Jason Momoa, born Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an American television and film actor and producer. He gained recognition in the 2000s for his roles as warriors, fighters, and other violent characters. Momoa is best known for his long hair and muscled physique. He rose to fame for his portrayal of the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo in the television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and as the title character in Aquaman (2018).
Early Life and Career
Momoa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Joseph Momoa, a painter, and Coni Lemke, a photographer. After his parents divorced when he was six months old, Momoa moved with his mother to Norwalk, Iowa, where he completed his elementary and high school education. He developed an interest in biology and took classes at a community college in Des Moines, Iowa, before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he worked as a waiter. He later returned to Hawaii to reconnect with his father and enrolled in the University of Hawaii’s marine biology program.
At the age of 19, Momoa was discovered by Japanese-born American fashion designer Takeo Kobayashi, who encouraged him to pursue a modeling career. Momoa briefly worked in the modeling industry before landing his first acting role as a young lifeguard in the television series Baywatch: Hawaii. He went on to have supporting roles on television shows like North Shore (2004–2005) and Stargate: Atlantis (2005–2009).
Momoa’s breakthrough role came in 2011 when he portrayed Khal Drogo in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. His powerful performance as the Dothraki warlord gained him widespread recognition and opened doors for more significant roles in film and television.
Major Roles and Success
In 2011, Momoa was cast as the title character in Conan the Barbarian, his first leading role in a major motion picture. However, it was his portrayal of Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones that caught the attention of Hollywood directors. He continued to play the role of Khal Drogo for the first two seasons of the show.
In 2014, Momoa was cast as Aquaman, a half-human, half-Atlantean superhero, in the DC Extended Universe. He made appearances as Aquaman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017) before starring in his standalone film, Aquaman, in 2018. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide.
Aside from his role as Aquaman, Momoa has appeared in various other films and television series. He played the ex-convict Phillip Kopus in The Red Road (2014–2015), the fur-trading outlaw Declan Harp in Frontier (2016–2018), and Baba Voss, the chief of the Alkenny, in See (2019–present).
In addition to his acting career, Momoa is also involved in environmental and philanthropic endeavors. He founded Mananalu, a company that packages water in aluminum cans and advocates for recycling plastic and removing plastic pollution from the oceans. He is also an advocate for indigenous rights and has used his platform to raise awareness about social and environmental issues.
Jason Momoa’s Personal Life
Jason Momoa was previously married to actress Lisa Bonet. The couple announced their separation in January 2022 after nearly 17 years together. They have two children together, daughter Lola and son Nakoa-Wolf. Momoa has been linked to actress Eiza González since February 2022, although their relationship has had its ups and downs.
FAQs
1. What is Jason Momoa known for?
Jason Momoa is known for his roles as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones and Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe.
2. What other TV shows and movies has Jason Momoa been in?
Aside from Game of Thrones and Aquaman, Jason Momoa has appeared in TV shows like Baywatch: Hawaii, North Shore, Stargate: Atlantis, The Red Road, Frontier, and See. He has also been in movies like Conan the Barbarian and Dune.
3. Is Jason Momoa involved in any philanthropic work?
Yes, Jason Momoa is involved in environmental and philanthropic endeavors. He founded Mananalu, a company that promotes recycling and removing plastic pollution from the oceans. He is also an advocate for indigenous rights and raises awareness about social and environmental issues.
4. Who is Jason Momoa currently dating?
Jason Momoa is currently dating actress Eiza González.
5. Does Jason Momoa have any children?
Yes, Jason Momoa has two children with his ex-wife Lisa Bonet. They have a daughter named Lola and a son named Nakoa-Wolf.