Viggo Mortensen has captivated audiences for decades with his powerful performances, rough charisma, and courageous commitment to acting. But, apart from the roles he portrays, there’s another side to the Hollywood star that has piqued interest.
Mortensen has often been spotted passionately kissing somebody throughout his life. These instances have sparked gossip, curiosity, and the pressing question: Is there more to the story?
The actor has now graciously addressed the matter. What he has to say may surprise you.
Viggo Mortensen, 66, is well-known for his role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, for which he has received three Academy Award nominations. But there’s more to Mortensen than sword battles and Hollywood glitz. He has a deep, decades-long relationship with a very particular individual in his life.
Mortensen was born in Watertown, New York, to a Danish father and an American mother. His childhood was anything but typical. He resided in Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina before returning to the United States at age 11. His journey to prominence wasn’t easy; after graduating from St. Lawrence University, he had odd jobs in Denmark, driving trucks and selling flowers. Acting was not even on the horizon.
The producers erased his initial scenes from his debut film.
However, Mortensen returned to the United States in 1982, at the age of 24, to pursue his Hollywood goals. His first cinematic appearance, in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), was edited before it was released. Nonetheless, he continued, gradually establishing a reputation for himself.
Undeterred, he slowly developed a strong career, securing roles in various films but never quite attaining superstardom. That all changed in 1997, when he costarred with Demi Moore in G.I. Jane.
With a $50 million budget, G.I. Jane was Mortensen’s most visible project at the time. While the picture flopped at the box office and Demi Moore received harsh criticism for her performance, Mortensen remained relatively unharmed.
In fact, his portrayal of Command Master Chief John James ‘Jack’ Urgayle drew much appreciation.
After the failure of G.I. Jane, few people expected Viggo Mortensen to create one of the most memorable characters in film history. But a few years later, he achieved just that, playing Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and creating cinematic magic.
He became the greatest swordsman in the Lord of the Rings.
Mortensen didn’t simply portray a warrior; he became one. The film’s sword teacher even described him as “the best swordsman I’ve ever trained.” Indeed, Mortensen’s dedication to the role led him to perform most of his own stunts, even at the risk of injury. (Are those two broken toes? (This is all part of the job.)
What about his passion for horses? He didn’t simply appear in Hidalgo (2004); he also performed all of the riding feats himself.
According to the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Special Extended Edition DVD, Mortensen was a late substitute for Stuart Townsend. He almost declined the part until his son, a major J.R.R. Tolkien enthusiast, persuaded him to accept.
He became so invested in the character that director Peter Jackson referred to him as “Aragorn” for more than 30 minutes. Mortensen didn’t even notice. Now that’s devotion!
A Love Story in Hollywood
While Mortensen’s on-screen presence is famous, his real-life relationship with Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg has captivated viewers for decades.
They first met at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, when Mortensen was celebrating The Lord of the Rings. It was immediate magic, and they promised to work together one day.
That day arrived with A History of Violence (2005). Mortensen was initially disappointed with the writing and consented to the job only after meeting with Cronenberg.
The film was a giant success, regarded as one of the greatest of the decade. Their professional relationship strengthened. Mortensen expressed, “I’ve never felt more in sync with a director than I do with David.”
Their relationship was more than simply creative; it was extremely intimate. Following their cinematic success, the two men had a lengthy, loving kiss in front of flashing cameras at a press event in 2006. It was a poignant moment.
“My kind of actor”
Their partnership continued with Eastern Promises (2007) and A Dangerous Method (2011), each film reinforcing their particular bond.
“Viggo’s my kind of actor,” Cronenberg stated, noting Mortensen’s unique ability to combine the presence of a leading man with the depth and variety of a character actor.
In 2014, the duo elevated their collaboration to unprecedented levels. At the Canadian Screen Awards, Mortensen gave Cronenberg a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He stepped on stage, full of respect, describing him as “the finest director and the sanest man I know.” Then, directly in front of an audience of Hollywood elites, he leaned in and kissed him once again.
The moment was electrifying, a monument to their strong relationship. Mortensen, never one to hold back, used the opportunity to blast the film business for ignoring Cronenberg’s talent. Despite his four-decade career as a filmmaker, Cronenberg has never received an Academy Award nomination.
“Mainstream movie industry professionals, although occasionally praising him, are hesitant to publicly reward him. “I can understand that hesitation because David is not part of their circle,” Mortensen said.
Is Viggo Mortensen gay?
Questions about Mortensen’s sexuality are understandable given their intense and overtly personal connection. In a forthright interview, he addressed the matter with his trademark casualness: “People wonder if I’m homosexual or straight. I suppose you could say I’m not quite straight.”
Mortensen received the inquiry in connection with the film Falling, which he wrote and acts in. There, he plays a gay guy (John) who eventually cares for his racist and homophobic father.
We asked the Lord of the Rings star to address concerns about his suitability as a heterosexual actor playing John.
He said, “How do you know about my life? You are presuming that I am entirely straight. Maybe I am, and maybe I am not. And it’s really none of your concern.”
“I want my film to succeed, and I want the character of John to be effective. If I didn’t believe it was a good idea, I wouldn’t do it.”
They maintain a professional relationship.
Interestingly, David Cronenberg has a brief role in the film Falling. This time, the roles took a complete turn.
While filming Cronenberg’s part as a proctologist, Viggo spotted Cronenberg repeatedly bringing his gloved hand closer to the camera lens. When Viggo pointed out that this created an exaggerated perspective, making the hand look abnormally huge, Cronenberg said, “Yes, I’m quite aware of that.”
Mortensen believes that love is about connection, not labels. And what is his link to David Cronenberg? It is undeniably one of the most intense, professional, and visually spectacular friendships in Hollywood history.
“We are professionals, as absurd as it seems, so we can say no to each other. If I give Viggo a part and he feels he isn’t suitable for it or doesn’t connect with it, he must be free to say no, and I will not be devastated or believe he is no longer my buddy. And the opposite is true. If Viggo asked me to direct a film or a script, I would have to decline if I didn’t want to. Therefore, there is a sense of respect and professionalism, even amidst the nonsense that we enjoy,” Cronenberg explains.
Viggo Mortensen’s Girlfriend
We know a few details about Viggo Mortensen’s romantic life:
He met singer Exene Cervenka in 1986 while working on the comedy Salvation!, and the two married in 1987. A year later, they had a son, Henry, who would eventually play Viggo’s on-screen son in Crimson Tide (1995).
Interestingly, Viggo cast Henry in a minor part in Falling. Henry wowed his father during a screenplay read-through by displaying an impeccable upstate New York accent. He even cut his long hair and developed a mustache to look like a 1977 state policeman.
Viggo Mortensen and Exene Cervenka split up in 1992 and were formally divorced in 1997. Viggo and Spanish actress Ariadna Gil have been in a relationship since 2009.
David Cronenberg, 81, initially married Margaret Hindson in 1972. Their seven-year marriage dissolved in 1979 owing to personal and professional disagreements. They have one daughter, Cassandra Cronenberg. His second wife was film editor Carolyn Zeifman, whom he was married to from 1979 until her death in 2017.