Karl-Heinz Urban (born 7 June 1972) is a New Zealand actor. His career
began with appearances in New Zealand films and TV series such as
Xena: Warrior Princess. His first Hollywood role was in the 2002
horror film Ghost Ship. Since then, he has appeared in many
high-profile movies, including the second and third installments of
The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the role of Éomer. He has also
portrayed Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek reboot film series, Vaako in
the Riddick film series, and Judge Dredd in Dredd. Since 2019, he is
currently starring as Billy Butcher in Amazon's web television series
The Boys.Urban was born in Wellington, New Zealand. His father, a
German immigrant, owned a leather goods store, and his mother once
worked for Film Facilities in Wellington. Through his mother, the
young Urban was exposed to classic New Zealand cinema and developed an
interest in the film industry. Urban attended St Mark's Church School,
where he showed an early love for public performance. His first acting
role came at age eight, when he had a single line in one episode of
the New Zealand television series Pioneer Woman. Though continuing to
take part in school stage productions, he did not act professionally
again until after high school.He attended Wellington College in
1986â€"1990. He then enrolled at Victoria University of Wellington in
the Bachelor of Arts program but left after one year to pursue a
career in acting. Over the next few years, he appeared in several
local TV commercials in addition to theater roles in the Wellington
area. Eventually, he moved to Auckland where he was offered many guest
roles in TV shows (one of which was playing a heroin addict in the
police drama Shark in the Park). Urban then moved briefly to Bondi
Beach, Sydney, Australia in 1995 before returning to New Zealand the
following year.
began with appearances in New Zealand films and TV series such as
Xena: Warrior Princess. His first Hollywood role was in the 2002
horror film Ghost Ship. Since then, he has appeared in many
high-profile movies, including the second and third installments of
The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the role of Éomer. He has also
portrayed Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek reboot film series, Vaako in
the Riddick film series, and Judge Dredd in Dredd. Since 2019, he is
currently starring as Billy Butcher in Amazon's web television series
The Boys.Urban was born in Wellington, New Zealand. His father, a
German immigrant, owned a leather goods store, and his mother once
worked for Film Facilities in Wellington. Through his mother, the
young Urban was exposed to classic New Zealand cinema and developed an
interest in the film industry. Urban attended St Mark's Church School,
where he showed an early love for public performance. His first acting
role came at age eight, when he had a single line in one episode of
the New Zealand television series Pioneer Woman. Though continuing to
take part in school stage productions, he did not act professionally
again until after high school.He attended Wellington College in
1986â€"1990. He then enrolled at Victoria University of Wellington in
the Bachelor of Arts program but left after one year to pursue a
career in acting. Over the next few years, he appeared in several
local TV commercials in addition to theater roles in the Wellington
area. Eventually, he moved to Auckland where he was offered many guest
roles in TV shows (one of which was playing a heroin addict in the
police drama Shark in the Park). Urban then moved briefly to Bondi
Beach, Sydney, Australia in 1995 before returning to New Zealand the
following year.
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