Alexander Ludwig (actor)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Ludwig is a Canadian teen actor. He played Will Stanton in the 2007 fantasy film, The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising
. In March 2009, Ludwig appeared in a lead role in Disney's Race to Witch Mountain
.
(2005), Eve and the Fire Horse
(2005), The Sandlot: Heading Home
(aka, The Sandlot 3) (2007). In addition to cinema, Ludwig has also worked in television. He has performed in movies made for television, such as A Little Thing Called Murder
(2006), and series television such as The Dead Zone
. Ludwig obtained his leading role in The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) after a "gruelling audition process." By his count, he had 16 auditions before finally being cast.
Alexander Ludwig's next lead role came in the part of Seth — one half of a teenage, alien brother-sister duo — in the film production of Race to Witch Mountain
(2009), also starring Dwayne Johnson, the professional wrestler turned actor. Seth is the part originated by Ike Eisenmann
in the 1975 original, Escape to Witch Mountain
. The film opened at number 1 at the box office the weekend that it premiered with receipts estimated at $
25 million. Whereas the casting process for The Seeker had been arduous, getting the part for Witch Mountain was relatively painless. From the moment Ludwig auditioned, the director knew that he was the actor he wanted for the role of Seth.
He is confirmed to play Cato in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games
. The film is set to be released on March 23, 2012 in the US.
, British Columbia
. He is the oldest of four siblings that include twin siblings, two years younger, and a sister, three years younger than Ludwig. His father, Harald, is a businessman, and his mother, Sharlene, a former actress. The actor was drawn to the profession, saying in an interview, "I have a big imagination. I love performing." Yet, despite his mother's early career as an actress, Ludwig had to convince his parents to support his desire to pursue a career as a child actor. His parents believed that child actors "can get sucked into a life that isn't reality."
Despite his early casting success with The Seeker, Ludwig indicated in a contemporaneous interview that it was his intention to attend university. In another interview, the actor said that the most challenging thing about filming The Seeker was trying "to juggle school while filming. My school wasn't used to it, and I wasn't used to it. It was the most amazing experience, but it was really hard." Ludwig is currently enrolled as a theatre major at the University of Southern California. Ludwig currently lives full time in Los Angeles
.
The Seeker (film)
The Seeker, titled The Dark Is Rising in the United Kingdom and The Seeker: The Dark is Rising in Canada, is a 2007 American film adaptation of the second book in the five-book young adult fantasy series The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper. The film is directed by David L...
. In March 2009, Ludwig appeared in a lead role in Disney's Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film and a remake of the original 1975 fantasy film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key...
.
Career
Ludwig started acting when he was nine years old in a Harry Potter toy commercial, a job that enabled him to sign on with an agent and obtain more commercial work. After which, he was cast in movies such as Air Bud World Pup (2000), MXP: Most Extreme Primate (2003), Scary Godmother: The Revenge Of JimmyScary Godmother: The Revenge Of Jimmy
Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy is a 2005 animated film starring Tabitha St. Germain, Britt McKillip, Alexander Ludwig, Brittney Irvin, Gary Chalk, and Dexter Bell...
(2005), Eve and the Fire Horse
Eve and the Fire Horse
Eve and the Fire Horse is a 2005 Canadian film written and directed by Julia Kwan. It won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Claude Jutra Award for the best feature film by a first-time film director in Canada.-Plot:...
(2005), The Sandlot: Heading Home
The Sandlot: Heading Home
The Sandlot: Heading Home is the second direct-to-video sequel to the 1993 theatrical film The Sandlot and the first direct-to-video sequel The Sandlot 2. It was released straight to DVD on May 1, 2007...
(aka, The Sandlot 3) (2007). In addition to cinema, Ludwig has also worked in television. He has performed in movies made for television, such as A Little Thing Called Murder
A Little Thing Called Murder
A Little Thing Called Murder is a 2006 drama film starring Judy Davis and Jonathan Jackson and directed by Richard Benjamin. This film made for television, by Stonemade Entertainment for Lifetime TV, was based on a true story, as told in the book Dead End by reporter Jeanne King.-Synopsis:Judy...
(2006), and series television such as The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone (TV series)
The Dead Zone, aka Stephen King's Dead Zone is an American-Canadian science fiction/suspense series starring Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith, who discovers he has developed psychic abilities after a coma...
. Ludwig obtained his leading role in The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) after a "gruelling audition process." By his count, he had 16 auditions before finally being cast.
Alexander Ludwig's next lead role came in the part of Seth — one half of a teenage, alien brother-sister duo — in the film production of Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film and a remake of the original 1975 fantasy film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key...
(2009), also starring Dwayne Johnson, the professional wrestler turned actor. Seth is the part originated by Ike Eisenmann
Ike Eisenmann
Ike Eisenmann is an American actor, voice actor, producer, and sound-effects specialist who has been active in the entertainment industry since he was a preteen.-Career:...
in the 1975 original, Escape to Witch Mountain
Escape to Witch Mountain
Escape to Witch Mountain is a science fiction novel written by Alexander Key in 1968. It was adapted into a film of the same name by Walt Disney Productions in 1975, directed by John Hough. A remake directed by Peter Rader was released in 1995...
. The film opened at number 1 at the box office the weekend that it premiered with receipts estimated at $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
25 million. Whereas the casting process for The Seeker had been arduous, getting the part for Witch Mountain was relatively painless. From the moment Ludwig auditioned, the director knew that he was the actor he wanted for the role of Seth.
He is confirmed to play Cato in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games (film)
The Hunger Games is an upcoming science fiction action drama film directed by Gary Ross and is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth...
. The film is set to be released on March 23, 2012 in the US.
Personal life
Alexander Ludwig was born in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He is the oldest of four siblings that include twin siblings, two years younger, and a sister, three years younger than Ludwig. His father, Harald, is a businessman, and his mother, Sharlene, a former actress. The actor was drawn to the profession, saying in an interview, "I have a big imagination. I love performing." Yet, despite his mother's early career as an actress, Ludwig had to convince his parents to support his desire to pursue a career as a child actor. His parents believed that child actors "can get sucked into a life that isn't reality."
Despite his early casting success with The Seeker, Ludwig indicated in a contemporaneous interview that it was his intention to attend university. In another interview, the actor said that the most challenging thing about filming The Seeker was trying "to juggle school while filming. My school wasn't used to it, and I wasn't used to it. It was the most amazing experience, but it was really hard." Ludwig is currently enrolled as a theatre major at the University of Southern California. Ludwig currently lives full time in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Air Bud World Pup | Cameo | Uncredited |
| 2003 | Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular | Jimmy(voice) | |
| 2005 | Scary Godmother: The Revenge Of Jimmy Scary Godmother: The Revenge Of Jimmy Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy is a 2005 animated film starring Tabitha St. Germain, Britt McKillip, Alexander Ludwig, Brittney Irvin, Gary Chalk, and Dexter Bell... |
Jimmy (voice) | |
| Eve and the Fire Horse | Boy #2 Kevin | ||
| 2006 | A Little Thing Called Murder | Young Kenny Kimes | |
| 2007 | The Sandlot: Heading Home The Sandlot: Heading Home The Sandlot: Heading Home is the second direct-to-video sequel to the 1993 theatrical film The Sandlot and the first direct-to-video sequel The Sandlot 2. It was released straight to DVD on May 1, 2007... |
E.J. | direct-to-DVD |
| The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising | Will Stanton/Tom Stanton | Released on October 5, 2007 | |
| 2009 | Race to Witch Mountain Race to Witch Mountain Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film and a remake of the original 1975 fantasy film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key... |
Seth | Main Role |
| 2012 | The Hunger Games (film) The Hunger Games (film) The Hunger Games is an upcoming science fiction action drama film directed by Gary Ross and is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth... |
Cato | Release date: March 23, 2012 |
| 2012 | The Ring 3D | Unknown Rumored | |
| Guest Appearances | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Harry Potter Commercial | Cameo | Uncredited |
| 2003 | MXP: Most Xtreme Primate | Child in airport | |
| Self Appearances | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer... |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 2009 | The Bonnie Hunt Show The Bonnie Hunt Show The Bonnie Hunt Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted by Bonnie Hunt. It premiered on September 8, 2008. It is the second show featuring Bonnie Hunt to have that title. The first was a sitcom that ran for one season in 1995 and was retitled Bonnie when it returned after a mid-season hiatus... |
||
| Leo Little's Big Show Leo Little's Big Show Leo Little's Big Show is a Disney Channel short television series featuring a boy named Leo Little and his sister, Amy Little , who host a show from their family room about Disney stars, movies and programs, in a manner very similar to its predecessor, Mike's Super Short Show... |
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External links
- alexanderludwig.com - Alexander Ludwig Official Website