Jason Momoa
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Born August 1st, 1979, Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa is an American actor and film producer who's made an undeniable mark on Hollywood. His acting journey began in 1999, stepping into the role of Jason Ioane on the action-packed drama *Baywatch: Hawaii*. This was quickly followed by memorable portrayals of Ronon Dex in the Syfy science fiction series *Stargate Atlantis* and the formidable Khal Drogo in the early seasons of HBO's epic fantasy, *Game of Thrones*.
Momoa then took the lead in the Discovery Channel's historical drama *Frontier* and the Apple TV+ science fiction series *See*. Since 2016, he's become a familiar face in the DC Comics universe, first as the mighty Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe. His cinematic presence expanded with roles like Duncan Idaho in the sci-fi epic *Dune*, and he's set to star in the action-packed *Fast X* and the upcoming fantasy adventure comedy *A Minecraft Movie*.
An only child, Jason Momoa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father is of Native Hawaiian descent, while his mother brings German, Irish, and Pawnee heritage to the mix. After his parents' divorce, he and his mother relocated to Norwalk, Iowa, where he was raised and graduated from Norwalk High School, even playing soccer alongside Brandon Routh. He later attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. During his teenage years, a passion for rock climbing and bouldering ignited during a trip to South Dakota.
At just 19, while working in Honolulu, Momoa landed his first major role as Jason Ioane in *Baywatch Hawaii*. He was also a main cast member on the Fox drama *North Shore*. In 2004, he appeared in the film *Johnson Family Vacation*. From 2005 to 2009, his role as Ronon Dex in *Stargate Atlantis* saw him embrace martial arts.
In 2009, he joined the cast of *The Game* for four episodes. He then took on the titular role in *Conan the Barbarian*, a reimagining of the classic film. But it was his portrayal of Khal Drogo in *Game of Thrones* that truly catapulted him to fame. His audition famously included a powerful Haka, a traditional Māori dance conveying a challenge or a welcome.
Momoa also stepped behind the camera, directing and co-writing the 2014 drama thriller *Road to Paloma*. He starred alongside Sarah Shahi and Lisa Bonet in the film, which premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival and received a limited theatrical and VOD release.
In 2014, he joined the cast of the indie dark comedy/thriller *Sugar Mountain* and also starred as Phillip Kopus in the SundanceTV drama series *The Red Road*. Later that year, after auditioning for Batman, Momoa was cast as Arthur Curry, Aquaman, making his live-action film debut in a cameo in *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*. He went on to lead in *Justice League* and its director's cut, and of course, the standalone *Aquaman* film. He even reprised the role in *The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part*.
His filmography continued to grow with roles in the Canadian horror action film *Wolves*, the sci-fi horror movie *Debug*, and the drama thriller *The Bad Batch*. He also starred in the Canadian action film *Braven*. In 2017, he was slated to play Rico Rodriguez in the official *Just Cause* film series.
Between 2016 and 2018, Momoa captivated audiences as Declan Harp, an outlaw in the Canadian historical drama *Frontier*, also serving as an executive producer. The series explored the North American fur trade and the fight against the corrupt Hudson's Bay Company.
In 2018, he was cast in Apple's post-apocalyptic drama *See*, and in 2019, he joined Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of *Dune* as Duncan Idaho. In 2020, he made a memorable appearance in a Super Bowl commercial for Rocket Mortgage and was featured in Ozzy Osbourne's music video for "Scary Little Green Men."
The year 2022 saw Momoa join the Fast & Furious franchise as the main villain, Dante Reyes, in *Fast X*. Looking ahead, he's confirmed for the comedy film *Carnival: At the End of Days* in 2024, will play Lobo in the DC Universe film *Supergirl* in 2026, and is set to embody Blanka in the *Street Fighter* reboot in 2025. He also appeared as Kaʻiana in Apple's historical drama series *Chief of War* in August 2025.
Momoa's passion extends to music. He's a devoted fan of heavy metal, often building his characters from inspiration drawn from metal songs. He even collaborated with the band Archspire for appearances in *See* and practiced vocal techniques with their frontman. In 2020, he was featured on the black metal band Scour's song "Doom." A hobby musician, he plays bass, mandolin, ukulele, and guitar, having picked up the bass after listening to Tool's "Sober." In 2024, he formed the power trio ÖOF TATATÁ, performing shows in Nashville and Auckland. In July 2025, he'll host Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in Birmingham, England.
In his personal life, Momoa met his first fiancée, actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon, on the set of *Baywatch*. They were together for six years and became engaged in 2004. However, his relationship with actress Lisa Bonet began in 2005, leading to the calling off of their engagement. Although a wedding in 2007 was widely believed, the couple officially married in October 2017. They welcomed daughter Lola Iolani in July 2007 and son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha in December 2008. In January 2022, Momoa and Bonet announced their split, with Bonet filing for divorce in January 2024, which was finalized in July of that year. As of 2024, Momoa is in a relationship with actress Adria Arjona.
Momoa began practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2017. In 2019, he participated in protests against the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, a sacred site for native Hawaiians. He bears numerous tattoos, including a tribute to his family god, or ʻaumakua, on his left forearm.
A significant facial scar above his left eyebrow is a result of an altercation in November 2008, where he was slashed with a broken beer glass, requiring approximately 140 stitches. The assailant was later sentenced to five years in prison.
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Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa (; born August 1, 1979) is an American actor and film producer. He made his acting debut as Jason Ioane on the syndicated action drama series Baywatch: Hawaii (1999–2001), which was followed by portrayals of Ronon Dex on the Syfy science fiction series Stargate Atlantis (2005–2009), and Khal Drogo in the first two seasons of the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones (2011–2012). He went on to play the lead roles in the Discovery Channel historical drama series Frontier (2016–2018) and the Apple TV+ science fiction series See (2019–2022).
Since 2016, Momoa has appeared in various DC Comics media, first portraying Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe (2016–2023). He has also played Duncan Idaho in the science fiction film Dune (2021), and has starred in the action film Fast X (2023) and the fantasy adventure comedy film A Minecraft Movie (2025).
== Early life ==
An only child, Momoa was born on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Coni (née Lemke), a photographer, and Joseph Momoa, a painter. His father is Native Hawaiian, while his mother is of German, Irish, and Pawnee ancestry. Shortly after his birth, his parents divorced and he and his mother moved to Norwalk, Iowa, where he was raised. He graduated from Norwalk High School and was a member of the school's soccer team alongside Brandon Routh. Momoa attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
While in his teens, Momoa became a rock climber and boulderer when his mother took him to Custer State Park where Sylvan Lake and the Needles of South Dakota lie.
== Career ==
At 19 years old, while living and working in Honolulu, Momoa decided to audition for the television series Baywatch Hawaii, in which he was cast as Jason Ioane (1999–2001). He was in the main cast on the 2004–2005 Fox drama North Shore as Frankie.
In 2004, Momoa appeared in the film Johnson Family Vacation. From 2005 to 2009, Momoa appeared as Ronon in Stargate Atlantis, for which he learned martial arts.
In 2009, he was cast as Roman in four episodes of the comedy-drama television series The Game (2009). He portrayed the title protagonist in Conan the Barbarian (2011), a reimagining of the 1982 film of the same name and a role made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Momoa gained fame for his role of Khal Drogo on HBO's Game of Thrones. In his audition for the role, he performed a Haka, one of many intimidating Māori dances traditionally used to convey a challenge to an opponent, or a welcome to a visitor.
Momoa directed and co-wrote Road to Paloma (2014), an American drama thriller film, together with writers Jonathan Hirschbein and Robert Homer Mollohan. The film stars Momoa, Sarah Shahi, Lisa Bonet, Michael Raymond-James and Wes Studi. It premiered at the 2014 Sarasota Film Festival in April 2014. The film had a limited theatrical release on July 15, 2014, in New York City and Los Angeles and a VOD release.
In March 2014, Momoa joined the dark comedy/thriller indie Sugar Mountain alongside Cary Elwes and Haley Webb; its principal photography was done in Alaska. He also starred as Phillip Kopus, a Ramapough Mountain Indian, on the SundanceTV drama series The Red Road (2014–2015).
In June 2014, Momoa was reported to have been cast in the role of Arthur Curry / Aquaman, after he auditioned for Bruce Wayne / Batman. He first played the role in a cameo in the superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, marking Aquaman's live action film debut. Momoa played the character in a leading role in the 2017 ensemble film Justice League and its director's cut, Zack Snyder's Justice League. He then starred in the Aquaman solo film, which was released in late 2018. He also reprised this role in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
In August 2014, Momoa portrayed Connor in the Canadian horror action film Wolves, and starred in the Sci-fi horror movie Debug; it was written and directed by Momoa's former Stargate Atlantis co-star, British-born Canadian actor David Hewlett. In February 2015, it was announced that he would portray a cannibal in the drama thriller film The Bad Batch. In 2015, Momoa was cast in the Canadian action film Braven, which was released on February 2, 2018.
In March 2017, it was announced that Momoa would play Rico Rodriguez in the official Just Cause film series.
Between 2016 and 2018, Momoa portrayed Declan Harp in all three seasons of the Canadian historical drama television series Frontier and was an executive producer on the show. The series chronicles the North American fur trade in late 1700s Canada, and follows Declan Harp, a part-Irish, part-Cree outlaw who is campaigning to breach the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly on the fur trade in Canada, which has become corrupt and engages in illegal activities to enrich itself.
In July 2018, Momoa was cast for Apple's post-apocalyptic drama series See.
In February 2019, Momoa was cast as Duncan Idaho in the Denis Villeneuve film Dune.
In February 2020, Momoa appeared in a halftime commercial for Rocket Mortgage for Super Bowl LIV. He also appeared in the teaser for "Scary Little Green Men" by Ozzy Osbourne from his album Ordinary Man.
In January 2022, it was announced that Momoa joined the cast of the tenth Fast & Furious film titled Fast X as the main villain, Dante Reyes, the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the main antagonist killed by Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) in Fast Five. Fast X is produced by and stars Vin Diesel.
In June 2024, he was cast in the upcoming comedy film Carnival: At the End of Days.
In December 2024, Momoa was announced to play Lobo in the DC Universe film Supergirl, scheduled to be released on June 26, 2026.
In May 2025, Momoa was confirmed for the role of Blanka in the Street Fighter reboot film.
In August 2025, Momoa appeared as Kaʻiana in Apple's historical drama series Chief of War.
== Music ==
Momoa is a fan of heavy metal music and has noted that he "build[s] [his] characters off of metal songs". He invited members of Archspire for cameo appearances in the first episode of the TV series See, and he also practiced proper screaming technique with the vocalist of Archspire, Oli Peters, for a significant scene in the series. On October 30, 2020, Momoa was featured in the song "Doom" by black metal band Scour. Momoa is a hobby musician and plays bass guitar, mandolin, ukulele and guitar in his spare time, the first of which he took up after listening to Tool's song "Sober". In 2024, Momoa formed the power trio ÖOF TATATÁ alongside longtime friends Kenny Dale Borill and Mike Hayes, performing at Nashville's Cannery Hall in May. The band performed a one-off show in Auckland, New Zealand in August.
In July 2025 he hosted Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert, "Back to the Beginning" in Birmingham, England.
== Personal life ==
Momoa met his first fiancée, actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon, on the set of Baywatch in 1999. They were together for six years and became engaged in 2004. Mackinnon and Momoa called off their engagement after Momoa began a relationship with actress Lisa Bonet in 2005.
Although it was previously believed that Momoa and Bonet had married on November 15, 2007, the couple did not marry until October 2017. Daughter Lola Iolani was born in July 2007, and son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha was born in December 2008. In January 2022, Momoa and Bonet announced their split. In January 2024, Bonet filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and listing their date of separation as October 7, 2020. On July 9, 2024, the divorce was finalized. As of 2024, Momoa is in a relationship with actress Adria Arjona.
In 2017, Momoa began practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
In 2019 he participated in protests against the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, a holy spiritual site for native Hawaiians.
Momoa has numerous tattoos, including a half sleeve on his left forearm, a tribute to his family god, or ʻaumakua.
=== Facial scar ===
On November 15, 2008, Momoa was slashed across the face with a broken beer glass during an altercation at the Birds Cafe, a tavern in Los Angeles, California. He received approximately 140 stitches during reconstructive surgery and the scar through his left eyebrow is apparent in his later work. The assailant was sentenced to five years in prison for the attack.
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
=== Television ===
=== Video games ===
== Awards and nominations ==
== References ==
== External links ==
Jason Momoa at IMDb
Jason Momoa on Twitter
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