Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Biography
Nikolaj William Coster-Waldau is a Danish actor and producer born on July 27, 1970, in Rudkobing, Denmark. He is also known by the names Lucas Desange and Conte. Coster-Waldau completed his formal training at the Danish National School of Performing Arts in Copenhagen, graduating in 1993. Throughout his professional career, he has established himself as a versatile performer in both his native Scandinavia and the United States. He has accumulated 87 known credits in the film and television industry. His work has garnered significant critical recognition, including two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performance in a major fantasy drama series.
Career overview
Coster-Waldau achieved his initial professional breakthrough in Denmark with the 1994 film Nightwatch. He maintained a consistent presence in Scandinavian cinema, appearing in notable projects such as the 2011 film Headhunters and the 2013 production A Thousand Times Good Night. These roles helped establish his reputation within the European film industry before he expanded his work into international markets.
His transition into United States film productions began with his role as Gary Gordon in the 2001 war film Black Hawk Down. He later gained widespread international prominence for his portrayal of Jaime Lannister in the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. This role earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. With a career spanning several decades, Coster-Waldau continues to work as both an actor and a producer across various film and television platforms.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Qajaq Man (2026) Producer
- King & Conqueror (2025) as William of Normandy
- King & Conqueror (2025) Executive Producer
- King & Conqueror (2025) Director
- Horses & Hangmen (2025)
- My Fathers' Daughter (2025) as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet (2024) as Self - Presenter
- The Last Thing He Told Me (2023) as Owen Michaels
- The Flash (2023) as Pizza Guy
- The Flash (2023) Thanks
- Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever (2023) as Martin
- Agent (2023) as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- God Is a Bullet (2023) as Bob Hightower
- En særlig samtale (2023)
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self - Guest
- Against the Ice (2022) as Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen
- Against the Ice (2022) Producer
- Against the Ice (2022) Screenplay
- Flee (2021) Executive Producer
- A Taste of Hunger (2021) as Carsten
- The Silencing (2020) as Rayburn Swanson
- The Day We Died (2020) as Rico
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- Game of Thrones: The Last Watch (2019) as Self
- Exit Plan (2019) as Max Isaksen
- Domino (2019) as Christian Toft
- Through Greenland - With Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (2019) as Self - Host
- Gone Hollywood (2019) as Jack DeVoe
- Shot Caller (2017) as Jacob 'Money' Harlon
- Game of Thrones - Conquest & Rebellion: An Animated History of the Seven Kingdoms (2017) as Jaime Lannister (voice)
- Small Crimes (2017) as Joe Denton
- 3 Things (2017) as Mikael
- 3 Things (2017) Executive Producer
- Chicken/Egg (2017) as Kenneth
- Gods of Egypt (2016) as Horus
- Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience (2015) as Jaime Lannister
- Klown Forever (2015) as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- The Men in Blazers Show (2014) as Self
- The Other Woman (2014) as Mark King
- A Second Chance (2014) as Andreas
- Oblivion (2013) as Sykes
- Mama (2013) as Lucas Desange
- A Thousand Times Good Night (2013) as Marcus
- Game of Thrones (2011) as Sir Jaime 'Kingslayer' Lannister
- Headhunters (2011) as Clas Greve
- Blackthorn (2011) as Butch Cassidy
- ZULU Comedy Galla (2010) as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Live from Bremen (2009) as Forskellige roller
- The Left Wing Gang (2009) as Jan Weimann
- Virtuality (2009) as Commander Frank Pike
- Virtuality (2009)
- At World's End (2009) as Severin Geertsen
- New Amsterdam (2008) as John Amsterdam
- The Kautokeino Rebellion (2008) as Biskop Juell
- Kaotokeino-opprøret (TV-serien) (2008) as Biskop Juell
- Himmerland (2008) as Thomas
- Filthy Gorgeous (2007) as Alex
- The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 (2007) as Sammy
- The Baker (2007) as Bjorn
- Wonderful and Loved by All (2007) as Micke
- Soccer Aid (2006) as Self - Player
- Firewall (2006) as Liam
- Triple Dare (2006) as Martin
- Kingdom of Heaven (2005) as Village Sheriff
- Shadow of the Sword (2005) as Martin
- Wimbledon (2004) as Dieter Prohl
- The Good Cop (2004) as Sune
- My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure (2004) as Miklos
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Stealing Rembrandt (2003) as Kenneth
- The Bouncer (2003) as Svend
- 24 Hours in the Life of a Woman (2002) as Anton
- Black Hawk Down (2001) as MSG Gary Gordon
- Enigma (2001) as Puck
- Lock, Stock... (2000) as Jordi
- Foreign Fields (2000) as Holt
- Hvem vil være millionær? Classic (1999) as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- Misery Harbour (1999) as Espen Arnakke
- Antenneforeningen (1999) as Rocker
- Angel of the Night (1998) as Frankie
- Wildside (1998) as Ossy
- Wildside (1998) Writer
- Leute heute (1997) as Self
- Bent (1997) as Wolf
- Nightwatch (1994) as Martin
- Hit the Bag (1993) as Christian
- Requiem (1991)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Markery (voice)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- The Last Mrs. Parrish as Jackson Parrish
- Virtue
- Virtue Producer