Karl Urban

Karl-Heinz Urban, known professionally as Karl Urban, is a prominent New Zealand actor who began his career with appearances in New Zealand films and television series such as Xena: Warrior Princess. His Hollywood debut was in the 2002 horror film Ghost Ship. He has since starred in acclaimed films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Riddick film series, and the Star Trek reboot series. Urban's performances include roles like Éomer, Leonard McCoy, Kirill in The Bourne Supremacy (2004), John "Reaper" Grimm in Doom (2005), Judge Dredd in Dredd (2012), and Skurge in Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok (2017). From 2013, he starred in the sci-fi series Almost Human, and since 2019, he's been playing Billy Butcher in Amazon Prime Video's The Boys.

Born in Wellington, Urban was introduced to New Zealand cinema by his mother, developing an early interest in the industry. His first role was at age eight in a local television series. After high school, he enrolled at Victoria University of Wellington but left after a year to pursue acting. Urban initially worked in commercials and theatre roles before moving to Auckland for guest TV roles. In 1995, he briefly lived in Bondi Beach, Sydney, before returning to New Zealand. Over his career, Urban has dabbled in a variety of genres and roles, portraying characters ranging from comic book heroes to villains. He's noted for his performances, authenticity, and commitment to his roles. Off-screen, Urban is a devoted father and involved in several charities.