Viggo Mortensen has spent decades captivating audiences with his intense performances, rugged charm, and fearless approach to acting. But beyond the roles he plays, there’s another side to the Hollywood star that has sparked curiosity.
Over the years, Mortensen has been photographed passionately kissing a certain man in his life — again and again. These moments have led to whispers, speculation, and one burning question: Is there more to the story?
Now, the actor himself is finally addressing the topic. And what he has to say may surprise you…
Viggo Mortensen, 66, needs no introduction — he’s been nominated for an Academy Award three times and won hearts worldwide as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But beyond the sword fights and Hollywood glamour, there’s another side to Mortensen — one that involves a passionate, decades-long connection with a very special man in his life.
Born in Watertown, New York, to a Danish father and an American mother, Mortensen’s childhood was anything but ordinary. He lived in Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina before settling back in the U.S. at age 11. His path to stardom wasn’t straightforward —after graduating from St. Lawrence University, he took odd jobs in Denmark, driving trucks and selling flowers. Acting wasn’t even on the horizon.
His first scenes in his first movie was deleted
But in 1982, at 24, Mortensen returned to the U.S. to pursue his Hollywood dreams. His first film appearance in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) never saw the light of day — his scenes were cut. Yet, he persisted, slowly carving out a name for himself.
Undeterred, he steadily built a solid career, landing roles in various films without quite reaching superstar status. That all changed in 1997 when he starred alongside Demi Moore in G.I. Jane.
With a hefty $50 million budget, G.I. Jane was Mortensen’s most high-profile project at the time. While the film itself struggled at the box office and Demi Moore faced heavy criticism for her performance, Mortensen emerged largely unscathed.
In fact, his portrayal of Command Master Chief John James ‘Jack’ Urgayle was widely praised.
After the G.I. Jane debacle, not many would have predicted that Viggo Mortensen would go on to create one of the most iconic characters in movie history. But just a few years later, he did exactly that — stepping into the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and making cinematic magic.
The best swordsman in Lord of the Rings
Mortensen wasn’t just playing a warrior — he became one. The film’s sword master even called him ”the best swordsman I’ve ever trained.” In fact, Mortensen was so committed to the role that he performed most of his own stunts, even when it meant getting injured. (Yes, those two broken toes? All part of the job.)
And his love for horses? That wasn’t just acting — he did all his own riding stunts in Hidalgo (2004) too.
According to the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Special Extended Edition DVD, Mortensen was actually a last-minute replacement for Stuart Townsend. He almost didn’t take the role — until his son, a huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan, convinced him to say yes.
And he got so into character that director Peter Jackson once called him ”Aragorn” for over half an hour… and Mortensen never even noticed. Now that’s dedication!
A love story in Hollywood
While Mortensen’s on-screen presence is legendary, it’s his real-life chemistry with Canadian director David Cronenberg that has fascinated fans for years.
The two first met at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where Mortensen was celebrating The Lord of the Rings. It was instant magic and they vowed to work together one day.
That day came with A History of Violence (2005). Initially unimpressed with the script, Mortensen only agreed to the project after meeting with Cronenberg.
The film was a smash hit, hailed as one of the best of the decade. Their professional bond deepened. Mortensen declared, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt more like I was on the same wavelength with a director as I am with David.”
Their connection wasn’t just artistic — it was deeply personal. At a press event in 2006, fresh off their cinematic triumph, the two men shared a lingering, affectionate kiss in front of flashing cameras. It was a moment that spoke volumes.
”My kind of actor”
Their collaborations continued — Eastern Promises (2007), A Dangerous Method (2011) — each film strengthening their unique connection.
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”Viggo’s my kind of actor,” Cronenberg said, explaining that Mortensen had the rare ability to blend the presence of a leading man with the depth and versatility of a character actor.
In 2014, the duo took it a step further. At the Canadian Screen Awards, Mortensen presented Cronenberg with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He stood on stage, full of admiration, calling him “the finest director and the sanest man I know.” Then, right there, in front of an audience of Hollywood elites, he leaned in and kissed him again.
The moment was electric, a testament to their enduring bond. Mortensen, never one to hold back, used the opportunity to criticize the film industry for overlooking Cronenberg’s genius. Despite a four-decade career as a director, the Academy Awards never once recognized Cronenberg with a nomination.
“Mainstream movie business people, much as they might praise him from time to time, seem very reluctant to reward him officially. I can understand that because David basically is not one of them,” Mortensen said.
Is Viggo Mortensen gay?
With a relationship as affectionate and openly intimate as theirs, it’s no wonder that Mortensen has faced speculation about his sexuality. In a candid interview, he addressed the topic with his signature nonchalance: “People ask if I’m gay or straight. I guess you could say I’m not entirely straight.”
Mortensen got the question in connection with the movie Falling, which Viggo Mortensen both wrote and stars in. There, he portrays a gay man (John) who ends up caring for his racist and homophobic father.
The Lord of the Rings star was asked to respond to criticism about whether it was appropriate for him, a man who appears to be heterosexual, to play the role of John.
He replied, ”How do you know what my life is? You’re assuming that I’m completely straight. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. And it’s frankly none of your business.”
“I want my movie to work, and I want the character of John to be effective. If I didn’t think it was a good idea I wouldn’t do it.”
Inside their professional relationship
Interestingly, David Cronenberg also has a small role in the movie Falling. The roles were actually reversed this time.
While filming Cronenberg’s scene as a proctologist, Viggo noticed that Cronenberg kept moving his gloved hand closer to the camera lens. When Viggo pointed out that this was creating an exaggerated perspective, making the hand appear unnaturally large, Cronenberg responded, “Yes, I’m quite aware of that.”
For Mortensen, love isn’t about labels — it’s about connection. And his connection with David Cronenberg? Undeniably one of the most passionate, professional and visually striking friendships Hollywood has ever seen.
“We are professionals, unbelievable as it seems, so it means that we can say no to each other. If I offered Viggo a role, and he really feels he’s not right for or doesn’t connect with it, he has to be able to say no, and I am not going to be shattered and think he’s not my friend anymore. And the reverse is true. If Viggo had a project or a script that he wanted me to direct, I would have to say no if I really didn’t want to do it. So there’s that respect and that professionalism despite the tomfoolery that we enjoy,” Cronenberg says.
Viggo Mortensen girlfriend
When it comes to Viggo Mortensen’s love life, there are a few things we know:
He met singer Exene Cervenka in 1986 while working on the comedy Salvation!, and they tied the knot in 1987. A year later, they welcomed their son, Henry, who would later play Viggo’s on-screen son in Crimson Tide (1995).
Interestingly, Viggo also cast Henry in a small role in Falling. Henry impressed his father during a script read-through by showing off a perfect upstate New York accent. He even shaved his long hair and grew a mustache to better resemble a 1977 state trooper.
Viggo Mortensen and Exene Cervenka parted ways in 1992 and officially divorced in 1997. Since 2009, Viggo has been in a relationship with Spanish actress Ariadna Gil.
David Cronenberg, now 81, first married Margaret Hindson in 1972. Their seven-year marriage ended in 1979 due to personal and professional differences. They had one daughter together, Cassandra Cronenberg. His second wife was film editor Carolyn Zeifman, whom he was married to from 1979 until her passing in 2017.
