Marton Csokas

Marton Csokas
Csokas in May 2008
Born
Marton Paul Csokas

(1966-06-30) 30 June 1966 (age 58)
Invercargill, New Zealand
Citizenship
  • New Zealand
  • Hungary
Alma materToi Whakaari
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present

Marton Paul Csokas[1] (/ˈkɑːʃ/,[2] Hungarian: Csókás Márton Pál; born 30 June 1966)[3] is a New Zealand actor of film, stage, and television. A graduate of the Toi Whakaari drama school, he has worked extensively in Australia and Hollywood, along with his native country, and often portrays villainous roles.[4][5]

His notable roles include Celeborn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003), Yorgi in XXX (2002), Guy de Lusignan in Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Trevor Goodchild in Æon Flux (2005), Hora in Romulus, My Father (2007), Nico in Dead Europe (2012), Jack Barts in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), Nicolai Itchenko A.K.A. Teddy Rensen in The Equalizer (2014), and Quinn on the U.S. television series Into the Badlands. Earlier in his career, he played Leonard Dodds on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.

Csokas is a three-time AACTA Award nominee, winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Romulus My Father. He was also nominated for Best Male Actor in a Play at the 2008 Helpmann Awards, for his portrayal of George in Belvoir's revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Early life

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Csokas was born in Invercargill, the son of Margaret Christine (née Rayner), a nurse, and Márton Csókás I, who worked as a mechanical engineer for E. Hayes & Sons.[1][6] His father was Hungarian and his mother had English, Irish, and Danish ancestry.[7][8] Csokas graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1989 with a Diploma in Acting.[9]

Career

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Csokas made his acting debut in 1990 on the New Zealand drama series Shark in the Park, as Terry Mercer in the episode "Technical K.O.".[citation needed] He also portrayed Leonard Rossi-Dodds in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street from 1993 until 1995.[citation needed] In 1996, he starred in the romantic drama film Broken English;[citation needed] and from 1997 to 2001, he had a recurring role on Xena: Warrior Princess, portraying the character Borias.[10] Csokas also portrayed Lord Celeborn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003),[11] Yorgi in XXX (2002), Mr. Smith in Kangaroo Jack (2003), Jarda in The Bourne Supremacy (2004), Trevor Goodchild in Æon Flux (2005), and Guy de Lusignan in Kingdom of Heaven (2005).[citation needed]

Csokas' stage credits include plays by Tom Stoppard and William Shakespeare in the 1990s in New Zealand, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2007) and Peribáñez (2006) with Company B in Australia.[12]

Csokas at the premiere of The Equalizer, September 2014

In 2007, he portrayed Hora in the drama film Romulus, My Father, for which he won an AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Supporting Actor.[citation needed] In 2012, he appeared in the drama film Dead Europe. For his role in Dead Europe, he was again nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.[citation needed]

In 2013, Csokas co-starred in the crime-thriller Pawn with Forest Whitaker and Michael Chiklis,[13] and portrayed Jimmy Laszlo in the DirecTV police drama Rogue, starring opposite Thandiwe Newton.[14] In 2014, he had roles in the films Noah,[15] The Amazing Spider-Man 2,[16] and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, and as Nicolai Itchenko in The Equalizer.[17] Also in 2014, he starred as the superintendent in the Discovery Channel's scripted miniseries Klondike.[18] Csokas then portrayed General Thomas Gage in History Channel's three-part miniseries Sons of Liberty in 2015.[19]

In May 2015, Csokas joined the cast of AMC's martial arts drama Into the Badlands, playing the role of Quinn, the most powerful baron in the badlands.[20] The show was canceled in 2019 after three seasons.[21] In 2016, he co-starred with Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga in the Jeff Nichols-directed drama film Loving,[22] and starred alongside Vera Farmiga in the comedy-drama Burn Your Maps.[23] Csokas starred alongside Emilia Clarke in the supernatural thriller Voice from the Stone released in April 2017.[24][25] He also starred in Mark Felt The Man Who Brought Down the White House with Liam Neeson.[26] In 2021, Csokas appeared in Juniper with Charlotte Rampling[27] and in the historical drama film The Last Duel directed by Ridley Scott.[28]

Personal life

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Csokas holds dual New Zealand and Hungarian citizenship.[29] From 2005 to 2009, he was in a romantic relationship with Eva Green.[30]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1994 A Game with No Rules Kane Short film
Jack Brown Genius Dennis
1995 Twilight of the Gods Soldier Short film[31]
1996 Broken English Darko
1998 Hurrah Raoul Trujillo
2000 The Monkey's Mask Nick Maitland
Accidents Chug Short film
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Lord Celeborn
Rain Cady
2002 Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Poggle the Lesser
(voice)
Uncredited
XXX Yorgi
Garage Days Shad Kern
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Lord Celeborn
Timeline Sir William De Kere/William Decker
Kangaroo Jack Mr. Smith
2004 The Bourne Supremacy Jarda
Evilenko Vadim Timurovic Lesiev
2005 Æon Flux Trevor Goodchild
Kingdom of Heaven Guy de Lusignan
The Great Raid Captain Redding
Asylum Edgar Stark
2007 Romulus, My Father Hora
2010 Alice in Wonderland Charles Kingsleigh
The Tree George Elrick
With Love... from the Age of Reason Malcolm
South Solitary Jack Fleet
The Debt Young Stefan Gold
2011 Dream House Jack Patterson
2012 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Jack Barts
Dead Europe Nico
Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story Yoni Netanyahu Voice
2013 Pawn Lieutenant Barnes
2014 Noah Lamech
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Dr. Ashley Kafka
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Damien Lord
The Equalizer Nicolai "Teddy" Itchenko
2016 Loving Sheriff Brooks
Burn Your Maps Connor Firth
Dark Crimes Kozlow
2017 Voice from the Stone Klaus Rivi
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House L. Patrick Gray
2021 The Last Duel Crespin
Juniper Robert
2022 Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher Lord Rushworth
Chevalier Marc René, marquis de Montalembert
2023 Freelance Colonel Jan Koehorst
2024 Cuckoo Luis
Sleeping Dogs Dr. Joseph Wieder
House of Spoils Marcello

Television

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Year Film Role Notes
1990 Shark in the Park Terry Mercer Episode: "Technical K.O."
1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Sid Episode: "By The Numbers"
1993–1995 Shortland Street Leonard Rossi-Dodds
1996 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Tarlus Episode: "Promises"
G.P. Paul Deacon Episode: "The Ceremony of Innocence"
1997–2001 Xena: Warrior Princess Borias 10 episodes
1999 Water Rats Robert Tremain Episode: "Shark Bait"
Wildside Larry Lodans Episode: "2.18"
All Saints Brother Thomas Episode: "More Things in Heaven and Earth"
Halifax f.p. John Garth Episode: "Swimming with the Sharks"
2000 The Three Stooges Ted Healy Television film
The Lost World Kenner Episode: "Tourist Season"
BeastMaster Qord 3 episodes
Farscape Br'Nee Episode: "Bone to be Wild"
2001 Cleopatra 2525 Krider Episode: "No Thanks for the Memories"
The Farm Adrian Beckett Miniseries
2012 Falcón Javier Falcón 4 episodes
2013 Rogue Jimmy Laszlo 10 episodes
2014 Klondike The Superintendent Miniseries; 6 episodes
Covert Affairs Ivan Kravec 2 episodes
2015 Sons of Liberty General Thomas Gage Miniseries; 3 episodes
2015–2017 Into the Badlands Baron Quinn 16 episodes
2018 Divorce Skip Zakarian 2 episodes
2020 The Luminaries Francis Carver Miniseries; 6 episodes

Video game

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Year Film Role Notes
2011 Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters Thaal Sinestro Voice

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Category Work Result
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award 1996 Best Actor in a Television Drama G.P. Nominated
2007 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Romulus, My Father Won
2013 Dead Europe Nominated
Australian Film Critics Association Award 2013 Best Supporting Actor Dead Europe Nominated
Chapman Tripp Theatre Award 2007 Production of the Year Closer Won
Film Critics Circle of Australia Award 2013 Best Supporting Actor Romulus, My Father Won
Helpmann Award 2008 Best Male Actor in a Play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Nominated
Joseph Jefferson Award 2017 Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role in a Play Uncle Vanya Won
Sydney Theatre Award 2007 Best Actor in a Play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Nominated
New Zealand Film Institute Award 1998 Best Actor Broken English Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "Alison Clare Whale, b". Pyenet.co.nz. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Marton Csokas al Riviera International Film Festival" on YouTube
  3. ^ "Csokas, Marton 1966- – Encyclopedia.com". encyclopedia.com.
  4. ^ Morgan, Clare (12 July 2006). "From Xena's lover to corrupted love". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. ^ Tailor, Leena (20 November 2015). "Ex-Shortland Street star is Hollywood's go-to villain". The New Zealand Herald.
  6. ^ "Interview with Marton Csokas". Whoosh.org. 8 August 2005.
  7. ^ Toth, Steve. "Marton Csokas – Celebrities, famous people". TraveltoHungary.com.
  8. ^ "An Interview With Marton Csokas". Whoosh.org. 9 March 1999.
  9. ^ "Graduate". toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  10. ^ Whittaker, David (28 August 2019). "What happened to the cast of Xena: Warrior Princess ?".
  11. ^ "11 Couples That Hurt Lord of the Rings (And 9 That Saved It)". ScreenRant. 21 October 2018.
  12. ^ Hallett, Bryce (24 July 2006). "Peribanez". Arts Reviews, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (1 December 2011). "Nikki Reed, Sean Faris Join Michael Chiklis' 'Pawn'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. ^ "Catch the Rogue TV Series Exclusively on Audience Network". DirecTV. 29 March 2010.
  15. ^ Armitage, Hugh (19 July 2012). "Marton Csokas joins 'Noah', 'Rogue'". Digital Spy.
  16. ^ Armitage, Hugh (20 May 2013). "'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' casts 'Lord of the Rings' Marton Csokas". Digital Spy.
  17. ^ Sneider, Jeff (17 May 2013). "Marton Csokas in Negotiations to Battle Denzel Washington in 'The Equalizer'". TheWrap.
  18. ^ Bibel, Sara (19 March 2013). "Richard Madden, Tim Blake Nelson, Marton Csokas & Connor Leslie Join Cast of Discovery's 'Klondike'". Zap2it. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013.
  19. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (4 June 2014). "Dean Norris Among Stars in History's Miniseries 'Sons of Liberty'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  20. ^ Petski, Denise (4 May 2015). "Marton Csokas Joins 'Into The Badlands' On AMC". [[Deadline Hollywood|]].
  21. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (9 February 2019). "'Into the Badlands' & 'The Son' To End Runs on AMC, Set Premiere Dates For Final Episodes".
  22. ^ Kroll, Justin (22 September 2015). "Michael Shannon and Nick Kroll Join Jeff Nichols' 'Loving'". Variety.
  23. ^ Volmers, Eric (28 August 2015). "Alberta-shot indie film Burn Your Maps explores humanity and healing". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015.
  24. ^ McNary, Dave (3 November 2014). "AFM: Marton Csokas Joining Emilia Clarke in 'Voice from the Stone'". Variety.
  25. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Emilia Clarke Is a Long Way From Westeros in First Look at 'Voice From the Stone'". Entertainment Tonight$3.
  26. ^ Langer, Shalini (8 December 2017). "Mark Felt The Man Who Brought Down the White House movie review: Liam Neeson shines in this long overdue film". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Juniper Starring Award-Winning Actor Charlotte Rampling and Rising Star George Ferrier Debuts Stunning Trailer". NZ Film.
  28. ^ Noronha, Remus (1 October 2020). "'The Last Duel': Release Date, Trailer, Cast & Everything We Know So Far About Ridley Scott's Revenge Epic". Collider. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  29. ^ Barnyák, Mónika (6 December 2018). "Marton Csokas – a sármos sztár magyar állampolgár is!". sievemagazine.com. Seive Magazin.
  30. ^ Watts, Halina (27 June 2020). "Luminaries Eva Green and Marton Csokas' great chemistry is thanks to 4 year relationship". mirror. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Twilight of the Gods | New Zealand Film Commission". NZFilm.co.nz.
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