Born in New York (20th October, 1958) 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 Drama-logue Critic’s Award. Mortensen is also an accomplished poet, photographer and painter. Eventually, the success of Lord of the Rings made him a household name – a difficult consequence for the ever private and introspective Viggo.