History of Viggo Mortensen in Timeline

Viggo Mortensen is a highly acclaimed American actor, musician, and filmmaker. His illustrious career has earned him numerous award nominations, including three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, three BAFTA Award nominations, four Golden Globe Award nominations, and an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

October 20, 1958: Birth of Viggo Mortensen

On October 20, 1958, Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. was born in New York City. He would go on to become a celebrated actor, musician, and filmmaker.

1962: N/A

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1963: N/A

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1976: Graduation from Watertown High School

Viggo Mortensen graduates from Watertown High School in 1976.

1980: Graduation from St. Lawrence University

Viggo Mortensen graduates from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, with a bachelor's degree in Spanish studies and politics in 1980.

1985: Film Debut in "Witness"

In 1985, Viggo Mortensen made his film debut with a small role in Peter Weir's thriller "Witness."

1985: Deleted Scene in "The Purple Rose of Cairo"

Viggo Mortensen had filmed scenes for Woody Allen's "The Purple Rose of Cairo" in 1985, but ultimately his scenes were removed from the final cut of the film.

1986: Meeting Exene Cervenka

Mortensen met singer Exene Cervenka in 1986.

July 8, 1987: Marriage to Exene Cervenka

Mortensen married singer Exene Cervenka on July 8, 1987.

1987: Dramalogue Critics' Award for "Bent"

In 1987, Viggo Mortensen's performance in the play "Bent" at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles earned him a Dramalogue Critics' Award.

January 28, 1988: Birth of Son, Henry

Exene Cervenka gave birth to their son, Henry, on January 28, 1988.

1992: Separation from Exene Cervenka

Mortensen and Cervenka separated in 1992.

1995: On-Screen Collaboration with Son in "Crimson Tide"

Mortensen's son, Henry, appeared alongside him in the 1995 film "Crimson Tide."

1997: Divorce from Exene Cervenka

Mortensen and Cervenka divorced in 1997.

1998: Role in "Psycho" Remake

Viggo Mortensen appeared in Gus Van Sant's 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."

1999: Cast as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings"

In 1999, Peter Jackson cast Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. This role would become one of his most recognized performances.

2003: Wins SAG Award for 'The Return of the King'

In 2003, Viggo Mortensen and the cast of 'The Return of the King' won the SAG Award for Outstanding Cast.

October 13, 2006: Awarded Gold Medal of the Province and City of León

On October 13, 2006, Viggo Mortensen received the Gold Medal of the Province and City of León, Spain.

2006: Receives Honorary Doctorate from St. Lawrence University

In recognition of his achievements, Viggo Mortensen was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, St. Lawrence University, in 2006.

September 2007: Release of "Eastern Promises" and Critical Acclaim

September 2007 saw the release of "Eastern Promises," directed by David Cronenberg. The film, and Mortensen's performance in particular, garnered widespread critical acclaim. His portrayal of a Russian gangster earned him the Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

2007: Receives Multiple Nominations for 'Eastern Promises'

Viggo Mortensen's performance in the 2007 film 'Eastern Promises' earned him nominations for prestigious awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Actor.

April 2009: Mortensen in "The People Speak" and Retirement Rumors

In April 2009, Mortensen appeared in the documentary "The People Speak", adapting historical texts into performances. Despite reports of his retirement from acting, Mortensen clarified that he was simply taking a break with no immediate film projects lined up.

2009: Receives Nominations for 'The Road'

In 2009, Viggo Mortensen's work in 'The Road' earned him nominations for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor, alongside nominations for other awards.

2009: Relationship with Ariadna Gil

Mortensen began a relationship with Spanish actress Ariadna Gil in 2009.

2009: Protest Against Toronto Film Festival's Spotlight on Tel Aviv

Mortensen signed a petition in 2009 protesting the Toronto International Film Festival's focus on Tel Aviv, arguing that it ignored the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.

2009: Sports Fandom and Public Appearances

Mortensen's love for sports, particularly football, hockey, and baseball, was evident in his public appearances. He is known to be a fan of teams like San Lorenzo de Almagro, Fulham, Real Madrid, Beşiktaş, the Montreal Canadiens, and the New York Mets. He has publicly shown support for various teams throughout his career.

April 16, 2010: Receives Knight's Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog

On April 16, 2010, Viggo Mortensen was honored with the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog.

2010: Son's Graduation from Columbia University

Mortensen's son, Henry, graduated from Columbia University in 2010 with a degree in archaeology and became involved with Perceval Press.

2011: Stage Debut in Spanish with "Purgatorio"

In 2011, Mortensen returned to theater after a two-year hiatus, starring in Ariel Dorfman's "Purgatorio" in Madrid. This marked his first Spanish-language play. The premiere was postponed due to his mother's illness, a first in Mortensen's career.

2011: Passing of Friend, Georg Guðni Hauksson

Mortensen's close friend, Icelandic painter Georg Guðni Hauksson, passed away in 2011. The two had collaborated on books and shared a deep bond.

2011: Earns Awards and Nominations for 'A Dangerous Method'

Viggo Mortensen's performance in the 2011 film 'A Dangerous Method' earned him the Canadian Screen Award and a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.

2012: Clarification on Retirement Rumors

In 2012, Mortensen refuted claims that he had retired from acting, stating he had only taken a break from filmmaking.

2012: Declined Role in "The Hobbit"

Mortensen was offered to reprise his role as Aragorn in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" but declined as the character wasn't in the original novel.

2015: Donation to Sinn Fein

In 2015, he donated to the Irish political party Sinn Fein.

2016: Political Endorsements and Documentary Narration

During the 2016 US presidential election, Mortensen initially endorsed Bernie Sanders. When Sanders lost the Democratic nomination, he endorsed Jill Stein. He also narrated a documentary about the election and its aftermath.

2016: Caring for Ailing Father

In 2016, Mortensen relocated to New York to care for his father, who was battling dementia.

2016: Earns Acclaim for 'Captain Fantastic'

In 2016, Viggo Mortensen's performance in 'Captain Fantastic' was widely recognized, garnering him nominations for the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Actor.

2016: Critical Acclaim for "Captain Fantastic" and Second Oscar Nomination

Mortensen starred in "Captain Fantastic" in 2016, earning him his second Academy Award nomination. His performance received critical praise for its nuanced portrayal of a complex father.

2017: Partner's Family Supports Catalan Independence

In 2017, Viggo Mortensen's longtime partner and her family showed support for the Catalan independence referendum.

2018: Academy Award Nomination for "Green Book"

In 2018, Mortensen starred as Tony Lip in "Green Book," a role that earned him his third Academy Award nomination. He was drawn to the character's compassionate nature.

2018: Joins Òmnium Cultural

In 2018, Viggo Mortensen became a member of Òmnium Cultural, a Catalan NGO advocating for Catalan culture and language.

2018: Achieves Recognition for 'Green Book'

Viggo Mortensen's performance in the 2018 film 'Green Book' earned him nominations for the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Actor.

2019: Criticizes Far-Right Party's Use of Aragorn Image

Viggo Mortensen publicly criticized the Spanish far-right party Vox for using his Lord of the Rings character, Aragorn, in their 2019 election campaign.

May 2020: "The Lord of the Rings" Reunion for Charity

In May 2020, Mortensen reunited with the cast of "The Lord of the Rings" for Josh Gad's "Reunited Apart" YouTube series. The virtual reunion raised funds for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 2020: Signs Open Letter for Gaza Strip

In May 2020, Viggo Mortensen added his name to an open letter urging Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

2020: Directorial Debut with "Falling"

Mortensen wrote, directed, produced, composed the score for, and starred in "Falling," his directorial debut released in 2020. The film draws inspiration from his family's experiences with dementia.

August 2021: Collaboration with David Cronenberg and Upcoming Projects

Filming for "Crimes of the Future," a horror sci-fi film reuniting Mortensen with director David Cronenberg, commenced in August 2021. Mortensen has other upcoming projects including "Eureka" and "Two Wolves".

July 2022: Starring Role in "Thirteen Lives"

Mortensen portrayed British cave diver Rick Stanton in Ron Howard's "Thirteen Lives," released in July 2022. He underwent extensive training with Stanton himself for the role.

October 2023: Signs Artists4Ceasefire Open Letter

In October 2023, Viggo Mortensen signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter addressed to President Joe Biden, advocating for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

May 2024: Criticizes Argentine President Javier Milei

In May 2024, Viggo Mortensen publicly criticized Argentine President Javier Milei, labeling him a "clown" and a "puppet" controlled by the political right.