For many decades, Viggo Mortensen has impressed people with his strong acting, straightforwardness and attractive rugged charm. Even if you only know him for his roles as an actor, there’s another side to John Travolta that fascinates people.
For many years, Mortensen has been pictured kissing the same man with great passion. For this reason, strangers are talking, wondering and sharing the same question: Is there anything else to discover?
Now, the actor is posting about it himself. He may tell you things that catch you off guard.
Viggo Mortensen, 66, is well known — he was nominated for an Oscar three times and impressed people all over the world as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Still, there’s a lot more to Mortensen than his stereotypical action-hero persona. He’s also committed to a very special man, whom he had a connection with for decades.
His upbringing which started in Watertown, New York, was different, as his Danish father married an American woman. His family lived in Venezuela, Denmark and Argentina before returning to the U.S. when he was eleven years old. When he finished university, he worked a number of odd jobs there, pushing trucks and hawking flowers. I didn’t dream of becoming an actor.
His first moments in his first role were taken out entirely.
In 1982, sending letters home became more frequent as 24-year-old Mortensen in the U.S. worked toward an acting career in Hollywood. When he was in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), nothing was seen of him, as his parts were later removed. Still, he carried on, gradually becoming recognized.
He kept moving ahead and had roles in a number of films, although never became a superstar. Everything transformed for him in 1997 after appearing opposite Demi Moore in G.I. Jane.
Mortensen’s most visible project during that period, thanks to its $50 million budget, was G.I. Jane. Although the movie failed at the box office and Demi Moore was heavily attacked for her acting, Mortensen came out mostly unscathed.
People widely agreed that his performance as Command Master Chief John James ‘Jack’ Urgayle was exceptional.
Following the failures of G.I. Jane, almost no one believed that Viggo Mortensen would play one of the most beloved movie characters of all time. A few years after that—in The Lord of the Rings films—he became Aragorn and made remarkable contributions to cinema.
Who you think is the greatest swordsman in Lord of the Rings
Mortensen wasn’t simply acting as a warrior; he turned into one. The person who taught him sword-fighting once said he was “the best swordsman I have ever trained.” Even though many of his actions were dangerous, Mortensen often preferred to do his own stunts. The ones I broke a few months ago? All this is just part of the occupation.)
And he loved everything to do with horses? He did all of his own riding in the movie Hidalgo.
The story on the Special Extended Edition DVD of The Fellowship of the Rings states that Mortensen was the stand-in for Stuart Townsend at the last moment. He hesitated about playing the role, but only changed his mind when his son, a big J.R.R. Tolkien fan, recommended him to jump at the chance.
It got so real for him that Peter Jackson thought he was Aragorn and kept calling him that for over 30 minutes and Mortensen didn’t realize. Anyone who does that is serious about teaching.
The creation of a love story in Hollywood
Though Mortensen is known for his film roles, many fans have been drawn to the fascinating chemistry he has with Canadian director David Cronenberg for years.
Mortensen and Aragón began their friendship at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where Mortensen was showing The Lord of the Rings movies. As soon as they worked with each other, they knew they had to do it together eventually.
2005 saw the arrival of A History of Violence. Even though he was not in love with the first draft, Viggo agreed to act once he met with Cronenberg.
Critics talk about the film to this day, saying it is among the best from the 2010s. The two became even closer in their work. Mortensen said, “I’ve never clicked with a director the way I do with David.”
It was much more personal than just an artistic connection. Fresh from scoring an Oscar, the two kissed slowly and affectionately in front of reporters at a conference in 2006. It said a lot, all in one instant.
That’s more my style of performer.
Their collaboration didn’t end — they made Eastern Promises in 2007 and A Dangerous Method in 2011, each film deepening their one-of-a-kind relationship.
Viggo, according to Cronenberg, stood out because he could be a real leading man as well as a versatile character actor.
In this year, the duo introduced their next level of development for Bearstorm. Mortensen handed a Lifetime Achievement Award to Cronenberg at the Canadian Screen Awards.
On stage, he expressed deep respect, saying Oscar Wilde was the “finest director and the sanest man I’ve known.” Shortly after, he leaned in right in front of everyone and kissed him once more.
Everyone could feel the excitement which showed just how strong their relationship was. Never shy, Mortensen used the chance to disapprove of the movie industry for not recognizing Cronenberg’s talent. Even after directing many films for four decades, the Academy never chose to honor Cronenberg with a nomination.
Some in the mainstream movie business may occasionally praise him, but few are willing to officially honor him. This makes sense because David is not really part of their world,” Mortensen shared.
What is Viggo Mortensen’s sexuality?
Since they share a close and open relationship, it’s easy to see why many have questioned Mortensen’s sexuality. In a free interview, he handled the subject just as he always did, saying: “Everyone wonders if I’m straight or gay. I think it’s fair to say I’m not purely heterosexual.
Mortensen brought up this topic since he wrote and stars in the movie Falling. He is John in this play, a gay man who spends his time caring for a racist and homophobic father.
After facing questions about playing the role of John, who is gay, Milder asked Orlando Bloom what he thought about it.
He said, ”What makes you think you know all about my life? It appears you think I am straight when I’m talking about my experience. I’d like to think I am or I’m not, but I am just trying to make do. That’s not something you should be concerned about.
I want my movie to make sense and I want John’s character to come across well. Since I only follow through with things I feel are good ideas, I won’t participate if I don’t think it’s a good idea.
While in their professional partnership
It’s interesting to note that David Cronenberg appears briefly in Falling. Usually, he’s the one who takes care of me, but not this time.
When they shot Cronenberg’s scene as a proctologist, Viggo saw that Cronenberg would move his gloved hand just before the lens. Viggo drew attention to how this angle was making the hand too noticeable, but Cronenberg agreed, “I know it’s having that effect.”
Mortensen doesn’t see love as needing labels; to him, love is about forming a bond. Did he work more closely with the director David Cronenberg? Surely, this is one of the most heart-filled, well-executed and stunning friendships out of all Hollywood has ever seen.
It may sound hard to believe, but being professionals allows us to turn one another down. If I found a role for Viggo and he said it wasn’t right for him, I wouldn’t take it hard and still see him as a friend. The same can be said about political parties. Even if Viggo offered me a role, I would need to say no when I didn’t feel the project fit. Even though we like to have fun, there’s still respect and professionalism among the crew,” he says.
Viggo Mortensen has a girlfriend.
There are a few facts we understand about Viggo Mortensen’s love life:
In 1986, while making the film Salvation!, he met singer Exene Cervenka and they married the following year. Later that year, their son Henry was born; years later, he appeared as Viggo’s son in the film Crimson Tide (1995).
I find it interesting that Viggo chose Henry to play a small role in Falling. While reading through a script, Henry showed his father how well he could speak in an upstate New York accent. Even his appearance was improved—he cut his long hair short and grew a mustache like real state troopers in 1977.
Viggo Mortensen and Exene Cervenka decided to divorce in 1992 but officially completed the divorce in 1997. Viggo and Spanish actress Ariadna Gil have been together since 2009.
In 1972, David Cronenberg, who is now 81, was married to Margaret Hindson. Their seven-year marriage finished in 1979 because they disagreed on both personal and professional matters. David and his wife Cronenberg raised only one child, who is now known as Cassandra Cronenberg. Carolyn Zeifman was his second wife; Fonda married her in 1979 and was with her until her death in 2017.