Trivia

Is a Swiss citizen through his paternal grandfather.

[2013] Lived in Zürich, Switzerland.

Surfs in his spare time.

Has practiced Yoga for over 30 years, is qualified to teach Yoga instructors, and his return private students include the likes of Annie Lennox.

Graduated from The University of Florida.

Became a member of the Writers Guild of America after he submitted notes on the script of a feature film he'd been cast in, and was hired to write the scenes he'd suggested.

At the wrap party for Any Given Sunday (1999), Oliver Stone's first assistant director, Richard Patrick, told him he was "the easiest actor to work with of the entire cast" and thanked him for making his job easier.

Was one of just three American actors in the "all European cast" of the Oliver Stone epic Alexander (2004).

Won membership of The Writers Guild Of America on his first attempt at script-writing/script-doctoring.

Because he only had a day to rehearse his Gloves Off (2017) climax fight scene, and just one day to film it, and Stunt-Coordinator Peter Pedrero was so satisfied with the outcome, he congratulated him on his performance by sending him a Gloves Off Stunt-Crew t-shirt, one of his most prized pieces of memorabilia.

His first acting job was in an unscripted role in the Oliver Stone sports epic Any Given Sunday (1999), and initially intended as a day-player. He went on to become one of only two actors to work from the first day of principal filming until the last day of pick-ups--which took place during the week following the film's official wrap. The other actor was Oliver Stone, who plays "Tug Kowalski". Stone wrapped him when he wrapped himself, and he ended up working for over four months on the film.

Because the role of "Nosher" in Gloves Off (2017) was released and re-released in Europe, and subsequently re-released in the USA, he won it from among a huge pool of actors.

Won the role of "Ronald Niedermann" in The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009), the 2cd and 3rd installments of Stieg Larsson's Millennium (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)) Trilogy, after the production flew him to Stockholm to audition for director Daniel Alfredson and casting director Tusse Lande. The audition comprised several takes of his taking a rapid succession of stage-combat contact blows to his face at the hands of Paolo Roberto, which he did to Alfredson's satisfaction. Immediately following his audition they notified him that he'd won the role. Once the terms (specifying a modest day rate, multiple flights to Sweden at short notice to work for a day or two at a time for a total of 14 shooting days spread out over 6 months, without travel pay) were set and agreed to, the production informed him it could only pay him a "fitting fee" of EUR98.50/day for five days of fight rehearsal. After the production refused his counteroffer for the fight rehearsal days (still substantially lower than his on-camera day rate), he declined the role, telling his agent "I live in Switzerland, not Swaziland".

Has worked with Oliver Stone three times.

As his character in Gloves Off (2017) is British with a British accent, he's one of a select few American actors to win a British lead role in a British production.

When he won the role of "Nosher" in Gloves Off (2017), he was the only actor of the lead cast without a UK agent.

The only American in the otherwise all-British cast of Gloves Off (2017), he plays a British character in working-class British accent.

Won his lead-supporting role in The Courier (2019) via straight offer thanks to stunt-coordinator Peter Pedrero's recommendation of him. They'd previously collaborated on Gloves Off (2017).

Earned a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 17.

While on a photo-shoot in Hamburg with photographer Charlotte March, he met Balduin Baas, who told him he should be an actor; five months later Oliver Stone had cast him in Any Given Sunday (1999).

Received a straight offer for a role in Indian 2 (2024). Fortunately the production didn't agree to his terms; had they agreed, he was scheduled to arrive at location the day before a crane collapsed on the set, killing three of the crew and injuring ten others.

Has visited 39 countries (and Hawaii), many of them repeatedly, including over 60 visits to the Netherlands.

Traveled from the USA to Israel and back by surface (ship), stopping in Portugal, Spain, Malta, Greece and Egypt on the way.

Has lived in thirteen cities in eleven countries.

Is a credentialed script-doctor and member of the WGA--Writers Guild of America.

His final scene in Vikings (2013) became the most viewed and shared scene of the entire Vikings series, with over a billion views across myriad platforms as of 2026.

Made ends meet for seven years by working part-time as a "Sitzwache" ("Sitting Guard") at Zürich University Hospital. Though his official duties were limited to monitoring severely ill and injured patients and calling a nurse when they needed help, he regularly supported the nursing staff by voluntarily assisting with the washing, feeding, mobilizing, restraining and physical therapy of his patients. When, during his interview for the job, the director remarked that he had no experience, he countered by explaining that, because his childhood home was like a hospital for his grandfather, he had plenty of experience.