Happy 50th birthday, Viggo Mortensen


Several big stars turned 50 this year — Madonna, Prince, Sharon Stone, Alec Baldwin and Ted McGinley, for instance.

But the fairest of them all marked the half-century mark on Monday. Happy birthday, Viggo Mortensen!

After decades in the business, Viggo is at the pinnacle of his career.

He started out as a supporting actor with Demi Moore in G.I. Jane, Denzel Washington in Crimson Tide, and Gwyneth Paltrow in A Perfect Murder. (Tabloid sidebar: It was rumored an affair with Viggo caused Gwyneth’s break-up with Brad Pitt.)

But the past few years have vaulted him to leading man status in gritty, hard-hitting roles. Since playing Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, he has earned accolades in A History of Violence and even an Oscar nod for Eastern Promises.

He recently starred opposite Ed Harris in Appaloosa, and has two films coming out soon. He’ll play a reluctant Nazi in Good, and the nameless central character in the movie I’m most looking forward to, The Road.

Also, he’s still sex on legs.

And still controversial. He’s always been down-to-earth yet outspoken about his political beliefs. He actively supported Dennis Kucinich, and recently wrote an analysis of the current Presidential race on his publishing site, Perceval Press.

Steal from the poor and give to the rich: this is the policy that we have in recent days seen the U.S. Government unhesitatingly and irresponsibly sanction by bailing out the big gamblers and law-breakers with tax-payer money. At least now this short-sighted and destructive approach to governance is undeniably out in the open. We saw this happen in the 1980s with the savings and loan scandal and bail-outs, and we are seeing now, as we saw then, people like John McCain, Phil Gramm and the usual assortment of corporate pirates get off scot-free and continue on their paths of self-advancement and cronyism. The mismanagement and plundering of our nation’s wealth and the cavalier drive to burden future generations of its citizens with crushing debt have been hallmarks of U.S. government practice for quite some time, but never to the unprecedented degree that we have experienced during the eight years that the Bush Administration has plundered the treasury for the benefit of a tiny, very wealthy minority. Hopefully voters will keep this in mind when deciding whether they wish to continue in the same vein with McCain, or give change a chance to happen with an Obama administration. Perhaps, too, the mainstream media outlets, in response to the now undeniable financial and moral crises we face, will get back to allowing issues more pressing and significant than the personal and ethical foibles of Ms Palin to take precedence in their daily election “coverage”. I have my doubts about their willingness to do so, but there is always hope.

[From Perceval Press]

In these tabloid-as-PR times, Viggo is the antithesis of a Hollywood star. He rarely makes the tabloids, which he claims is because he’s too boring. He was married to musician Exene Cervenka, and the two have a 20-year-old son together. I can’t find any recent information on who he’s currently dating. He did make the gossip pages a few years back at the height of The Lord of the Rings mania when he was rumored to be dating Before Night Falls director Julian Schnabel’s 20-something daughter Lola.

There have also been a few ripples that he is seeing his two-time co-star, Spanish actress Ariadna Gil.

Throughout his career, he’s worked with big-name actors and big-name directors, yet brings his own research to every role. He reportedly traveled Russia to learn the nuances of the language and culture for his role in Eastern Promises. He claims to have learned this independence over the years of working with directors whose priority isn’t directing.

Most directors are jerks. They may be talented. But they may also not be very good at or interested in talking to people. Too often, when making films, energy is expended on quibbling and miscommunication rather than productively telling the story….Of course, some of us actors can sometimes be jerks too.

[From Another Man, print edition, Autumn/Winter 2008 issue]

Viggo compliments directors David Cronenberg and Peter Weir. He doesn’t name names, but some other directors he’s worked with include Ridley Scott, Peter Jackson, Tony Goldwyn, Gus Van Sant and Tony Scott.

Now that Kucinich is out of the race, Viggo is supporting Barack Obama.

I hope the movement that Obama created, as happened with Robert Kennedy, will prod him to go a little further in some areas than he would have, particularly in Iraq….Robert Kennedy wasn’t particularly opposed to the Vietnam War, but he changed his position as a result of the pressure from the ranks of his supporters. I’m hoping that’s what will happen.

[From Another Man, print edition, Autumn/Winter 2008 issue]

Viggo was getting Oscar buzz for The Road, but the release date has been pushed back, so he probably won’t qualify for the awards this year.

I do love me some Viggo and hope he continues to make great movies for years to come, but if he only makes one more movie ever in his career, please let it be to reprise Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings prequel.

Viggo Mortensen is shown in scans from An Other Man Magazine and on 10/15/08 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is “wearing San Lorenzo de Almagro football club colours whilst promoting his new movie appaloosa.” He is also shown at the Rio de Janeiro Film Festival on 10/8/08 and at the Apaloosa premiere on 9/17/08. Credit: WENN

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25 Responses to “Happy 50th birthday, Viggo Mortensen”

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  1. sol says:

    He was here in Buenos Aires just a few days ago promoting his new film.I just couldn’t believe when he said he was 50 !!He seems much younger.He said his son studies at Columbia and as usual when he comes here he talked about soccer but didn’t mention dating anyone.Of course he is always a perfect gentleman who talks fluent spanish :)Loved Aragon.Can’t imagine it wasn’t meant for him that role!!

  2. Granger says:

    Damn, he is one fine man.

    I don’t generally like to hear actors tell me who they vote for, but then most actors aren’t as articulate as Viggo. But whether you agree with him or not, his thoughtful article just reminds me of how thankful we should be to live in a part of the world where you can speak so freely about your political beliefs and your dissatisfaction with the current administration.

  3. geronimo says:

    Had no idea he was/is 50! But yeah, all-rounder – gorgeous, sexy, talented, intelligent, articulate. Drool.

  4. Anni says:

    i love him. don´t tell my fiance.

  5. flourpot says:

    musician, actor, painter, photographer, trilingual … i want one. HB Viggo, you sexy mass o’ man.

  6. elisha says:

    Oooh, I wouldn’t doubt Gwenyth and V had an affair, their scenes were sooooo steamy in that movie!!!

  7. Kaiser says:

    Sweet Jeebus. *swoon*

    I have to admit, I skipped over the political stuff when I saw Kucinich’s name, but The History of Violence shout-out is enough to get me lost in memories of his sex scenes with Maria Bello. *crosses legs tightly*

    I might need some private time.

  8. ronnie says:

    Hottest man ever to walk the Earth? YES!

    Also, how cool is it that my two loves, Viggo & Tom Petty, share a birthday?!?

  9. Cinderella says:

    What a gorgeous creature he is. I just don’t think he likes girls. Our loss!

  10. Orangeitjulius says:

    Add me to the list of swooners. Almost makes me miss my beautiful ex. Almost.

  11. Liz says:

    Count me in. What a man, and a thinker, and unabashedly liberal! Yum.

    I never heard that about Gwyneth and him before, interesting…

  12. vdantev says:

    I remember his first film appearance as Satan in The Prophecy. Best part of the entire film, next to Christopher Walken as Gabriel. I’ve always enjoyed his work since then. Congrats V !

  13. abbizmal says:

    Happy birthday, Strider. He is so hot. I’d deffo hit it.

  14. Ron says:

    Viggo used to go the gym I went to in west LA and let me tell you..The man is HOT in person! Viggo makes 50 look great. Happy b-day.

  15. I choose me says:

    “*crosses legs tightly* I might need some private time.”

    Kaiser you make me laugh as per usual.
    A History of Violence was hard to watch sometimes but I’d watch anything that man was in. He’s so, so sexy. Can’t believe he’s fifty.

  16. I choose me says:

    “I remember his first film appearance as Satan in The Prophecy. Best part of the entire film, next to Christopher Walken as Gabriel.”

    Thank you Dante, for reminding me of that movie. Viggo as Lucifer can make me sin any.damn.time. :mrgreen: Plus that movie has the imcomparable Christopher Walken. 😀

  17. C says:

    “hot, intelligent, musician, actor, painter, photographer, trilingual, and a liberal???

    i had no idea.. omg, i’ve never seen a guy who met every criteria i could look for. now if only i could convince him to fall in love with me. lol.

  18. Emily says:

    He went to college with my mom (small liberal arts school in middle of nowhere upstate NY)–she likes to pretend she was really good friends with him (she really wasn’t). Even though she wasn’t friends with him, she does remember him and was apparently friends with his roommate. Apparently back then he wasn’t doing any acting, but my mom said he was kind of an offbeat guy, definitely an artist type.

  19. Alecto says:

    Now ladies that is what a MAN is supposed to look like!!

  20. breederina says:

    LOTR is on permanant heavy rotation at my house as my youngest obsessed with it . That Aragorn makes Mommy squirm in her seat every time, in a good way.
    Happy B-Day !

  21. Debbie Garland says:

    Happy Birthday Viggo, your one of the biggest hunks ever to walk this earth, I wish you many more happy birthdays, and best of luck with everything you embark on in life !! 😛

  22. Ciara says:

    He’s just a sexy outstanding man

  23. Viggolover says:

    If you guys want to celebrate this glorious man then head over to Viggo-Works.com where you can discuss his incredible talent in all genres. Warning – his private life is off limits as he is a private man and this must be respected.

    You can also visit Viggophile.com and pop into the Obsession forum where the ladies are very welcoming and lots of fun, they seem to know all there is to know about this wonderful man but again they do not like to discuss his private life and wish all guests to respect it also.

    Just want to add that Viggo is the spunkiest 50 yr old EVER!!!!

  24. Viggolover says:

    Just a note about my previous post – I dont want it to seem like spam or advertising.

    I just wanted to shout out to these awesome forums that I am an active member of as I know that if you guys on here love Viggo as much as I do then you will certainly love a place to go to to discuss his films, art etc… with like minded people 🙂

  25. mariacastro says:

    …a few ripples that he is seeing his two-time co-star, Spanish actress Ariadna Gil.
    little bit behind the times cele/bitchy.
    there are photos of these two dec.’09 at her house in madrid,spain.she left her husband summer/fall ’09.she is seen in Iceland on vacation feb.’10 with viggo sans her kids violeta,12/Leo,5.viggo always tell everyone they are just friends.
    go to youtube.com.type in: viggo mortensen ariadna gil 2005-2009.these photos are Before she leaves the husband.pay attention at the 2:26 mark where he is hugging her close and kissing her.
    and they were just friends only…….
    riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight