Alexander Ludwig
Ludwig in 2021
Born
Alexander Richard Ludwig

(1992-05-07) May 7, 1992
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
EducationUniversity of Southern California (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer-songwriter
Years active2000–present
Spouse
Lauren Dear
​
(m. 2020)​
Children1
Parent(s)Harald Ludwig (father)
Sharlene Martin (mother)

Alexander Richard Ludwig (born May 7, 1992) is a Canadian actor and country musician. He first began his career as a child, and then received recognition as a teenager for starring in the films The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) and Race to Witch Mountain (2009). He is also known for starring as Cato in The Hunger Games (2012).

He is also known for his supporting roles as Shane Patton in Lone Survivor (2013), and Dorn in Bad Boys for Life (2020). He starred as legendary Viking Björn Ironside in the History Channel series Vikings (2014–2020). He currently has a lead role in the Starz drama series Heels (2021-2023). As a musician, Ludwig released his debut album Highway 99 via BBR Music Group on August 26, 2022.[1]

Early life

Alexander Richard Ludwig[2] was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Sharlene (née Martin), a former actress, and Harald Horst Ludwig, a businessman and former co-chair of Lionsgate Entertainment.[3][4][5] He has three younger siblings.[6] Ludwig was drawn to the profession, saying in an interview, "I have a big imagination. I love performing."[7]

Despite his mother's early career as an actress, Ludwig had to convince his parents to support his desire to pursue acting as a child.[4][7] His parents believed that child actors "can get sucked into a life that isn't reality."[7] Ludwig studied at the University of Southern California (but left before graduating), where he was in the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.[8]

Career

Ludwig began his career at the age of nine when he featured in a Harry Potter toy commercial, a job that enabled him to sign on with an agent and obtain more commercial work.[3] Later he was cast in movies such as Air Bud: World Pup (2000), MXP: Most Extreme Primate (2003), Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy (2005), Eve and the Fire Horse (2005), The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007).

In addition to cinema, Ludwig has also worked in television. He has performed in movies made for television, such as A Little Thing Called Murder (2006), and television series such as The Dead Zone.[3] Ludwig obtained his leading role in The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) after a "gruelling audition process."[6] By his count, he had 16 auditions before being cast.[9] Ludwig was in Grown Ups 2 with Adam Sandler.

Ludwig's next lead role came in the part of Seth – one half of a teenage, alien brother-sister duo – in the film production of Race to Witch Mountain (2009), also starring Dwayne Johnson, the wrestler-turned-actor. Seth is the part originated by Ike Eisenmann in the 1975 original, Escape to Witch Mountain. The film opened at number one at the box office the weekend that it premiered, with receipts estimated at $25 million.[10][11] Despite his early casting success with The Seeker, Ludwig indicated in an interview that it was his intention to attend university.[6] In another interview, the actor said that the most challenging thing about filming The Seeker was trying "to juggle school while filming." He stated: "My school wasn't used to it, and I wasn't used to it. It was the most amazing experience, but it was really hard."[7]

In the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games, Ludwig played Cato, the fierce male tribute from District 2, the primary threat to the protagonists' lives during the 74th Hunger Games. The film was released worldwide on March 23, 2012. Ludwig won the award for Best Fight on 2012 MTV Movie Awards along with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, as well as the award for Best Villain at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards.[12][13] Ludwig released his first single "Liv It Up (Teenage Wasteland)" on March 1, 2012.[14]

In 2013, he co-starred in the films Lone Survivor and Grown Ups 2. In 2014, he became a part of the main cast of the popular TV series Vikings, playing the character of Björn Ironside, the son of Ragnar Lothbrok and Lagertha. In 2015, he had the male lead in both the horror films Final Girl and The Final Girls, which are unrelated to each other. He played the pacifist hacker Dorn in 2020's Bad Boys for Life, and also appeared in The Band Perry's music video for "Gentle on My Mind" alongside Teen Wolf actress Shelley Hennig.

Ludwig signed with the country music label BBR Music Group/BMG in May 2021.[15] His self-titled EP was released on May 21, 2021.[16] On August 18, 2022, it was announced that Ludwig would appear in Nicki Minaj's music video for her single Super Freaky Girl. On August 26, 2022, Ludwig released his debut album Highway 99.[17]

Personal life

Ludwig was a competitive freestyle skier, and has participated in skydiving.[18] In February 2019, Ludwig disclosed issues he experienced with depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse starting at the age of 14.[19]

In 2020, he married Lauren Dear.[20] After suffering three miscarriages,[21] Dear gave birth to their first child, a daughter, in April 2023.[22]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Air Bud: World Pup Actor Uncredited
2004 MXP: Most Xtreme Primate Child Direct-to-video
2005 Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy Jimmy Voice
Eve and the Fire Horse Kevin Uncredited
2006 A Little Thing Called Murder Young Kenny Kimes
2007 The Sandlot: Heading Home E.J. Needman Direct-to-video
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising Will Stanton
2009 Race to Witch Mountain Seth
2012 The Hunger Games Cato
2013 Grown Ups 2 Braden Higgins
Lone Survivor PO2 Shane Patton
2014 When the Game Stands Tall Chris Ryan
2015 Final Girl Jameson
The Final Girls Chris Briggs
Blackway Nate
2019 Midway Lieutenant Roy Pearce
Recon Marson
2020 Bad Boys for Life Dorn
Operation Christmas Drop Captain Andrew Jantz
2021 Night Teeth Rocko
Heart of Champions Alex Singleton
National Champions Emmett Sunday
2023 Guy Ritchie's The Covenant Sgt. Declan O'Brady
2024 Bad Boys 4 Dorn

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014–2020 Vikings Björn Ironside Main role (Seasons 2–6)
2017 Swerve Dr. Delucchi Main role; 6 episodes
2021–2023 Heels Ace Spade Main role; 16 episodes

Music videos

Year Song Role Artist
2014 "Gentle on My Mind" Guy/Traveler The Band Perry
2022 "Super Freaky Girl" Ken Nicki Minaj

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Highway 99

Extended plays

Title Details
Alexander Ludwig
  • Release date: May 21, 2021
  • Label: BBR Music Group

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN Country
[23]
2022 "Let Me Be Your Whiskey" 38 Highway 99

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2012 MTV Movie Awards Best Fight (with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) The Hunger Games Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Villain Won
Choice Movie: Fight (with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) Nominated
2014 Razzie Awards Worst Screen Combo (with cast) Grown Ups 2 Nominated
2015 Golden Maple Awards Best Actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.S[24] Vikings Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Kennedy, John R (August 26, 2022). "Alexander Ludwig Pays Tribute To B.C. Highway With Debut Album". iHeartRadio.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Alexander Ludwig Biography". IMDb. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Blair, Iain (October 4, 2007). "Up Next: Alexander Ludwig". Variety. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Monk, Katherine (October 6, 2007). "'It still doesn't feel real'". The Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Soraya (2014-02-13). "'Hunger Games' star Alexander Ludwig stole his mom's agent at age 9". ca.celebrity.yahoo.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Braun, Liz (October 10, 2007). "Alexander Ludwig's star rising". JAM!Showbiz Movies. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "10 Questions for Alexander Ludwig". Time for Kids. October 5, 2007. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  8. ↑ "10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were In College Right Now". Crushable. August 10, 2013. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ Douglas, Edward (October 2, 2007). "Alexander Ludwig is Will Stanton". ComingSoon. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Witch Mountain tops weekend box office in North America". Xinhua News. March 16, 2009. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Teen Actors Robb, Ludwig Race to 'Witch Mountain'". The Freeman. February 27, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Best Fight Winner 2012 MTV Movie Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on December 22, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Taylor Swift wins five Teen Choice Awards". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ "The Hunger Games' Alexander Ludwig releases first single". MuchMusic. March 12, 2012. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (May 7, 2021). "Alexander Ludwig Signs With BBR Music Group/BMG". Roughstock.
  16. ↑ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (May 21, 2021). "EF COUNTRYAlexander Ludwig – 'Alexander Ludwig' EP Review". Entertainment Focus.
  17. ↑ Hollabaugh, Lorie (June 3, 2022). "Alexander Ludwig Reminisces About 'Highway 99' On Upcoming Album". Music Row Magazine. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Vancouver's Alexander Ludwig gets big Vikings plot line he's been waiting for" Archived 2018-01-06 at the Wayback Machine . Toronto Star, Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press Nov. 30, 2016
  19. ↑ "ALEXANDER LUDWIG 'Bites the Bullet' To Share His Secret Struggle With Addiction" Archived 2019-03-24 at the Wayback Machine . BITE THE BULLET Stories, BITE THE BULLET Stories. 12, 2019
  20. ↑ 'Vikings' Star Alexander Ludwig Marries Fiancée Lauren DearArchived 2021-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ Jakiel, Olivia (30 May 2022). "'Hunger Games' ' Alexander Ludwig and Wife Lauren Reveal They Suffered Third Miscarriage". People. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  22. ↑ Heller, Corinne (3 May 2023). "Hunger Games' Alexander Ludwig Welcomes Baby With Wife Lauren". eonline.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  23. ↑ References for Canada Country:
  24. ↑ Levine, Sydney. "Golden Maple Awards'15 Winners Include Brandon Jay McLaren and Amanda Crew | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
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