Marton Csokas

(Redirected from Martin Csokas)

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]

Marton Csokas
Marton Csokas in May 2008
Born
Marton Paul Csokas

(1966-06-30) 30 June 1966 (age 57)
Citizenship
  • New Zealand
  • Hungary
Alma materToi Whakaari
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present

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

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

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 Thandie 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

Csokas holds dual New Zealand and Hungarian citizenship.[29] From 2005 to 2009, he was in a romantic relationship with his Kingdom of Heaven co-star Eva Green.[30]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1994A Game with No RulesKaneShort film
Jack Brown GeniusDennis
1995Twilight of the GodsSoldierShort film[31]
1996Broken EnglishDarko
1998HurrahRaoul Trujillo
2000The Monkey's MaskNick Maitland
AccidentsChugShort film
2001The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingLord Celeborn
RainCady
2002Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the ClonesPoggle the Lesser
(voice)
Uncredited
XXXYorgi
Garage DaysShad Kern
2003The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingLord Celeborn
TimelineSir William De Kere/William Decker
Kangaroo JackMr. Smith
2004The Bourne SupremacyJarda
EvilenkoVadim Timurovic Lesiev
2005Æon FluxTrevor Goodchild
Kingdom of HeavenGuy de Lusignan
The Great RaidCaptain Redding
AsylumEdgar Stark
2007Romulus, My FatherHora
2010Alice in WonderlandCharles Kingsleigh
The TreeGeorge Elrick
With Love... from the Age of ReasonMalcolm
South SolitaryJack Fleet
The DebtYoung Stefan Gold
2011Dream HouseJack Patterson
2012Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterJack Barts
Dead EuropeNico
Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu StoryYoni NetanyahuVoice
2013PawnLieutenant Barnes
2014NoahLamech
The Amazing Spider-Man 2Dr. Ashley Kafka
Sin City: A Dame to Kill ForDamien Lord
The EqualizerNicolai "Teddy" Itchenko
2016LovingSheriff Brooks
Burn Your MapsConnor Firth
Dark CrimesKozlow
2017Voice from the StoneKlaus Rivi
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White HouseL. Patrick Gray
2021The Last DuelCrespin
JuniperRobert
2022Prizefighter: The Life of Jem BelcherLord Rushworth
ChevalierMarc René, marquis de Montalembert
2023FreelanceColonel Jan Koehorst
2024CuckooLuis
Sleeping DogsDr. Joseph Wieder

Television

YearFilmRoleNotes
1990Shark in the ParkTerry MercerEpisode: "Technical K.O."
1992The Ray Bradbury TheaterSidEpisode: "By The Numbers"
1993–1995Shortland StreetLeonard Rossi-Dodds
1996Hercules: The Legendary JourneysTarlusEpisode: "Promises"
G.P.Paul DeaconEpisode: "The Ceremony of Innocence"
1997–2001Xena: Warrior PrincessBorias10 episodes
1999Water RatsRobert TremainEpisode: "Shark Bait"
WildsideLarry LodansEpisode: "2.18"
All SaintsBrother ThomasEpisode: "More Things in Heaven and Earth"
Halifax f.p.John GarthEpisode: "Swimming with the Sharks"
2000The Three StoogesTed HealyTelevision film
The Lost WorldKennerEpisode: "Tourist Season"
BeastMasterQord3 episodes
FarscapeBr'NeeEpisode: "Bone to be Wild"
2001Cleopatra 2525KriderEpisode: "No Thanks for the Memories"
The FarmAdrian BeckettMiniseries
2012FalcónJavier Falcón4 episodes
2013RogueJimmy Laszlo10 episodes
2014KlondikeThe SuperintendentMiniseries; 6 episodes
Covert AffairsIvan Kravec2 episodes
2015Sons of LibertyGeneral Thomas GageMiniseries; 3 episodes
2015–2017Into the BadlandsBaron Quinn16 episodes
2018DivorceSkip Zakarian2 episodes
2020The LuminariesFrancis CarverMiniseries; 6 episodes

Video game

YearFilmRoleNotes
2011Green Lantern: Rise of the ManhuntersThaal SinestroVoice

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryWorkResult
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award1996Best Actor in a Television DramaG.P.Nominated
2007Best Actor in a Supporting RoleRomulus, My FatherWon
2013Dead EuropeNominated
Australian Film Critics Association Award2013Best Supporting ActorDead EuropeNominated
Chapman Tripp Theatre Award2007Production of the YearCloserWon
Film Critics Circle of Australia Award2013Best Supporting ActorRomulus, My FatherWon
Helpmann Award2008Best Male Actor in a PlayWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Nominated
Joseph Jefferson Award2017Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role in a PlayUncle VanyaWon
Sydney Theatre Award2007Best Actor in a PlayWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Nominated
New Zealand Film Institute Award1998Best ActorBroken EnglishNominated

References

External links