Celebrity Info
For years, Travis Fimmel was one of those faces you couldn’t quite place—but once you saw him, you never forgot. Sure, most people didn’t know his name at first, but they definitely recognized the image of him in his underwear. That striking look—blond, athletic, and effortlessly cool—first caught the world’s attention back in 2001 when he appeared in a series of bold Calvin Klein campaigns. It’s kind of funny, though, because Travis Fimmel wasn’t exactly chasing fame as a model. In fact, he was pretty reluctant about it. He only agreed to do the shoots to help pay for acting classes, never imagining how big those ads would become.
And wow, did they blow up. Suddenly, Travis Fimmel’s face—and physique—were everywhere: plastered on billboards from Sunset Strip to SoHo, even over Tottenham Court Road in London. So popular was one particular ad that it reportedly caused traffic jams and had to be taken down. Not bad for a shy farm kid from rural Victoria, Australia, who never thought he’d end up in the spotlight. Born on July 15, 1979, Travis Fimmel grew up as the youngest of three brothers on a dairy farm. Back then, he was more into soccer than showbiz and always felt a bit awkward, thinking he was too skinny for anything beyond farm life.
But things changed when he turned 18. He moved to Melbourne, started studying architecture and engineering at RMIT University, and kept playing football with the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Then, in 1998, a broken leg ended his sports dreams. Funny how life works, right? That same year, while working out at a gym, a scout from Chadwick Modeling Agency spotted him. They spent weeks convincing the hesitant 19-year-old to sign on—and eventually, he did. Before long, Travis Fimmel quit school and headed to London, where he worked odd jobs, including tending bar and helping wealthy travelers as a concierge.
After two and a half years abroad, he took a leap of faith and flew to Los Angeles with just a hundred bucks and a pillowcase full of t-shirts. His plan? Use modeling to break into acting. Smart move. He landed with a modeling agency almost immediately and started appearing in music videos for stars like Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. When the opportunity came to audition for Calvin Klein underwear—a major career-maker for models with looks like his—he hesitated. But after some persuasion, he went for it. The executives loved him. Soon, Travis Fimmel had a six-figure contract and became one of the most recognizable faces in fashion.
Still, he never lost sight of his real goal: acting. He used part of his earnings to take classes and eventually studied under Ivana Chubbock, a legendary Hollywood coach who helped shape the careers of actors like Brad Pitt and Halle Berry. And true to his roots, Travis Fimmel also sent money back home to support his family’s farm. Good guy, right?
It wasn’t easy breaking into TV, though. His breakout role came in 2003 as the modern-day Tarzan on the WB series. Fans went wild seeing the underwear icon swing through Central Park and leap across city traffic. The show built a cult following fast—mostly thanks to Travis Fimmel’s raw charm and physical presence—but it got cancelled after only eight episodes. Still, that performance opened doors. He landed pilot roles in “Rocky Point” (2005) and “Southern Comfort” (2006), but neither made it to series. Around the same time, he returned to Australia to film his first feature, a psychological thriller called Ravenswood—though it mysteriously never saw a proper release.
Throughout it all, Travis Fimmel stayed true to himself. You might’ve noticed he rarely wore shoes—even showing up barefoot on talk shows and public appearances. After years of smaller roles and projects that never quite took off, he finally found his defining moment in 2013, when he stepped into the role of Ragnar Lothbrok on the hit historical drama Vikings. As the fearless Norse warrior, Travis Fimmel proved he was far more than just a pretty face from an old billboard. This time, the world knew his name—and remembered it.
When it comes to Travis Fimmel’s film career, one standout performance shines through — his highest rated movie is Lean on Pete from 2017. Critics and audiences alike praised the emotional depth and subtle storytelling in that film, and Travis Fimmel certainly made an impact with his role. On the other end of the spectrum, Travis Fimmel appeared in Die in a Gunfight, released in 2021, which ended up being his lowest rated film to date. While the movie had its moments, it didn’t quite resonate the same way. So overall, if you’re exploring Travis Fimmel’s work, Lean on Pete is definitely where you’ll see him at his best, while Die in a Gunfight shows that even strong actors can have projects that don’t quite hit the mark. Still, Travis Fimmel continues to be a compelling presence on screen, and fans keep watching to see what he does next.
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