Actors who been in both Xena and The Lord of the Rings
Also includes actors who have appeared in The Hobbit trilogy as well as the Rings trilogy.
Recurring characters on Xena are listed just by name, but single-episode guest characters are listed by name and the episode in which they appeared.
This list only includes credited performers in the Peter Jackson films, because I have time on my hands but not THAT much time on my hands, y'know? To my knowledge, it is complete, but if I'm missing someone, let me know.
Recurring characters on Xena are listed just by name, but single-episode guest characters are listed by name and the episode in which they appeared.
This list only includes credited performers in the Peter Jackson films, because I have time on my hands but not THAT much time on my hands, y'know? To my knowledge, it is complete, but if I'm missing someone, let me know.
List activity
5.4K views
• 1 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
21 people
- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Karl Urban now lives in Auckland. Born on June 7, 1972, he is the son of a leather-goods manufacturer (who had hoped that Karl would follow in his footsteps). His first acting role was when he was 8 -- he had a line on a television series. However, he did not act again until after high school. He was offered a role in the NZ soap opera Shortland Street (1992) as he was preparing to attend Victoria University. After appearing on the series for the 1993-1994 season, he attended the university for one year, then left to pursue his acting career. Over the next few years, he landed several theater roles in the Wellington area. Eventually, he moved to Auckland, where a number of guest roles in NZ television followed. One of his first roles was that of a heroin addict in the drama series Shark in the Park (1989). He was in a movie as well, entitled Once in Chunuck Bay (aka Chunuk Bair (1992)). Other television roles followed, including a guest-starring role in the series White Fang (1993). Karl's biggest roles include Éomer in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek (2009), William Cooper in RED (2010) and Judge Dredd in Dredd (2012).on XENA: Julius Caesar, Cupid, Mael ("Altered States"), Kor ("Lifeblood")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Eomer- Actor
- Soundtrack
Marton was born in Invercargill, Aotearoa (New Zealand), to Margaret Christine (Rayner), a nurse, and Márton Csókás, a mechanical engineer. His father is Hungarian and his mother is Australian (of English, Irish, and Danish origin). He inherited some of his talents from his father, who was also a trained opera singer and at one time, a trapeze artist in the Hungarian Circus.
His academic training began at Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand, where he commenced a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Art History, and then transferred to, Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa/ The New Zealand Drama School, graduating in December, 1989. His first acting role was in Te Whanau a Tuanui Jones by Apairana Taylor at the Taki Rua Theatre in Wellington New Zealand, (1990). He has since had an eclectic career of theatre, television and film.
He appeared in the 1994 movie Jack Brown Genius (1996) in which he played the role of Dennis. After starring for two years in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street (1992), he starred in the 1996 movie Broken English (1996) as Darko. After performing in a great number of theatrical plays, writing his own and co-founding his own theatre company, the Stronghold Theatre, Marton got the role of Tarlus in an episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995). After that, he continued working with Renaissance Pictures, playing the roles of Khrafstar and Borias in the 1997-1998 seasons of Xena: Warrior Princess (1995). He continued appearing in many other shows in both NZ and Australia, such as Farscape (1999), BeastMaster (1999), Water Rats (1996), Cleopatra 2525 (2000), and more, returning for the role of Borias in three episodes of the 2000-2001 season of Xena: Warrior Princess (1995). He was also in many movies produced in NZ and Australia, such as Hurrah (1998), The Monkey's Mask (2000) and the mini-series The Farm (2001). He is a citizen of the European Union and Hungary, and is a permanent resident of the United States.
Most recently, Csokas starred opposite Denzel Washington in Sony's hit film The Equalizer. He played a brutal fixer for the Russian mafia and a formidable villain to Washington's reluctant hero.
Csokas appeared in Darren Aronofsky's Noah as well as Robert Rodriguez's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, a sequel to the 2005 hit film Sin City. Csokas also played the psychiatrist, "Dr. Kafka," in the hit movie sequel, The Amazing Spiderman 2, alongside Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx.
Csokas most famously starred as "Lord Celeborn" in one of the highest-grossing film series of all time, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Some of his other film credits include 2010's The Debt opposite Jessica Chastain and Paul Greengrass' The Bourne Supremacy with Matt Damon. His depth of experience is illustrated in Asylum in which he starred opposite Natasha Richardson and Ian McKellen, as well as the Ridley Scott epic, Kingdom of Heaven, with Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson and Liam Neeson.
On the small screen, Csokas recently starred on the History Channel's miniseries Sons of Liberty as well as Discovery Channel's miniseries Klondike with Tim Roth and Sam Shepard.
On stage, Csokas continues to work internationally, most recently starring in a production of Lillian Hellman's "Little Foxes" at The New York Theatre Workshop by acclaimed director, Ivo van Hove. The play was noted by Time Magazine as one of the "Top 10 of Everything of 2010." The actor has numerous classical credits, including 'Orsino' in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" at the National Theatre of Great Britain, 'Anthony' in "Anthony and Cleopatra" at the Theatre of a New Audience, 'Brutus' in "Julius Caesar" and as 'Septimus' in Tom Stoppard's "Arcadia" in his birthplace of New Zealand. On the Australian stage, Csokas has appeared as 'George' in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," directed by Benedict Andrews of the Schaubuhne Theatre in Berlin and in "Riflemind," directed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman at the Sydney Theatre Company.on XENA: Borias, Khrafstar, Belach ("Last of the Centaurs")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Celeborn- Lawrence Makoare was born on 20 March 1968 in Bastion Point, Auckland, New Zealand. He is an actor, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Die Another Day (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).on XENA: Barbarian Leader ("The Quill is Mightier..."), Maecenus ("Fins, Femmes, and Gems")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Lurtz, Gothmog, The Witch-King
in THE HOBBIT: Bolg - Actor
- Additional Crew
Craig Parker was born on November 12th 1970 in Suva, Fiji and now lives in New Zealand. He is best know for his part as Haldir the Elf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, although he had a part in the 1993 film of Stephen King's "Tommyknockers".on XENA: Prince Sarpedon ("For Him the Bell Tolls"), Cleades ("The Key to the Kingdom"), Bellerophon ("To Helicon and Back")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Haldir- Mark Ferguson was born on 28 February 1961 in Sydney, Australia. He is an actor, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Spooked (2004) and Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (2007).on XENA: Krykus, Dagnine, John Smythe ("The Xena Scrolls")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Gil-Galad - Bruce Hopkins was born on 25 November 1955 in Invercargill, New Zealand. He is an actor, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) and Housebound (2014).on XENA: Termin ("Dreamworker"), Tegason ("Ten Little Warlords"), Rahl ("Daughter of Pomira"), Barkeep ("Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Gamling - Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Jed Brophy was born on 29 October 1963 in Taihape, New Zealand. He is an actor, known for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), District 9 (2009) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002).on XENA: Ramius ("Looking Death in the Eye")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Sharku, Snaga
in THE HOBBIT: Nori- John Leigh was born in 1965 in New Zealand. He is an actor and writer, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Frighteners (1996) and Serial Killers (2004).on XENA: Nabcot ("The Ides of March"), Hrothgar ("Return of the Valkyrie")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Hama - Stephen Ure was born on 28 March 1958 in St Leonards, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is an actor and director, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), X (2022) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002).on XENA: Monlik ("The Dirty Half Dozen"), Werfner ("Sacrifice")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Grishnakh, Gorbag
in THE HOBBIT: Fimbul, Grinnah - Paul Norell was born on 11 February 1952 in London, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) and Power Rangers S.P.D. (2005).on XENA: Street Vendor ("Cradle of Hope"), Statius ("Prometheus"), Peddler ("The Quill is Mightier..."), Falafel ("Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire"), Gillis ("Send in the Clones")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: King of the Dead - Actor
- Producer
- Casting Director
An accomplished actor of Samoan descent, Nathaniel Lees who was born in New Zealand has succeeded impressively as both an actor and theater director. As a native of New Zealand, it comes as no surprise his name and face appeared on notable New Zealand projects including Hercules: The Legendary Journey, Young Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess and Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, the latter of which he portrayed the Uruk Hai named Ugluk. As the new century arrived, Lees perhaps became better known for his role as the battle-hardened Captain Mifune in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (2003). His directorial credits are equally impressive as he directed plays that have won various award titles from the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.on XENA: Manus ("Dreamworker"), Nicklio ("Destiny")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Ugluk- Director
- Actor
- Writer
April 2023
I am a Director, writer and Actor.
My background in acting means I speak the same 'language' as my cast and relate acutely to their journey and needs. This makes it easy to connect with them, get the results I want, and hopefully capture a little bit of magic along the way.
At the same time, my training as a visual Artist, with a BFA in Sculpture, means that I understand the power and depth of the unspoken language of images, space, and movement.
With over thirty years of experience in the industry, I have worked on a variety of projects, from Comedies to Kids ' Shows, TVCs to dramas, and have consistently delivered high-quality content that engages and entertains audiences. I have a proven track record of successfully managing both the creative and technical aspects of production, from pre-production to post-production.
As a director, I prioritize communication and collaboration with my team, including producers, writers, and crew members. I believe that every person involved in a project has a unique perspective and can contribute to the success of a production. By creating an open and inclusive work environment, I can bring out the best in everyone involved and ensure that the final product exceeds everyone's expectations.
Me ... in bullet points I was born in Canada
Raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
I have Canadian, NZ, and UK citizenship.
I have a BFA - In Sculpture.
I have over thirty years in the business as an Actor, Writer, Designer, Director, Voice Artist, Teacher, Agent, Producer, Dad...
I have directed well over 200 Hours of Broadcast television and Film.
I wrote, designed, and performed in my one-man theatre show "Ship Songs" with original music by Don McGlashan which is currently in Development as a feature.
" It echoed around my heart like bells... The simple perfection of a story well told."on XENA: Diomedes ("The Black Wolf"), Callisto ("Melas"), Mac ("Send in the Clones")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Irolas- Actor
- Additional Crew
Born into an acting family in Auckland, New Zealand, Joel made his first stage appearance with his mother, Liddy Holloway, at age 5. With his solid grounding in theatre, he has appeared in many stage productions, covering all genres from Shakespeare to Musical Theatre. His nearly two dozen film appearances, ranging from whimsical comedy to intense drama and modern horror, has seen him work extensively both in New Zealand and Australia. In 1997, he won Best Actor in the NZ Film & TV Awards for Topless Women Talk About Their Lives (1997). Joel's television career has been equally as wide ranging, appearing regularly in many New Zealand dramas and comedy shows, including the Xena: Warrior Princess (1995), Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) and Young Hercules (1998) series and, most recently, "Underbelly: Land of the Long Green Cloud" (2011)_ and the popular This Is Not My Life (2010). Joel has also taken his talents to the USA, guest starring in Sons of Anarchy (2008), The Glades (2010), Hawaii Five-0 (2010), A.K.A. (2006) and Without a Trace (2002), and Australia, playing the lead roles in the critically-acclaimed drama, Tangle (2009), and the comedy, :30 Seconds (2009), which saw him nominated for the Most Outstanding Performance By an Actor award at the 2010 Australian Subcription Television & Radio Association Awards in Australia. Joel has also worked as a singer and guitarist over the years, playing and singing in bands, both in New Zealand and Australia. Over the years, Joel has developed a range of other skills with voice work, radio, improvisation, Theatresports, dance and choreography.on XENA: Deimos ("Motherhood"), Lucifer ("You Are There")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Orc Lieutenant- Alistair has been working as an actor and stage-director for 43 years, in New Zealand, Australia and England. He has won seven awards for acting and one for for directing. He trained at Theatre Corporate and the Mercury Theatre in Auckland, NZ and went on to play Hamlet and many other Shakespeare and classic roles, as well as comedies, modern dramas and musicals in theaters around New Zealand, and then in the countries above. He then began an ongoing career in film and television. He continues to work to this day, based in Auckland, NZ.on XENA: King ("If the Shoe Fits...")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Damrod - David Aston is known for The Matrix (1999), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009).on XENA: Tyldus ("Hooves and Harlots")
in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Gondorian Soldier (apparently featured enough to get credited) - Actor
- Director
- Writer
Dean O'Gorman was born on 1 December 1976 in Auckland, New Zealand. He is an actor and director, known for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and Trumbo (2015). He has been married to Sarah Wilson since 8 January 2016. They have one child.on XENA: Homer / Orion ("Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards"), Wiglaf ("Return of the Valkyrie")
in THE HOBBIT: Kili- Actor
- Soundtrack
Actor, comedian, singer, writer, producer, director - Mark Hadlow is one of New Zealand's most prominent actors and entertainers. He is driven by a passion for performance: 130 plays, musical theatre, dozens of film appearances, television series, commercials and radio voice-overs in the thousands.
Playing the dwarf Dori in The Hobbit was Mark's third Peter Jackson movie. In Meet the Feebles he played the voices of Heidi the Hippo and Robert the Hedgehog, and sang many of the songs. King Kong saw him performing the role of Harry in the vaudeville scenes opposite Naomi Watts and Bill Johnson. He regards Peter Jackson productions as the most exhilarating experiences.
He starred alongside New Zealand Maori comedian, Billy T James in "The Billy T James Show".
Mark Hadlow is renowned for his singing voice and has appeared in many musicals and concerts, his all time favourite being Little Shop of Horrors. (4 separate productions)
Mark has been nominated for and won several awards, including Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy in a Television series Willy Nilly, playing the role of the challenged brother Harry in a three-season top rating sitcom.
He won Best Theatrical performance of the Year in 1993 for the hugely successful one-man show "SNAG", and ultimately went on to win Entertainer of the Year in 1995. He won Best Voice Over Artist in the Radio New Zealand Awards 2010.
Mark is also a master narrator, his most recent work being narrator of the enchanting short film 'The Story of Percival Pilts' by Janette Goodey & John Lewis. He has also released an audio CD called "Tall Tales", a collection of classic children's stories.on XENA: Milo ("The Play's the Thing")
in THE HOBBIT: Dori, Bert Troll- Actor
- Producer
- Director
"Shall We Begin!", the battlecry of The undefeated Gaul Crixus first bought Manu Bennett's voice & acting career to international attention. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011) spoke a universal language that slowly but surely captured a massive audience. The the show lost lead actor Andy Whitfield to cancer, Bennett's pivotal role, transitioning from Spartacus' nemesis to a slave rebel leader, he was credited for maintaining throughout, the heart & strength of the series. Producer/Director Peter Jackson then employed Bennett to portray Orc Leader "Azog - The Defiler". At the World Premiere of The Hobbit, Peter Jackson told press that Bennett's was the "The Breakout Performance". Although many Tolkein fans failed to recognize him beneath the CGI veneer, Bennett's looming presence, hunting down Thorin Oakenshield & culminating in the ultimate face-off, where both characters die, Bennett entered the catalogue of the great cinematic Villain Performances. DC Comic soldier of fortune, Slade Wildon aka Deathstroke had slumbered for two decades until Bennett reprised the role on the CW series Arrow. Many DC fans declared Bennett as the best villain on the hit series when he established a heartfelt dominant core relationship with Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell). The two befriended upon the Island of Lian Yu before an incident with a super-drug called Mirakuru transformed Slade into the archetypal good guy/bad guy Deathstroke. Originally penned by Marv Wolfman & illustrated by George Perez, Deathstroke has now become a hot property for the DC Universe with Tony Daniels illustrating the new series of Deathstroke comic books & a Warner Bros Deathstroke feature film pending. When MTV shifted their focus toward producing original series they selected Bennett to portray the Dark Druid Allanon in the newly acquired Shannara Chronicles Series. Bennett had just the right mix of stoicism, angst & dramatic suave sought by the Shannara producers & author Terry Brooks. Manu Bennett is of Maori, Scottish, English, French & Finish ancestry. Bennett was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Bennett's great grandfather Frederick Augustus Bennett was the first Maori Bishop of the Anglican Church in New Zealand. Bennett's namesake Manuhuia Bennett (grandfather) was also ordained an Anglican Bishop. The Bennett name has roots dating back to a French Benedictine Monastery established in Northumbria in Northern England circa 500AD. The monastery was subsequently turned into a defensive fort named Chillingham Castle. With the advent of surnames circa 1000AD, the name Bennett was derived from Benedictine.
Manu Bennett's father Charles Edward Tiwha (Ted) Bennett was a popular New Zealand singer who recorded a No.1 hit "Clap Your Hands" & several other hits in the early 1960's. Bennett's mother Jean Clark was a bikini model from Australia who paraded the very first two piece bikini for designer Paula Stafford. Bennett's parents met during the Spring Blossom Festival in Hastings New Zealand. Bennett has two older siblings, Stephen & Rachel. The Bennett family moved to Australia in 1970. Jean Bennett nee Clark, was the winner of the Miss Paradise Beach, a swimsuit title held on the Gold Coast of Australia. Bennett's first acting job was on a series titled Paradise Beach, where he played stud, surf lifesaver, iron man Kirk Barsby. Bennett's mother, Jean, died in a car accident in 1985. His brother Stephen suffered injuries in a separate car accident & died only two weeks later.
During his schooling Manu Bennett trained as a dancer & musician & well as playing Rugby Union. Bennett was selected for the First XV for Te Aute College a Maori Boy school know for their strong rugby union history. On return to Australia Bennett was selected for the NSW Schoolboys Rugby Union Team & to trial for the Australian National Team. Bennett was prevented from attending the National trial outs due to a prior commitment to a ballet production of Swan Lake in which he had to perform the male lead. In the the 90's Bennett had to choose between a ballet scholarship in New York or an acting scholarship at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Bennett decided to pursue his acting career & attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles.
Manu has appeared on various TV dramas & feature films, including multiple award winning "Lantana," opposite Anthony La Paglia. His first physical role was with appearing opposite Jon Cena on "The Marine". WWE was impressed with Bennett so gave him a role in their second feature film The Condemned starring opposite "Stone Cold" Steve Austin & Vinnie Jones. Rob Tapert cast Bennett as Marc Antony in Xena Warrior Princess, then opposite Josh Hartnett in the Vampire Horror 30 Days Of Night, then was pivotal in Bennett getting the role of Crixus in the series Spartacus.
Previous TV credits include starring roles in successful New Zealand productions "Shortland Street," "Street Legal," "Mataku," "Creature Of Quest," "Going Straight," and as Marc Antony opposite his "Spartacus" co-star Lucy Lawless in Tapert and Raimi's hit series "Xena: Warrior Princess."on XENA: Marc Antony ("Antony and Cleopatra")
in THE HOBBIT: Azog- Actor
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Now based in Los Angeles, California, William Kircher has the provenance of being one of the most experienced actors coming out of New Zealand.
William's career launched on his graduation from Drama School at the age of eighteen. Over the next forty years he has gone on to appear in more than one hundred professional theater productions. He has starred in high-profile film & television projects and established a reputation as one of the most respected actors in the country.
William also has experience in behind-the-camera roles. He worked as a producer for UK production house Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment and was subsequently invited to head up Cloud 9's commercial division. This role saw him produce an award-winning short film, as well as other corporate and commercial projects. William became a valued member of the Cloud 9 Executive with responsibility for managing public relations, media and communications.
In 2006 William starred alongside Karl Urban in the movie 'Out Of The Blue'. This award-winning film was based on the true story of a massacre in a quiet New Zealand seaside village. In 2010 William was hand-picked by director Peter Jackson to play the role of dwarf 'Bifur' in the Hobbit trilogy of films. The films, shot over a three-year period, feature some of the top stars in the screen industry and took in excess of three billion dollars at the box office.
After completing the Hobbit trilogy in 2015 William moved to Los Angeles to further his career. It proved to be the right move. He loves the city and is proud to have won a couple of awards for recognition of his craft. His latest film work includes critically-acclaimed performances in projects like 'The Axiom' premiering at 2018 Cannes Festival and now in distribution through North America, Asis and Europe. The 2017 sci-fi feature 'Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter' saw William receive a "best actor in supporting role" award and picked up a Sony Pictures distribution deal. William's latest film 'Katherine's Lullaby' has only just been completed in Los Angeles and is now ready for the market.on XENA: Captain ("Locked Up and Tied Down")
in THE HOBBIT: Bifur / Tom Troll- Actor
- Writer
Jeffrey Thomas was born in Wales, UK. He is known for Slow West (2015), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and Adrift (2018).on XENA: Cycnus ("Chariots of War")
in THE HOBBIT: Thror- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Craig Hall was born on May 10th, 1974 in Auckland, New Zealand after his parents emigrated from Glasgow,Scotland. He is an actor, known for King Kong (2005), The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013), The World's Fastest Indian (2005) and A Place To Call Home (2013). His film debut was in Savage Honeymoon (2000), which was initially restricted by the New Zealand Office of Film & Literature Classification to adults over 18 because of a scene where characters throw a barbecue's gas bottle onto a fire and watch it explode.on XENA: Raczar ("Dangerous Prey")
in THE HOBBIT: Galion