TIFF fan gets lucky with Viggo Mortensen
By Alexandra Heilbron on September 12, 2008 | 20 Comments
Viggo Mortensen played piano this week in the Sutton Place Hotel lobby while in Toronto for the film festival. He went unnoticed until a Reuters photographer spotted him and began snapping pictures. A crowd of fans began to gather, and one asked what he was playing. He answered, “I don’t know, I just made it up.” Another commented, “I didn’t know you played,” to which he responded, “I didn’t either,” laughing, “I won’t quit my day job.” That evening, Mortensen attended the premiere of his second film at the festival, Good, at the Winter Garden Theatre (he also stars in Appaloosa). Despite the pouring rain, he pushed aside a barrier to get to the crowd of fans waiting outside the theater and began signing autographs. Avid Viggo fan Joanne Chu-Fook, knowing Mortensen to be a Montreal Canadiens fan, gave him a Habs pin. “He put it on and continued signing autographs. But then he stopped, turned around to look for me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was shocking,” she said with a grin, thrilled by the encounter. Good co-star Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) joined Mortensen in the rain to greet fans and both arrived in the theater drenched, in time to be photographed by the media. Click here to watch Tribute’s exclusive TIFF interview with Mortensen.
Comments & Discussion
Similar Articles
TIFF 2020: What to Watch on Day 4
September 13, 2020 | Leave a Comment
The weekend continues with buzzworthy titles, including Concrete Cowboy starring Idris Elba, Viggo Mortensen’s Falling and Chaitanya Tamhane’s The Disciple.
Best Picture Oscar-winner Green Book – Blu-ray review
February 26, 2019 | Leave a Comment
The best picture oscar winner is a divisive offering with highs and lows depending on the lens you view the film from. Green Book is either a road trip film about a friendship that breaks racial barriers between two men, or it’s the latest film that sterilizes race catered to a certain audience.
Glass crushes box office for third straight weekend
February 3, 2019 | Leave a Comment
Glass continues to dominate the weekend box office, landing in the top spot for the third weekend in a row. Click to see which other movies made the top five!
A gentleman and obviously he appreciates his fans…..exactly why I am his fan.
I can’t believe I missed that premiere – that coulda been me!
Next time, Viggo, next time 🙂
At the Appaloosa gala , as the stars came doen off the stage to take their seats for the screening, Viggo turned and offered his hand to the only woman on the stage to help her down the stairs 🙂 As they left the theater after the screening, more than once Viggo said, apologetically, “sorry, only one more, I have to catch a plane…” and then he’d sign another couple autographs, pose for a couple more photos and do an interview 🙂 You can NOT help BUT adore this man!! ALOT of people in the business can and should take a cue from Viggo 🙂
He’s such a gent! You just have to love the guy, despite his bad taste in hockey teams
I thougth he was gay…
I heard his nickname is “No Ego Viggo”. His time at TIFF certainly makes that nick ring true. He has always been a fave of mine, esp, in G.I. Jane…..hmmmmmm. big sigh!
от него исходят доброта,настоящая мужская сила и высокий интеллект.Таких актеров очень мало,он из плеяды выдающихся актеров Голливуда.
Looks like someone borrowed Jo Jo’s jibberish keyboard!! 😀
Really though, it probably is a good comment. I don’t think there will be many ‘bad’ comments on this article!
Oh, he is sooo dreamy. I was there that night, waiting to catch a glimpse of Colin Firth actually. But since Viggo’s movie was scheduled to be screened first he arrived earlier. It was pouring rain and I honestly didn’t expect to see much of him. So imagine the surprise when he stepped out of the limo, asked the police to open the barricade and then proceeded run across yonge street to take pics and sign autographs. I was so shocked and thrilled and got some great pics! I wish more celebrities would be as gracious as he was that night!
Bravo, Elena :O) I can still read Russian. Yes, Nancy, it was a good comment.
Please translate for me Katarina. Honestly, I’m curious! I have stared at it for like 5 minutes trying to figure it out and I think I made out the word ‘hero’…LOL
Aw, he’s so sweet. I wish I was able to attend TIFF.
It’s something like: He emanates kindness, this man has power and a high intellect. He’s an A-list actor and does more for his fans than lesser actors.
So nice to see gentlemen still exist
Suneagle’s Thought..Another reason why I think it should be Illegale to go up to and take pictures of Famous people with out thier concent..There was nothing wrong by going up to this man and saying you play well but the whole crowd breathing the same air? Give the guy some space I’m sure he gets bombarded were ever he goes. The guy was trying to relaxe. Yes he’s a gentleman & he does alot for his fans but that’s the whole point why does he need to? Why do us fans need anything from him but a smile and a hello. I’m sure it was out of his control, what was he supposed to do yell at his fans & say to them he wants to be alone and play the paino..LOL That would make the front page..No respect I thought Toronto was better than that..Oh well..
I was lucky enough to be a volunteer at both the Viggo Films (as well as the Colin Firth films, another lovely, giving, gentleman, I might add), and I was so very impressed with how generous Viggo was with his time and self. He actually made both the ingress and egress of his films delayed, as he signed autographs and patiently posed for photos with any and all fan that asked. He sat amidst the audience during the film, was extremely approachable, and very polite, although, as he walked past the hoards of press and screaming fans, he did appear a little startled, like a deer in headlights. His performances in both Appaloosa and Good exemplified his usual authentic, immersed, and brilliant work… his work in GOOD being particularly moving. What a lovely man.
Thank you, Elena. I totally agree!
Viggo, a class act all the way
Have liked him all along, this only adds to his appeal
I hope he dried himself off after being in the rain. We do not want people to catch a cold.
I love viggo!!!!!!!!!!!