — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md)
- *Far from Men* (2015), as Daru · Co-Producer
- *Jauja* (2014), as Gunnar Dinesen · Producer, Original Music Composer
- *The Two Faces of January* (2014), as Chester MacFarland
- *Cosmos* (2014), series, as Nikolai Vavilov (voice)
- *Starring Sigmund Freud* (2012), Actor
- *Everybody Has a Plan* (2012), as Agustín / Pedro · Producer
- *On the Road* (2012), as Old Bull Lee / William S. Burroughs
- *A Dangerous Method* (2011), as Sigmund Freud — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/a-dangerous-method.md)
- *Sidewalls* (2011), Thanks
- *The Road* (2009), as Father — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-road-2009.md)
- *Good* (2008), as Halder
- *Appaloosa* (2008), as Everett Hitch
- *Eastern Promises* (2007), as Nikolai Luzhin — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/eastern-promises.md)
- *Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer* (2006), as Diego Alatriste
- *A History of Violence* (2005), as Tom Stall / Joey Cusack — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/a-history-of-violence.md)
- *Hidalgo* (2004), as Frank Hopkins
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), as Aragorn — 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 Aragorn — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), as Aragorn — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md)
- *28 Days* (2000), as Eddie Boone
- *A Walk on the Moon* (1999), as Walker Jerome
- *Psycho* (1998), as Samuel 'Sam' Loomis
- *A Perfect Murder* (1998), as David Shaw
- *My Brother's Gun* (1997), as Juanito
- *G.I. Jane* (1997), as Master Chief John James Urgayle
- *Albino Alligator* (1997), as Guy Foucard
- *Vanishing Point* (1997), as Jimmy Kowalski
- *Daylight* (1996), as Roy Nord — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/daylight.md)
- *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), as Caspar Goodwood — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md)
- *The Prophecy* (1995), as Lucifer
- *Crimson Tide* (1995), as Lt. Peter 'Weps' Ince
- *The Passion of Darkly Noon* (1995), as Clay
- *Gimlet* (1995), as Gimlet
- *Floundering* (1994), as Homeless Man
- *The Crew* (1994), as Phillip
- *Gospel According to Harry* (1994), as Wes
- *American Yakuza* (1993), as Nick Davis / David Brandt
- *Carlito's Way* (1993), as Lalin — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/carlitos-way.md)
- *The Young Americans* (1993), as Carl Frazer
- *Boiling Point* (1993), as Ronnie
- *Ruby Cairo* (1992), as Johnny Faro
- *The Indian Runner* (1991), as Frank Roberts
- *The Reflecting Skin* (1990), as Cameron Dove
- *Young Guns II* (1990), as John W. Poe
- *Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III* (1990), as Tex
- *Tripwire* (1989), as Hans
- *Fresh Horses* (1988), as Green
- *Prison* (1987), as Burke / Forsythe Electrocution
- *Salvation!* (1987), as Jerome Stample
- *High School Narc* (1985), as Tim
- *Witness* (1985), as Moses Hochleitner — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/witness.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Cameron Dove
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Detective Eddie Trumbull — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Dark Biosphere*, as Narrator
- *Two Wolves*, Actor
- *Porto Rico*, Actor
- *Embers*, as Konrad

## Gallery

- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-32e17cd648c4.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Joost Pauwels, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Viggo_Mortensen_B_%282020%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-55e44fe108f1.jpg) Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Dangerous_Method_09_%286929251851%29.jpg/1280px-Dangerous_Method_09_%286929251851%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-adc8a176b005.jpg) Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Dangerous_Method_10_%286929251989%29.jpg/1280px-Dangerous_Method_10_%286929251989%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-6d599403bae7.jpg) Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Dangerous_Method_11_%286783133204%29.jpg/1280px-Dangerous_Method_11_%286783133204%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-98e2cbe1155c.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Image via TMDB
- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-f94ea753ac55.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Image via TMDB
- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-6a255991a122.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Image via TMDB
- ![Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-ba06af5d2c17.jpg) Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Dangerous_Method_12_%286783133518%29.jpg/1280px-Dangerous_Method_12_%286783133518%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-7d8248a66538.jpg) Viggo Mortensen at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Dangerous_Method_13_%286783133876%29.jpg/1280px-Dangerous_Method_13_%286783133876%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-ec70db9142cd.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Image via TMDB
- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-1d1315f418db.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Image via TMDB
- ![Viggo Mortensen](https://film.one/media/person/82809/gallery-2ddc24cab9a0.jpg) Viggo Mortensen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 2019: Best Actor (nominated), for *Green Book*
- 2017: Best Actor (nominated), for *Captain Fantastic*
- 2008: Best Actor (nominated), for *Eastern Promises*

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2019: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Green Book*

### Other awards — 5 won, 1 nominated

- Donostia Award 2020: Donostia Award (won)
- European Film Award for Best Actor 2020: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Falling*
- Bodil Honorary Award 2015: Bodil Honorary Award (won)
- Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog 2010: Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog (won)
- Sitges Grand Honorary Award 2009: Sitges Grand Honorary Award (won)
- Golden Boot Awards 2007: Golden Boot Awards (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/viggo-mortensen