Viggo Mortensen’s dramatic performances, tough charisma, and gutsy approach to acting have captivated audiences for decades. However, there is another aspect of the Hollywood celebrity that has aroused interest beyond the parts he portrays.

Mortensen has repeatedly been pictured kissing a particular individual in his life with passion over the years. These incidents have sparked rumors, conjecture, and the insatiable curiosity, “Is there more to the story?”

At last, the actor himself is speaking out on the subject. And you might be surprised by what he says.

It is unnecessary to introduce Viggo Mortensen, 66, who has captured hearts all over the world as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and received three Academy Award nominations. Beyond the Hollywood glitz and sword fights, however, Mortensen has a different side that includes a deep and enduring relationship with a very significant individual in his life that spans decades.

Mortensen was born to an American mother and a Danish father in Watertown, New York, and his early years were anything but typical. Before returning to the United States at the age of eleven, he resided in Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina. After graduating from St. Lawrence University, he did odd occupations in Denmark, such as selling flowers and driving trucks, to gain notoriety. Not even acting was in the cards.

The opening sequences of his debut film were removed.

However, Mortensen returned to the United States in 1982 at the age of 24 to follow his Hollywood aspirations. His sequences in his debut movie, The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), were removed, therefore it never got made. Nevertheless, he continued, gradually making a name for himself.

 

Unfazed, he progressively established a strong career, securing parts in a number of movies without nearly becoming a star. When he costarred with Demi Moore in G.I. Jane in 1997, everything changed.

At the time, Mortensen’s most well-known project was G.I. Jane, which had a substantial $50 million budget. Mortensen was completely unaffected, despite the fact that the movie itself did poorly at the box office and Demi Moore received harsh criticism for her performance.

Indeed, he received a lot of appreciation for his portrayal as Command Master Chief John James “Jack” Urgayle.

Few people could have imagined that Viggo Mortensen would go on to create one of the most memorable characters in film history after the G.I. Jane fiasco. However, he accomplished just that a few years later when he played Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and created magical effects in the movies.

The Lord of the Rings’ finest swordsman

Mortensen became a warrior rather than only portraying one. He was even referred to as “the best swordsman I’ve ever trained” by the movie’s sword master. Mortensen actually did most of his own stunts, even if it risked being hurt, because he was that dedicated to the part. (You mean those two toes that broke? Every aspect of the work.)

And his passion for equines? He performed all of the riding stunts in Hidalgo (2004) himself, so it wasn’t just acting.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Special Extended Edition DVD claims that Mortensen was actually Stuart Townsend’s last-minute replacement. He was on the verge of declining the job until his son, a devoted follower of J.R.R.R. Tolkien, persuaded him to accept.

And he became so engrossed in the role that Peter Jackson, the director, once referred to him as “Aragorn” for more than thirty minutes. Mortensen did not even notice. That’s commitment!

A Hollywood romance

Despite Mortensen’s iconic on-screen persona, viewers have always been captivated by his on-screen relationship with Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg.

Mortensen was celebrating The Lord of the Rings when the two first met at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. They promised to collaborate one day after experiencing instant magic.

A History of Violence was released on that day (2005). Mortensen was initially dissatisfied with the writing and only accepted the job after meeting Cronenberg.

The movie was a huge success and was praised as one of the decade’s best. Their working relationship grew closer. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt more like I was on the same wavelength with a director than I am with David,” Mortensen said.

 

Their bond was intensely intimate in addition to being artistic. Fresh off their film success, the two guys shared a long, passionate kiss in front of flashing cameras at a press event in 2006. A much was said in that instant.

“My type of performer”

They continued to work together on films like Eastern Promises (2007) and A Dangerous Method (2011), each of which enhanced their special bond.

Cronenberg remarked, “Viggo’s my kind of actor,” describing Mortensen’s exceptional ability to combine the depth and variety of a character actor with the presence of a leading man.

The pair went one step further in 2014. Mortensen gave Cronenberg a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Full of enthusiasm, he stood on stage and referred to him as “the finest director and the sanest man I know.” He then leaned in and gave him another kiss in front of a group of Hollywood celebrities.

Their lifelong friendship was demonstrated by the electric moment. Never one to mince words, Mortensen took the chance to attack the film industry for failing to recognize Cronenberg’s brilliance. Throughout his four decades as a director, Cronenberg was never nominated for an Academy Award.

 

 

Even while they may occasionally give him accolades, mainstream movie industry people appear hesitant to formally recognize him. Since David is essentially not one of them, I can appreciate that,” Mortensen remarked.

Viggo Mortensen: Is he gay?

It’s understandable that there has been conjecture regarding Mortensen’s sexual orientation given their loving and transparently personal relationship. He approached the subject in an open interview with his trademark casualness: “People question if I’m homosexual or straight. You could say that I’m not totally straight.

Viggo Mortensen authored and starred in the film Falling, which is where Mortensen received the question. There, he plays John, a gay guy who becomes the caregiver for his homophobic and racist father.

The Lord of the Rings actor was asked to address comments over the suitability of him playing the part of John as a man who seems to be heterosexual.

“How do you know what my life is?” he asked. It seems like you think I’m straight. I might or might not be. Furthermore, it’s really none of your concern.

“I want John’s character to be successful, and I want my movie to succeed. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it was a good idea.

Within their working partnership

It’s interesting to note that David Cronenberg plays a little part in the film Falling. This time, the roles were actually flipped.

Viggo saw that Cronenberg kept bringing his gloved hand closer to the camera lens as they were filming his sequence as a proctologist. Cronenberg said, “Yes, I’m quite aware of that,” in response to Viggo’s observation that this was producing an exaggerated perspective, making the hand appear abnormally huge.

 

 

According to Mortensen, love is about connection more than labels. What about his relationship with David Cronenberg? Unquestionably one of the most fervent, polished, and eye-catching friendships Hollywood has ever witnessed.

We can say no to each other because, despite appearances, we are professionals. Viggo must be able to say no if I offer him a part and he truly feels unfit for it or doesn’t connect with it. I won’t be devastated and believe he is no longer my friend. The opposite is also true. If Viggo wanted me to direct a script or a film, I would have to decline if I truly didn’t want to. Therefore, despite the humor we like, there is that professionalism and respect,” Cronenberg explains.

 

 

The girlfriend of Viggo Mortensen

We are aware of a few details regarding Viggo Mortensen’s romantic life:

While working on the comedy Salvation!, he met singer Exene Cervenka in 1986. The two were married in 1987. Henry, who would play Viggo’s on-screen son in the 1995 film Crimson Tide, was born a year later.

It’s interesting to see that Viggo gave Henry a little part in Falling. During a script read-through, Henry’s flawless upstate New York accent won his father over. To look more like a 1977 state policeman, he even got a mustache and shaved his long hair.

Exene Cervenka and Viggo Mortensen separated in 1992 and had a divorce in 1997. Viggo and Spanish actress Ariadna Gil have been together since 2009.

 

The 81-year-old David Cronenberg married Margaret Hindson for the first time in 1972. In 1979, their seven-year marriage came to an end because of personal and professional conflicts. Together, they had a daughter named Cassandra Cronenberg. From 1979 until her death in 2017, he was married to film editor Carolyn Zeifman, his second wife.