When / where was Viggo born?

Viggo was born October 20, 1958, in New York.

FAQ

How do you pronounce "Viggo"?

Well, Viggo pronounces it Vee-go, but the Danish pronounciation seems to differ from that. [Danish pronounciation is notoriously difficult for non-native speakers], but it's been heard with a short i, like big-o or vigor without the 'r', but the correct version may be more complicated than that, with a short-but-not-too-short o at the end.

The name, BTW, is derived from the Scandinavian word for "war". Ironic for such a peace loving soul, hm?

FAQ

What is Viggo's ancestry?

This much is known:
Viggo's father was born and raised in Denmark.
Viggo's mother is usually characterized as "American", she grew up in upstate NY.
Viggo has claimed some Celtic heritage on his mother's side
Viggo has said that he's descended from "Buffalo" Bill Cody and John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) through his mother.
Viggo has said that he has some relations in Nova Scotia on his mother's side.
So...it would appear that he's at least somewhat Anglo-Celtic, but perhaps not exclusively. Whatever the ingredients are, the recipe seemed to turn out OK!

FAQ

How did Viggo get that sexy scar on his upper lip?

He was 17 and drunk and at St. Lawrence University, and it was Halloween. "It was just one of those things," he says. "Just sort of clowning around. I grabbed somebody's deerskin rug from his house where this party was, and I think I grabbed some beer. Like, a six-pack. Maybe it was a case. It was just for a lark. And I was running through the bushes and being chased. Then I got shoved into a barbed-wire fence. Stupid, really. Nothing very spectacular or glamorous."

FAQ

Is Viggo Vegetarian?

We know he likes rabbits and pickled herring, from interviews, so highly doubtful.

FAQ

Is Henry Vegetarian?

Yes... or at least he was at the time of this quote:

FAQ

Does Viggo have an official website?

No, Perceval Press expresses a lot of Viggo-ness, so that's probably as close as he'll get.

FAQ

How can I write Viggo?

Viggo himself has stated he prefers not to receive fanmail. Back in 2002 he sent the following message through a fansite:

Over the years I have made the effort to read and answer every piece of fan mail that I received. Lately, however, the volume of mail has increased significantly making it practically impossible to keep up with it all and to respond to each piece personally. Although I am grateful for the favorable response that those of us involved in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy have had, it is simply become a bit overwhelming. I find that I have little or no time left for other pursuits and have little free time left for art projects or for spending time with friends and family.

Therefore, as I do not wish to have mail answered for me by others, I have no choice but to say that I will no longer be accepting fan mail after October 31, 2002.

Please do not send anymore letters or cards as it will not be answered. I will, however, continue to honor requests for autographs in person as I have always done.

I thank you for your support and kind thoughts.

FAQ

Where do I find more information about [blah blah] movie?

Check out the always-in-progress movie review from VFB members linked from the bottom of the Viggo's Films' Page.

From Viggo's IMDb page there are links to every movie he's been in, many with filming information, trivia, quotes, and much more! Many have active discussion forums. (Of course you could also discuss them in Viggo's Movies on VFB.)

FAQ

- The role of John Dunbar in Dances With Wolves?

Yes, the screenwriter Michael Blake originally suggested Viggo to star in the film, under Kevin Costner's direction. Costner, in the end, wanted to play the part himself.

- The Patrick Swayze role in "To Wong Foo..."

Yes, Viggo auditioned for it, but did not win the role.

- Tarzan in "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes"

Yes, Viggo made it to the final two in an audition for that role, but lost it to Christopher Lambert.

- A role in "The Thin Red Line"

Viggo is thanked in the credits, and many actors contributed to that film and did not make the final cut, but it's not clear whether he filmed scenes or was only involved in pre-production.

- The Elias Grodin role in Platoon

Yes, in the January 2004 issue of Vanity Fair Viggo said that he was Oliver Stone's choice for the role of Sgt Grodin, but funding fell through and when the project emerged from turnaround, Stone had given Willem Dafoe the role.

- A part in "Original Sin"

IMDb used to erroneously list this as a Viggo movie. Viggo had been attached to it early on, but was unable to commit due to his presence being urgently requested for a little film in New Zealand.

- The role of Hoyteck in "Live Freaky Die Freaky"

Viggo did voice work for this animated film, but was deleted at the discretion of the director (long time Viggo friend John Roecker) due to the provocative and controversial nature of the film - dealing satirically with the Charles Manson Family murders. The film has not had a general release in theaters or on DVD.

- A part in the 2005 film "Thumbsucker"

Director Mike Mills said in an interview with CHUD.com that Viggo had been interested in a part in the film (probably either the role of the father or the orthodontist). Viggo probably dropped out while the film was having funding problems, but he receives a "special thanks" in the credits.

FAQ

What charities or political causes does Viggo support?

Viggo tends to support charities quietly, without attendant press releases or gala appearances, but he has been mentioned as linked with a variety of art education, health care, environmental, Native American, and wild horse preservation causes. He supported Cindy Sheehan with a brief visit outside of President Bush's ranch in August 2005. Viggo is also on record as being in favor of an immediate withdrawl of troops from Iraq, and appeared at a moveon.org rally in Ohio in November 2004. In 2006 he actively supported the campaign of Dr Robert Johnson, running for Congress in the 2006 elections.

FAQ

Is Viggo also a theologian?

No, there is a different Viggo Mortensen that is a thelogian at the University of Aarhus in Denmark who has published several books on theology. He is not Viggo's father, and is not necessarily any relation at all to the actor/artist Viggo.

FAQ

Where can I hear examples of Viggo's music and/or poetry?

There are some sound files of older selections of poetry and music, as well as some transcripts at The Many Faces Of Viggo Mortensen site.

A couple of legal downloads at tdrsmusic.com. Also check out viggo-mortensen.net/ multimedia section.

FAQ

Where can I find examples of Viggo's Art Online?

While most artists are very hesitant to allow their copyrighted work online here are a few sites with examples of Viggo's art:

thelonelywarrior.com
frostyland.com

Outdated exhibit announcements have a couple of things
Recent Forgeries
Sign Language

Current exhibition @ Track 16

TORn

Also see the links section for more information.

FAQ

When did Viggo...

Check out the VFB Timeline or ask in the forum.

FAQ

What's Exene up to these days?

Still performing! Visit exenecervenka.com.

FAQ

How many languages does Viggo speak? Which ones?

Viggo speaks Spanish and Danish fluently, in addition to his native English. He also speaks French*, Italian**, Swedish***, and Norwegian****, to varying degrees. He, like many other speakers of Latinate languages, may also have a working knowledge of Portuguese, but he used a translator for the ROTK Brazilian press tour.

He also learned some words and phrases in Lakota, Japanese, Elvish, Maori, and Polish***** while he worked on various movie roles, but doesn’t appear to speak those languages with fluency.

* see his appearance on “Tous le monde en parle” AHOV press tour
** see the mention of it in the article accompanying the photo spread in L’Uomo Vogue
***see his appearance on “Sen kvall med Luuk”, Hidalgo press tour
****see his presentation of ROTK at the Norwegian premiere
*****while filming Ewangelia wedlug Harry, thanks to Ewa

FAQ

What/Where/How many tattoos does Viggo have?

No one who’s had the privilege of personal full-body inspection has come forward with a complete answer, but from films and photos, there are some known quantities:

FAQ

Why isn't Viggo on the LotR Extended Edition DVD commentary tracks?

He says:

I understand that it's interesting for a movie buff to hear the director's point of view, but I'm just a believer in letting the movie speak for itself. I've supplied other materials and photographs and whatever, trying to be helpful -- I'm certainly in the extras a lot, talking about stuff. But the movie should speak for itself or not, and I think the Extended Editions so far have done that.

FAQ

What kind of music does Viggo like?

Viggo's been asked this question directly a couple of times, but always seems kind of stumped by it, like he can't put his taste in music into words. But it's obvious he loves the stuff. So, here is a compilation - a Greatest Hits, if you will - of Viggo and the music he digs.

FAQ