Alexander Ludwig

{{About|the actor|the footballers|Alexander Ludwig (footballer, born 1984)|and|Alexander Ludwig (footballer, born 1993)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Alexander Ludwig

| image = Alexander ludwig (51307023797) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ludwig in 2021

| birth_name = Alexander Richard Ludwig

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|05|07}}

| birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

| education = University of Southern California (BA)

| occupation = Actor, singer-songwriter

| years_active = 2000–present

| height =

| height_ft =

| spouse = {{Marriage|Lauren Dear|2020}}

| children = 2

| father = Harald Ludwig

| mother = Sharlene Martin

}}

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) and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). He starred as legendary Viking Björn Ironside in the History Channel series Vikings (2014–2020) and had a lead role in the Starz drama series Heels (2021{{ndash}}2023). As a musician, Ludwig released his debut album Highway 99 via BBR Music Group on August 26, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.iheartradio.ca/news/alexander-ludwig-pays-tribute-to-b-c-highway-with-debut-album-1.18424720 |title=Alexander Ludwig Pays Tribute To B.C. Highway With Debut Album |date=August 26, 2022|first=John R|last=Kennedy|work=iHeartRadio.ca|publisher=Bell Media|accessdate=December 3, 2022}}

Early life

Alexander Richard Ludwig{{cite web |title=Alexander Ludwig Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1573253/bio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801201340/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1573253/bio/?ref_=nm_ql_pop_2 |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |access-date=July 29, 2023 |website=IMDb}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Soraya |title='Hunger Games' star Alexander Ludwig stole his mom's agent at age 9 |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/celebrity-news/hunger-games-star-alexander-ludwig-stole-mom-agent-173644894.html |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=ca.celebrity.yahoo.com |date=2014-02-13 |language=en-CA}} He has three younger siblings.{{cite news|last=Braun|first=Liz|title=Alexander Ludwig's star rising|publisher=JAM!Showbiz Movies|date=October 10, 2007|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/L/Ludwig_Alexander/2007/10/05/4552098-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205235411/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/L/Ludwig_Alexander/2007/10/05/4552098-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 5, 2012|access-date=January 30, 2010}} Ludwig was drawn to the profession, saying in an interview, "I have a big imagination. I love performing."

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.{{cite news|last=Monk |first=Katherine |title='It still doesn't feel real' |publisher=The Ottawa Citizen |date=October 6, 2007 |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=0f7558c7-991f-44bf-b962-4a1c2604250b&k=85908 |access-date=January 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325001201/http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=0f7558c7-991f-44bf-b962-4a1c2604250b&k=85908 |archive-date=March 25, 2009 }} His parents believed that child actors "can get sucked into a life that isn't reality." They prioritized education, and so he attended regular school while pursuing his acting dreams. "It was definitely challenging to juggle school while filming," he reflected in the same interview. "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." Ludwig studied at the University of Southern California (but left before graduating), where he was in the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.{{cite web|url=http://www.crushable.com/2013/08/20/entertainment/celebrities-in-college-going-to-school/|title=10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were In College Right Now|date=August 10, 2013|work=Crushable|access-date=August 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404093304/http://www.crushable.com/2013/08/20/entertainment/celebrities-in-college-going-to-school/|archive-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite news|last=Blair|first=Iain|title=Up Next: Alexander Ludwig|publisher=Variety|date=October 4, 2007|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/up-next-alexander-ludwig-1117973331/|access-date=January 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616051727/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973331.html?categoryid=2721&cs=1|archive-date=June 16, 2009|url-status=live}} 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. Ludwig obtained his leading role in The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) after a "gruelling audition process." By his count, he had 16 auditions before being cast.{{cite news|last=Douglas|first=Edward|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/interviewsnews.php?id=37854|title=Alexander Ludwig is Will Stanton|work=ComingSoon|date=October 2, 2007|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322131650/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/interviewsnews.php?id=37854|archive-date=March 22, 2009|url-status=live}}

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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/16/content_11016589.htm|title=Witch Mountain tops weekend box office in North America|work=Xinhua News|date=March 16, 2009|access-date=February 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604103506/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/16/content_11016589.htm|archive-date=June 4, 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443927&publicationSubCategoryId=51|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131054749/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443927&publicationSubCategoryId=51|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=Teen Actors Robb, Ludwig Race to 'Witch Mountain'|work=The Freeman|date=February 27, 2009|access-date=February 5, 2010}} Despite his early casting success with The Seeker, Ludwig indicated in an interview that it was his intention to attend university. 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1668916,00.html |title=10 Questions for Alexander Ludwig |publisher=Time for Kids |date=October 5, 2007 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208014945/http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0%2C28277%2C1668916%2C00.html |archive-date=February 8, 2010 }}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2012/best-fight/|title=Best Fight Winner 2012 MTV Movie Awards|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222044403/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2012/best-fight/|archive-date=December 22, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1701177.php/Taylor-Swift-wins-five-Teen-Choice-Awards |title=Taylor Swift wins five Teen Choice Awards |work=Monsters and Critics |access-date=December 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128004122/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1701177.php/Taylor-Swift-wins-five-Teen-Choice-Awards |archive-date=January 28, 2013 }} Ludwig released his first single "Liv It Up (Teenage Wasteland)" on March 1, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://blog.muchmusic.com/the-hunger-games-alexander-ludwig-releases-first-single/ |title=The Hunger Games' Alexander Ludwig releases first single |date=March 12, 2012 |work=MuchMusic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810145911/http://blog.muchmusic.com/the-hunger-games-alexander-ludwig-releases-first-single/ |archive-date=August 10, 2014 }}

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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Ludwig signed with the country music label BBR Music Group/BMG in May 2021.{{cite web |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2021/05/44812-alexander-ludwig-signs-with-bbr-music-groupbmg |title=Alexander Ludwig Signs With BBR Music Group/BMG |first= Matt |last=Bjorke |date= May 7, 2021 |work=Roughstock}} His self-titled EP was released on May 21, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2021/05/21/alexander-ludwig-alexander-ludwig-ep-review/ |title=EF COUNTRYAlexander Ludwig – 'Alexander Ludwig' EP Review|first=Pip |last=Ellwood-Hughes|date=May 21, 2021|work=Entertainment Focus }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2022/06/alexander-ludwig-reminisces-about-highway-99-on-upcoming-album/|title=Alexander Ludwig Reminisces About 'Highway 99' On Upcoming Album|date=June 3, 2022|first=Lorie|last=Hollabaugh|access-date=December 3, 2022|work=Music Row Magazine}}

Personal life

Ludwig was a competitive freestyle skier, and has participated in skydiving.[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2016/11/30/vancouvers-alexander-ludwig-gets-big-vikings-plot-line-hes-been-waiting-for.html "Vancouver's Alexander Ludwig gets big Vikings plot line he's been waiting for"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065419/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2016/11/30/vancouvers-alexander-ludwig-gets-big-vikings-plot-line-hes-been-waiting-for.html |date=2018-01-06 }} . Toronto Star, Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press Nov. 30, 2016

In February 2019, Ludwig disclosed issues he experienced with depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse starting at the age of 14.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6cCfrQO9yo "ALEXANDER LUDWIG 'Bites the Bullet' To Share His Secret Struggle With Addiction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324023235/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6cCfrQO9yo |date=2019-03-24 }} . BITE THE BULLET Stories, BITE THE BULLET Stories. 12, 2019

In 2020, he married Lauren Dear.[https://www.etonline.com/vikings-star-alexander-ludwig-marries-fiancee-lauren-dear-158507 'Vikings' Star Alexander Ludwig Marries Fiancée Lauren Dear]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104062004/https://www.etonline.com/vikings-star-alexander-ludwig-marries-fiancee-lauren-dear-158507 |date=2021-01-04}} After suffering three miscarriages,{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/alexander-ludwig-and-wife-lauren-reveal-they-suffered-third-miscarriage/|title= 'Hunger Games' ' Alexander Ludwig and Wife Lauren Reveal They Suffered Third Miscarriage|work=People|first=Olivia|last=Jakiel|date=30 May 2022|accessdate=23 June 2023}} Dear gave birth to their first child, a daughter, in April 2023.{{cite news|last1=Heller|first1=Corinne|title=Hunger Games' Alexander Ludwig Welcomes Baby With Wife Lauren |url=https://www.eonline.com/amp/news/1373260/hunger-games-alexander-ludwig-welcomes-baby-with-wife-lauren|access-date=3 May 2023|website=eonline.com|date=3 May 2023}} Dear gave birth to their son on June 12, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Alexander Ludwig and Wife Lauren Welcome Baby No. 2: 'He Is Everything' |url=https://people.com/alexander-ludwig-and-wife-lauren-welcome-baby-no-2-8652590 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2000 \| Air Bud: World Pup \| Actor \| Uncredited
2004 \| MXP: Most Xtreme Primate \| Child \| Direct-to-video
rowspan=2\|2005 \| Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy \| Jimmy \| Voice
Eve and the Fire Horse \| Kevin \| Uncredited
2006 \| data-sort-value="Little Thing Called Murder, A" \| A Little Thing Called Murder \| Young Kenny Kimes \|
rowspan=2\|2007 \| data-sort-value="Sandlot: Heading Home, The" \| The Sandlot: Heading Home \| E.J. Needman \| Direct-to-video
data-sort-value="Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, The" \| The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising \| Will Stanton \|
2009 \| Race to Witch Mountain \| Seth \|
2012 \| data-sort-value="Hunger Games, The" \| The Hunger Games \| Cato \|
rowspan=2\|2013 \| Grown Ups 2 \| Braden Higgins \|
Lone Survivor \| PO2 Shane Patton \|
2014 \| When the Game Stands Tall \| Chris Ryan \|
rowspan=3\|2015 \| Final Girl \| Jameson \|
data-sort-value="Final Girls, The" \| The Final Girls \| Chris Briggs \|
Blackway \| Nate \|
rowspan=2\|2019 \| Midway \| Lieutenant Roy Pearce \|
Recon \| Marson \|
rowspan=2\|2020 \| Bad Boys for Life \| Dorn \|
Operation Christmas Drop \| Captain Andrew Jantz \|
rowspan=3\|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: Ride or Die \| Dorn \|
2025 \| Marked Men: Rule + Shaw \| Rome Archer \|
rowspan="2" \| TBA \| Shiver \| {{TBA}} \| Post-production
Night Comes \| \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2000

| Air Bud: World Pup

| Actor

| Uncredited

2004

| MXP: Most Xtreme Primate

| Child

| Direct-to-video

rowspan=2|2005

| Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy

| Jimmy

| Voice

Eve and the Fire Horse

| Kevin

| Uncredited

2006

| data-sort-value="Little Thing Called Murder, A" | A Little Thing Called Murder

| Young Kenny Kimes

rowspan=2|2007

| data-sort-value="Sandlot: Heading Home, The" | The Sandlot: Heading Home

| E.J. Needman

| Direct-to-video

data-sort-value="Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, The" | The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

| Will Stanton

2009

| Race to Witch Mountain

| Seth

2012

| data-sort-value="Hunger Games, The" | The Hunger Games

| Cato

rowspan=2|2013

| Grown Ups 2

| Braden Higgins

Lone Survivor

| PO2 Shane Patton

2014

| When the Game Stands Tall

| Chris Ryan

rowspan=3|2015

| Final Girl

| Jameson

data-sort-value="Final Girls, The" | The Final Girls

| Chris Briggs

Blackway

| Nate

rowspan=2|2019

| Midway

| Lieutenant Roy Pearce

Recon

| Marson

rowspan=2|2020

| Bad Boys for Life

| Dorn

Operation Christmas Drop

| Captain Andrew Jantz

rowspan=3|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: Ride or Die

| Dorn

2025

| Marked Men: Rule + Shaw

| Rome Archer

rowspan="2" | TBA

| Shiver

| {{TBA}}

| Post-production

Night Comes

= Television =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2014–2021 \|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
2024 \| Earth Abides \| Isherwood "Ish" Williams \| Main role; 6 episodes

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2014–2021

|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

2024

| Earth Abides

| Isherwood "Ish" Williams

| Main role; 6 episodes

= Music videos =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Song ! Role ! Artist
2014 \| "Gentle on My Mind" \| Guy/Traveler \|The Band Perry
2022 \|"Super Freaky Girl" \| Ken \|Nicki Minaj

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Song

! Role

! Artist

2014

| "Gentle on My Mind"

| Guy/Traveler

|The Band Perry

2022

|"Super Freaky Girl"

| Ken

|Nicki Minaj

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
style="width:12em;"\| Title ! style="width:18em;"\| Details
scope="row"\| Highway 99 \| Release date: August 26, 2022 Label: BBR Music Group

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

style="width:12em;"| Title

! style="width:18em;"| Details

scope="row"| Highway 99

Release date: August 26, 2022
Label: BBR Music Group

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
style="width:12em;"\| Title ! style="width:18em;"\| Details
scope="row"\| Alexander Ludwig \| Release date: May 21, 2021 Label: BBR Music Group

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

style="width:12em;"| Title

! style="width:18em;"| Details

scope="row"| Alexander Ludwig

Release date: May 21, 2021
Label: BBR Music Group

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"\| Single ! colspan="1"\| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"\| Album
style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:4em;"\| CAN Country References for Canada Country: "Let Me Be Your Whiskey": {{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canada-country/2022-01-21\|title=Canada Country chart for January 21, 2023\|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=January 18, 2023\|url-access=subscription}}
2022 ! scope="row"\| "Let Me Be Your Whiskey" \| 38 \| align="left"\| Highway 99

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Single

! colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:4em;"| CAN Country
References for Canada Country:

"Let Me Be Your Whiskey": {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canada-country/2022-01-21|title=Canada Country chart for January 21, 2023|magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 18, 2023|url-access=subscription}}

2022

! scope="row"| "Let Me Be Your Whiskey"

| 38

| align="left"| Highway 99

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result
rowspan=3\|2012 \|MTV Movie Awards \|Best Fight (with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) \| rowspan=3\|The Hunger Games \| {{won}}
rowspan=2\|Teen Choice Awards \|Choice Movie: Villain \| {{won}}
Choice Movie: Fight (with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) \| {{nom}}
2014 \|Razzie Awards \|Worst Screen Combo (with cast) \|Grown Ups 2 \| {{nom}}
2015 \|Golden Maple Awards \| Best Actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.S{{cite web\|last1=Levine\|first1=Sydney\|title=Golden Maple Awards'15 Winners Include Brandon Jay McLaren and Amanda Crew {{!}} IndieWire\|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/07/golden-maple-awards15-winners-include-brandon-jay-mclaren-and-amanda-crew-171061/\|website=www.indiewire.com\|access-date=11 November 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110170921/http://www.indiewire.com/2015/07/golden-maple-awards15-winners-include-brandon-jay-mclaren-and-amanda-crew-171061/\|archive-date=10 November 2016\|url-status=live}} \|Vikings \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

rowspan=3|2012

|MTV Movie Awards

|Best Fight (with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson)

| rowspan=3|The Hunger Games

| {{won}}

rowspan=2|Teen Choice Awards

|Choice Movie: Villain

| {{won}}

Choice Movie: Fight (with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson)

| {{nom}}

2014

|Razzie Awards

|Worst Screen Combo (with cast)

|Grown Ups 2

| {{nom}}

2015

|Golden Maple Awards

| Best Actor in a TV series broadcast in the U.S{{cite web|last1=Levine|first1=Sydney|title=Golden Maple Awards'15 Winners Include Brandon Jay McLaren and Amanda Crew {{!}} IndieWire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/07/golden-maple-awards15-winners-include-brandon-jay-mclaren-and-amanda-crew-171061/|website=www.indiewire.com|access-date=11 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110170921/http://www.indiewire.com/2015/07/golden-maple-awards15-winners-include-brandon-jay-mclaren-and-amanda-crew-171061/|archive-date=10 November 2016|url-status=live}}

|Vikings

| {{nom}}