Travis Fimmel biography, calvin klein, young, vikings, height, age, awards 2025

Travis Fimmel biography

Charming and charismatic, Travis Fimmel isn't exactly a rookie in the movie industry, but his real breakthrough came in 2013 when he landed the most successful role of his entire career – legendary Scandinavian hero Ragnar Lothbrok in the hit American series Vikings. After his groundbreaking performance, he suddenly became a highly sought-after actor and was invited to numerous serious projects on a big screen.

Early life and childhood

Travis was born on July 15, 1979, in a small provincial town near Echuca, Australia. Growing up, he wasn't much different from other country kids. Work on his parents' dairy farm was so demanding that young Travis had to sacrifice many things, including his education – coming from a family of hard workers, his future seemed set in stone.

Young Travis Fimmel played football for Melbourne club in AFL

However, at 17 he got a chance to turn his life around and achieve something more than a simple farmer's life. He was scouted by a Melbourne football team and showed impressive skills with the potential to go pro, but was sidelined before the season even began due to a leg injury.

Travis Fimmel's football career was ruined due to leg injury

Fortunately, fate wasn't done with Travis yet. People had always complimented Fimmel's striking looks, and once again luck helped him turn that to his advantage. Fimmel, who lived in Melbourne at the time, was noticed by David Seltzer – a popular screenwriter and his future manager. David recognized Travis's untapped potential and advised him to move to the USA to try his luck.

Modeling and acting career

Travis moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and tried to make a living through a few part-time jobs while finding his footing in unfamiliar territory. Fimmel was working out at a gym when he was spotted by Matthew Anderson, a talent scout for a major modeling agency.

Travis Fimmel moved to Hollywood with 60$ in his pocket

Matthew approached the young Travis with an offer to try out for a small modeling photoshoot. Hesitant at first, Fimmel decided to give it a go. Neither Anderson nor anyone else could have imagined this would be the start of an incredible modeling career.

Travis Fimmel with and without his trademark beard

After a few months of modeling work, he appeared in music videos for Jennifer Lopez and Janet Jackson. Soon after, he landed a contract with fashion giant Calvin Klein and became their lead male model.

Travis Fimmel in Calvin Klein commercial

Most people would be completely satisfied with that kind of success and coast on multimillion-dollar contracts, but Travis Fimmel isn't most people. By then, he already knew what he really wanted to do next – become an actor. The aspiring actor enrolled in a Hollywood acting school around 2003 and quickly landed his first role in the Tarzan TV series, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs's novels. His first acting experience was far from successful – the series was canceled after just 8 episodes and Travis received harsh criticism for his performance. However, someone as determined as Travis Fimmel doesn't give up on their dreams that easily. He took what he could from the experience, gained valuable lessons, and moved forward.

Over the next couple of years, the aspiring actor landed supporting roles in the thriller Restraint and comedy Surfer, Dude, where he worked alongside future Hollywood superstar Matthew McConaughey. Fimmel's most notable appearance during this period was in the American TV series The Beast, but unfortunately, his co-star Patrick Swayze became seriously ill and couldn't continue with the show, so it was canceled after the first season.

The actor gained valuable on-set experience filming the drama thriller The Experiment, working with Hollywood heavyweights Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, and the action comedy The Baytown Outlaws alongside Eva Longoria. In the latter, he masterfully portrayed a peculiar redneck character, but his breakthrough role would come a year later.

Travis Fimmel portraying redneck in The Baytown Outlaws

Breakout roles

By 2012, Travis Fimmel was an established model; he was regarded as the most in-demand male model in the world, constantly appearing in numerous TV shows and photo sessions with his yearly income reaching an unbelievable seven figures.

According to Zoomboola.com, at the end of 2012, Michael Hirst, an English producer well known for his love of pseudohistorical themes, along with Ken Girotti (the creator of the immortal Xena: Warrior Princess starring Lucy Lawless as well as more than 80 major TV series), already acquainted with Fimmel from The Beast, announced their new ambitious project. The new series received the working title Vikings.

Travis Fimmel in Vikings

They say that appearance makes the man. Perhaps that's why Travis, a tall and masculine blonde with ice-cold blue eyes, was exactly the right man to portray legendary Scandinavian hero Ragnar Lothbrok (who was also a farmer in his youth). But it's the acting talent of Fimmel that brought overwhelming success and colossal popularity to the series.

In 2015 Travis Fimmel appeared in the romantic comedy Maggie's Plan starring Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore. The Australian actor continued to broaden his horizons, portraying dodgy entrepreneur Guy Childers.

In May 2016 Travis Fimmel starred in the ambitious Duncan Jones movie Warcraft based on the Blizzard Entertainment gaming franchise. The actor was cast as Anduin Lothar, the military commander of human Alliance forces.

The British drama film Lean on Pete hit the big screen in 2017 and tells viewers the story of a 15-year-old boy embarking on a long journey to find his family member, accompanied by his horse. Travis starred in the movie, along with Steve Buscemi. A year later, Travis joined Rachael Taylor in the heist thriller Finding Steve McQuinn, released in autumn 2018.

Personal life

Travis Fimmel conceals any information about his private life, preferring to share only work-related information with the press. This doesn't stop the media from publishing rumors about his affairs time and time again; one of his loves is said to have received a wedding ring from the actor. But let's leave speculations to the press since the actor himself has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors and has yet to make any official statements.

Travis Fimmel now

Travis is very close to his family and is a regular visitor to his old farm where he grew up. Sometimes, when he feels especially nostalgic, he takes part in commercials or TV adverts. If any of his friends want to play some footy – you can surely count Fimmel in. The Australian ex-football player is still in perfect shape and eager to demonstrate it.

In 2019, two premieres featuring Travis took place. One of them was the historical military drama "Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan", in which he played Major Harry Smith. Also that year, the film "Dreamland" was released - in the American thriller, the actor played the role of George Evans.

Travis Fimmel: latest news and articles

Richard Hayes

This is his type, almost a Viking :) I like Travis, although I haven`t watched movies with him too much

2021-04-28 16:25:34
Barbara Paul

Well, the Vikings, yes, but I haven`t seen it anywhere else, and even barely remembered about the Vikings

2021-04-13 18:46:28
Clayton Pierce

Little memorable actor, therefore inconspicuous in the movies

2021-04-04 17:37:57
Diane Jones

This guy played Ragnar in Viking. Actually, it was only there that it became popular.

2021-03-27 19:47:11
Juan Bush

I remember this actor from the series Vikings. In other movies I didn`t see him.

2021-03-27 18:04:13

Photos: Travis Fimmel