When a classic fantasy tale finally comes to the big screen, a St. Lawrence graduate
will have one of the major roles.
Viggo Mortensen '80 plays Aragorn in the New Line Productions film The Lord Of
The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, set for release in December of 2001.
The movie is the first of three planned releases, based on the famous J.R.R. Tolkien
trilogy.
Mortensen earned a degree in government and Spanish at St. Lawrence. His biography on the New Line web site promoting the movie states:
"Since his screen debut as a young Amish Farmer in Peter Weir's Witness,
Viggo Mortensen's career has been marked by a steady string of well-rounded performances.
Critics have continually recognized his work in over 30 movies, including such
diverse projects as Jane Campion's Portrait of a Lady, Sean Penn's Indian Runner,
Brian DePalma's Carlito's Way, Ridley Scott's G.I. Jane, Tony Scott's
Crimson Tide, Andrew Davis' A Perfect Murder, Ray Loriga's
La Pistola de mi Hermano, and Tony Goldwyn's A Walk on the Moon.
"Born in New York to a Danish father and an American mother, Mortensen spent the early
part of his childhood in Manhattan. His family traveled a great deal and he spent
several years living in Venezuela, Argentina, and Denmark. He began acting in
New York, studying with Warren Robertson. He appeared in several plays and movies,
and eventually moved to Los Angeles, where his performance in Bent at the
Coast Playhouse earned him a Dramalogue Critic's Award. Mortensen is also an accomplished
poet, photographer, and painter. He is currently working on his third book
of poetry, and will be showing new photographs and paintings in 2001/2002 at Track 16
Gallery in Los Angeles, as well as at the Deste Foundation for Contemporary Art in Athens."
Visit the official Lord Of
The Rings web site
Visit a Viggo Mortensen
fan site