Jason Momoa (born August 1, 1979) is an American actor and filmmaker known for turning big, physical roles into surprisingly grounded characters. Many viewers first noticed him on TV, but his global breakout came through franchise-scale work where he blended intensity with humor and a distinctly personal sense of identity.
Across his career, Momoa has moved between fantasy, sci-fi, and action, with standout visibility as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones, Aquaman in DC films, and Baba Voss on Apple TV+’s See. He has also leaned into projects tied to heritage and place, including Chief of War, a historical drama that centers Hawaiian history and features Momoa in a lead role and major creative capacity behind the camera.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa |
| Profession: | Actor, filmmaker, producer |
| Born: | August 1, 1979 |
| Age: | 46 (as of early 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Aquaman in DC films, Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones, Ronon Dex on Stargate Atlantis, Baba Voss on See |
| Notable Films: | Aquaman; Dune; Fast X; Slumberland; A Minecraft Movie |
| Awards: | CinemaCon Awards (Male Rising Star); Film Independent Spirit Awards (Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series) |
| Zodiac Sign: | Leo |
| Relationship: | Divorced (Lisa Bonet, married 2017; divorced 2024) |
| Years Active: | 1999 to present |
Early Life & Education
Jason Momoa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is the only child of a photographer mother and a painter father. After his parents divorced, he was raised in Norwalk, Iowa, which gave him a very different day-to-day background than the entertainment world he would later enter.
He graduated from Norwalk High School and later attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Long before he became known for action roles, he developed a real interest in physical outdoor pursuits, including rock climbing, which he has connected to the focus and problem-solving that come with challenging work.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Momoa’s screen career began with a long run on Baywatch: Hawaii, followed by steady TV work that built his profile over time. A major step up came when he joined Stargate Atlantis as Ronon Dex, a role that put him into a durable sci-fi franchise and helped define his early action-forward screen presence.
His mainstream breakthrough arrived with Game of Thrones, where he played Khal Drogo and became a global name. From there, he expanded into big studio films and franchise storytelling, most notably as Aquaman across multiple DC movies, while also leading high-visibility streaming projects like Apple TV+’s See and the historical drama Chief of War. Alongside acting, he has taken on meaningful behind-the-camera roles, including directing and producing work that ties closely to identity, place, and personal creative interests.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Baywatch: Hawaii (1999 to 2001)
- Stargate Atlantis (2005 to 2009)
- Game of Thrones (2011 to 2012)
- Frontier (2016 to 2018)
- Aquaman (2018)
- See (2019 to 2022)
- Dune (2021)
- Slumberland (2022)
- Fast X (2023)
- Chief of War (2025)
Major recognition
- CinemaCon Awards: Male Rising Star (won), tied to early major visibility across Conan the Barbarian and Game of Thrones
- Global breakout as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones, followed by long-running franchise visibility as Aquaman in DC films
- Lead roles anchoring streaming-era series, including See and Chief of War
- Major studio film presence beyond superhero work, including Dune and Fast X
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | CinemaCon Awards | Male Rising Star | Conan the Barbarian and Game of Thrones | Won |
| 2019 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Kiss (shared with Amber Heard) | Aquaman | Nominated |
| 2019 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie Actor | Aquaman | Nominated |
| 2024 | Critics’ Choice Super Awards | Best Villain in a Movie | Fast X | Nominated |
| 2026 | Film Independent Spirit Awards | Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series | Chief of War | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 to 2001 | Baywatch: Hawaii | TV | Main cast role as Jason Ioane. |
| 2005 to 2009 | Stargate Atlantis | TV | Main role as Ronon Dex. |
| 2011 to 2012 | Game of Thrones | TV | Breakout visibility as Khal Drogo. |
| 2016 to 2018 | Frontier | TV | Lead role as Declan Harp (also executive producer). |
| 2018 | Aquaman | Film | Lead role as Arthur Curry / Aquaman. |
| 2019 to 2022 | See | TV | Lead role as Baba Voss. |
| 2021 | Dune | Film | Played Duncan Idaho. |
| 2022 | Slumberland | Film | Starred as Flip. |
| 2023 | Fast X | Film | Played villain Dante Reyes. |
| 2025 | A Minecraft Movie | Film | Played Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (also producer). |
| 2025 | Chief of War | TV | Lead role as Kaʻiana (also co-creator, writer, executive producer). |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (public estimates) | Public estimates vary widely. Momoa has not published a verified personal net worth figure, and reliable itemized documentation is limited. |
| Income Sources | Film and TV acting, producer and creative roles on select projects, plus brand work tied to entertainment and lifestyle. |
| Business & Causes | He has publicly tied his platform to sustainability and anti-plastic messaging, including work connected to his Mananalu water brand. |
| Lifestyle | Often associated with outdoor training and functional fitness, including rock climbing, alongside physically demanding action-role preparation. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Official account: @prideofgypsies. Follower counts change over time. | |
| X (Twitter) | Handle claims are common and impersonation is frequent. Treat any “official” X profile carefully and verify via cross-links from verified sources. |
| Many fan pages and groups exist. Verification can be unclear, so confirm before treating any page as official. | |
| YouTube | Most major video content appears via studios and platforms (trailers, interviews, and official show channels). |
| IMDb | Filmography reference: IMDb profile. |
| Apple TV+ | Chief of War series page. |
| Business | Mananalu sustainability brand site: mananalu.boomerangwater.com. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: Many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist across platforms. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Jason Momoa, and links or usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He was raised in Norwalk, Iowa after being born in Honolulu, and has spoken about having a split sense of home between Hawaii and the mainland.
- He performed a haka as part of his audition approach for Khal Drogo, a choice that became a widely shared story after the show’s success.
- He has a visible scar near his left eyebrow from a 2008 incident that required extensive stitches and reconstructive surgery.
- He has publicly participated in protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, a site considered sacred by many Native Hawaiians.
- He has connected parts of his public work to reducing single-use plastic and supporting sustainability messaging.
Quotes
“The first time I did it, they were very scared.”
— Jason Momoa on using a haka-style approach in his early Khal Drogo audition story
“I found it better for myself to train for things that I love.”
— Jason Momoa on fitness motivation, via a Men’s Health feature
“My destiny.”
— Jason Momoa on Chief of War, in a People feature headline
“Born to do it.”
— Jason Momoa on playing Lobo, in an Entertainment Weekly feature headline
“I started Mananalu to give people the option not to use single-use plastic.”
— Jason Momoa, sustainability message shared via Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Jason Momoa’s age?
A: He is 46 years old as of early 2026 (born August 1, 1979).
Q: What is Jason Momoa best known for?
A: He is widely known for Aquaman in DC films, Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones, and major TV leads like See.
Q: Where is Jason Momoa from?
A: He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was raised in Norwalk, Iowa.
Q: Is Jason Momoa married?
A: He was married to Lisa Bonet (married 2017; divorced 2024) and they share two children.
Q: What are some of his most recent major projects?
A: Recent headline work includes Fast X, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and the Apple TV+ series Chief of War.
Upcoming Projects
- Supergirl (June 26, 2026) – Cast as Lobo in the DCU feature release.
- Street Fighter (in development) – Listed for the role of Blanka in an upcoming film project.
- Dune: Part Three (in development) – Listed to return as Duncan Idaho.
- Animal Friends (post-production) – Voice role listed as “Bear.”
- Helldivers (Nov 10, 2027) – Set to star in Sony’s feature adaptation directed by Justin Lin.
Interviews & Features
- Time, “Game of Thrones‘ Jason Momoa Tells the Origin Story Behind His Viral Audition” (Jan 20, 2017) , a detailed recap of how he used a haka-style performance choice to shape his early Khal Drogo audition narrative.
- Men’s Health, “Jason Momoa Shares a Look at His Climbing Gym Workout” (Oct 11, 2021) , a fitness feature focused on climbing-based training and why he prefers training that feels like a real hobby.
- Apple TV+ Press Release, “Apple TV+ debuts trailer for Chief of War” (Jul 10, 2025) , the official platform announcement outlining the show’s release plan and positioning as an epic historical drama.
- People, “Jason Momoa Premieres Chief of War in Native Hawaii…” (exclusive) , a feature tying the series to his career timeline and the personal stakes he attaches to the project.
- Entertainment Weekly, “Jason Momoa teases his Lobo casting in Supergirl: ‘Born to do it'” (exclusive) , a light, candid piece about taking on Lobo and why the character fits his persona and screen energy.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- San Diego Comic-Con International (July 2018): Appeared for Aquaman programming at SDCC (the hero photo in this post is from that event).
- Chief of War premiere event in Hawaii (reported in coverage): A premiere tied to the show’s Hawaii focus and his personal connection to the islands.
- The Wrecking Crew world premiere (Jan 15, 2026): A New York City premiere event listed ahead of its Prime Video release.
