Karl Urban
Biography
Karl-Heinz Urban is a New Zealand actor born on June 7, 1972, in Wellington. He is known for his extensive work in film and television, with a career spanning several decades. Urban began his acting journey in his home country, appearing in various New Zealand television series and films. He eventually transitioned into international cinema, establishing himself as a recognizable figure in high-profile Hollywood productions. Currently, he maintains a professional presence in the entertainment industry, with a documented history of roles in major franchise films and television projects. His work has been recognized through numerous credits across both mediums, reflecting a versatile acting career that began with his first television role at the age of eight.
Career overview
Karl Urban began his professional acting career with appearances in New Zealand television series, including Xena: Warrior Princess. He made his transition to Hollywood in 2002 with a role in the horror film Ghost Ship. Following this, he gained international prominence for his portrayal of Éomer in the second and third installments of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His filmography includes a variety of high-profile roles, such as Kirill in The Bourne Supremacy in 2004, John Reaper Grimm in the 2005 film Doom, and the title character in the 2012 film Dredd. He also appeared as Vaako in the second and third installments of the Riddick series, Gavin Magary in the 2016 film Pete's Dragon, and Skurge in the 2017 Marvel Studios film Thor: Ragnarok.
In addition to his film work, Urban is recognized for his performance as Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek reboot film series, which began in 2009. He is also known for his role as Billy Butcher in the television series The Boys. With 57 known acting credits, Urban has established a career that spans multiple genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and action. His work continues to be featured in major motion pictures and television productions, solidifying his status as a consistent performer in the global entertainment market.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Mortal Kombat II (2026) as Johnny Cage
- The Bluff (2026) as Captain Connor
- I, Object (2026)
- ARK: The Animated Series (2024) as Bob (voice)
- Gen V (2023) as Billy Butcher
- The Sea Beast (2022) as Jacob Holland (voice)
- Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
- DC Showcase - Batman: Death in the Family (2020) as Sergeant Rock (voice)
- Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys (2020) as Self
- The Boys (2019) as Billy Butcher
- The Boys (2019) Producer
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) as Stormtrooper (uncredited)
- DC Showcase: Sgt. Rock (2019) as Sgt. Rock (voice)
- Bent (2018) as Danny Gallagher
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) as Skurge
- Acts of Vengeance (2017) as Strode
- Hangman (2017) as Detective Ruiney
- Star Trek Beyond (2016) as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- Pete's Dragon (2016) as Gavin
- 50 Years of Star Trek (2016) as Self
- For the Love of Spock (2016) as Self
- Building Star Trek (2016) as Himself
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Loft (2014) as Vincent Stevens
- Future Shock! The Story of 2000AD (2014) as Self
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- Riddick (2013) as Lord Vaako
- Walking with Dinosaurs (2013) as Uncle Zack
- Almost Human (2013) as John Kennex
- Riddick: Blindsided (2013) as Vaako
- Dredd (2012) as Judge Dredd
- Priest (2011) as Black Hat
- RED (2010) as William Cooper
- And Soon the Darkness (2010) as Michael
- Star Trek (2009) as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- Reclaiming the Blade (2009) as Self
- Comanche Moon (2008) as Woodrow F. Call
- Pathfinder (2007) as Ghost
- Out of the Blue (2006) as Nick Harvey
- Doom (2005) as John "Reaper" Grimm
- The Bourne Supremacy (2004) as Kirill
- The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) as Vaako
- The Making of 'The Return of the King' (2004) as Self
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as Éomer
- The Making of 'The Two Towers' (2003)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) as Éomer
- Ghost Ship (2002) as Munder
- The Price of Milk (2001) as Rob
- The Irrefutable Truth About Demons (2000) as Harry Ballard
- Heaven (1999) as Sweeper
- Via Satellite (1998) as Paul
- Amazon High (1997) as Kor
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) as Mael
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) as Julius Caesar
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) as Cupid
- Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) as Kor
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) as Cupid
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) as Julius Caesar
- White Fang (1993) as David
- Shortland Street (1992) as Jamie Forrest
- Chunuk Bair (1992) as Wellington soldier