Viggo Mortensen has captivated audiences for decades with his intense performances, rugged charm, and fearless approach to acting. However, beyond his roles, there’s another side to the Hollywood star that has intrigued many.
Over the years, Mortensen has been photographed sharing passionate kisses with a certain man, sparking speculation and leading to one burning question: Is there more to their relationship?
Now, Mortensen is finally addressing the topic, and his response may surprise you.
At 66, Mortensen needs no introduction. Three-time Academy Award nominee and beloved for his portrayal of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, Mortensen’s career has been marked by both cinematic fame and a personal life full of deep connections, including with a very special man — Canadian director David Cronenberg.
Born in Watertown, New York, to a Danish father and an American mother, Mortensen’s childhood was anything but conventional. He lived in Venezuela, Denmark, and Argentina before returning to the U.S. at age 11. After graduating from St. Lawrence University, he worked various odd jobs, including truck driving and selling flowers, with acting not even on his radar at the time.
His first film role in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) ended up on the cutting room floor, but Mortensen persisted, slowly building a career. His big break came in 1997 when he starred alongside Demi Moore in G.I. Jane, a film with a $50 million budget. Although the movie was not a major box office hit, Mortensen’s performance was widely praised.
Despite the film’s mixed reception, no one could have predicted that Mortensen would go on to create one of the most iconic characters in cinema. A few years later, he transformed into Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, a role that not only defined his career but also showcased his commitment. Mortensen’s swordsmanship was so impressive that the film’s sword master called him “the best swordsman I’ve ever trained,” and he performed most of his own stunts, even suffering injuries in the process.
Beyond The Lord of the Rings, Mortensen’s love for horses and his physical dedication continued in Hidalgo (2004), where he did his own riding stunts as well.
Despite being a last-minute replacement for Stuart Townsend in The Fellowship of the Ring, Mortensen’s passion for the role was clear. He even got so immersed in the character that director Peter Jackson once called him “Aragorn” for over 30 minutes without Mortensen realizing.
While Mortensen’s on-screen chemistry with various co-stars is well-documented, it’s his personal bond with director David Cronenberg that has intrigued fans for years. The two first met at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where Mortensen was promoting The Lord of the Rings. Their instant connection led them to collaborate on A History of Violence (2005), which was a critical success and strengthened their artistic bond. Mortensen has said that he’s never felt more aligned with a director than he does with Cronenberg.
Their relationship is not only professional but deeply personal. At a 2006 press event, Mortensen and Cronenberg shared a lingering, affectionate kiss in front of cameras, sparking further curiosity about their connection. Mortensen has since praised Cronenberg as “the finest director and the sanest man I know,” even using a Canadian Screen Awards ceremony in 2014 to express his admiration, where he kissed Cronenberg once more in front of a crowd of Hollywood elites.
With such a close, affectionate bond, it’s no surprise that Mortensen has faced questions about his sexuality. In a candid interview, Mortensen addressed the speculation with his usual nonchalance: “People ask if I’m gay or straight. I guess you could say I’m not entirely straight.”
This came up in connection with his role in Falling (2020), where he plays a gay man caring for his racist and homophobic father. When asked about playing a character who was gay despite not fitting the stereotypical image of a straight man, Mortensen 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.”
Their collaborative relationship has only deepened over the years. In Falling, Cronenberg plays a small role as a proctologist, and Mortensen jokingly pointed out how the director exaggerated the perspective of his gloved hand for visual effect, a playful moment that reflects their close friendship.
For Mortensen, love and connection are about chemistry, not labels. And his bond with Cronenberg remains one of the most passionate and visually striking friendships in Hollywood.
When it comes to Mortensen’s romantic life, he was married to singer Exene Cervenka in 1987, and together they had a son, Henry, who later appeared in films such as Crimson Tide (1995) and Falling (2020). After their separation in 1992 and divorce in 1997, Mortensen has been in a relationship with Spanish actress Ariadna Gil since 2009.
Cronenberg, now 81, was married twice, first to Margaret Hindson from 1972 to 1979, and later to film editor Carolyn Zeifman until her death in 2017.