Karl Urban
Karl Urban
Personal Information
- Full Name: Karl-Heinz Urban
- Born: June 7, 1972
- Place of Birth: Wellington, New Zealand
- Nationality: New Zealander
- Occupation: Actor
Career
- Years Active: 1990–present
- Known For: Playing Éomer in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek reboot films, and Billy Butcher in The Boys
Early Life and Education
Karl Urban was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 7, 1972. He attended Wellington College, a prestigious boys' school, where he developed an interest in acting. After graduating from high school, Urban studied drama at the Victoria University of Wellington.
Acting Career
Urban began his acting career in the early 1990s, appearing in small roles in New Zealand television shows and films. He gained wider recognition in 2002 when he played Éomer in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He reprised the role in the subsequent film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).
After The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Urban starred in a number of films, including The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), Doom (2005), Pathfinder (2007), and Star Trek (2009). He also had a recurring role on the television series Xena: Warrior Princess (1996-2001).
In 2009, Urban played Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek reboot film. He reprised the role in the sequels Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016).
From 2019 to 2023, Urban starred as Billy Butcher in the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys. The series is based on the comic book series of the same name.
Personal Life
Urban is married to Kate Urban, a New Zealand makeup artist. They have two children together. Urban is also a keen surfer and rugby fan.
Awards and Nominations
- 2003: Nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- 2004: Won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- 2009: Nominated for a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in an Action Movie for his role in Star Trek
- 2019: Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in The Boys
