One of the most beloved and charming stars of his generation, Jason Momoa is an American actor, producer, director, and environmental advocate known for his commanding screen presence and roles like Conan the Barbarian, Khal Drogo, Aquaman and Duncan Idaho. He rose from modeling to starring in films like Aquaman and TV series like Game of Thrones.
Early Life
Jason Momoa, born Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii, is the only child of Coni Lemke, a photographer, and Joseph Momoa, a painter. His father is of Native Hawaiian and Samoan descent, while his mother has German, Irish, and Pawnee ancestry. His parents divorced when he was six months old, and he moved with his mother to Norwalk, Iowa, where he spent his childhood. He visited Hawaii during summers to connect with his father and extended family, fostering a strong tie to his Polynesian roots. His shark tooth tattoo on his left forearm reflects his Hawaiian family’s guardian, the shark, believed to protect him in water.
His early years included outdoor activities like rock climbing, introduced by his mother at Custer State Park in South Dakota. He became the youngest lifeguard in Gulf Coast history during his teens.
Momoa attended Norwalk High School in Iowa, where he played soccer alongside future actor Brandon Routh. After graduating, he studied marine biology at a community college in Des Moines, Iowa, and later transferred to Colorado State University, switching his major to wildlife biology. He also enrolled at the University of Hawaii to reconnect with his heritage but left to pursue modeling and acting. His education blended academic pursuits with extensive travel, including time in Paris learning pastel painting and in Tibet exploring Buddhism.
Jason Momoa On Screen
In 1998, international fashion designer Takeo Kobayashi discovered Momoa while he worked part-time in a Honolulu surf shop. He won Hawaii’s Model of the Year in 1999 and walked the runway for Louis Vuitton. At 19, he auditioned for Baywatch: Hawaii (1999–2001), beating 1,300 actors for the role of Jason Ioane. This marked his acting debut.
After the series ended, he traveled globally before moving to Los Angeles in 2001 to pursue acting. He landed roles in Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003) and North Shore (2004), followed by a breakout as Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis (2005), which gained a cult following.
Jason Momoa made his film debut with Christopher Erskin’s road comedy “Johnson Family Vacation.” His breakout role came in 2011 when he played the Dothraki lord Khal Drogo in HBO’s Game of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin’s fantasy series “The Song of Ice and Fire.” His iconic Haka Dance audition impressed producers, securing the role. His Khal Drogo became one of the most iconic and beloved characters in the history of TV. The role made him a household name across the world.
The same year Momoa starred as the warrior Conan in the reboot of the 1982 film “Conan the Barbarian (2011),” directed by Marcus Nispel. His intense physicality, martial arts training and effortless charm made the role memorable.
Jason Momoa The Super Hero
Momoa directed, co-wrote, and starred as Wolf in the drama thriller Road to Paloma (2014). Premiering at the Sarasota Film Festival, it focused on the Native American themes. The film had a limited release but earned critical praise for its authenticity. In this period he also acted in films like Bullet to the Head (2012), Debug (2014), Wolves (2014), and Sugar Mountain (2016). He also did the TV series The Red Road (2014) and Frontier (2016).
In 2016 Jason Momoa was introduced as the DC superhero Aquaman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, directed by Zack Snyder. He reprised the role in 2017’s Justice League. His standalone film, Aquaman, directed by James Wan, came in 2018. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide and highlighted his charisma and physical prowess, becoming his career-defining role. He also gave the voice to Aquaman in the animated movie The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). In 2021 came “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” the long-awaited version of Justice League.
Momoa reprised his role of Arthur Curry and got a cool introduction scene, which the previous film lacked. He again played Arthur Curry in The Flash (2023) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).
Continuing Success
In 2018, Jason Momoa produced and starred in Lin Oeding’s action thriller Braven. Momoa played Duncan Idaho in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune (2021). Momoa delivered a stoic yet loyal performance. The film received critical acclaim for its visuals and ensemble cast.
Momoa’s next was the fantasy adventure “Slumberland (2022),” directed by Francis Lawrence. He co-wrote and produced the American Western “The Last Manhunt,” directed by Christian Camargo. Momoa portrayed villain Dante Reyes in the action franchise Fast X (2023). His flamboyant performance added flair to the series, which grossed $704 million globally. More recently he played Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison in A Minecraft Movie (2025), which he also produced.
One of his most memorable roles came in the science fiction drama series “See (2019), “produced for Apple TV+. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. In this world people have lost the ability to see, and the power of sight is considered to be a myth. He also starred in the Apple TV+ historical drama Chief of War (2025).
Personal Life and Advocacy
Jason Momoa trained in classical ballet before a foot injury shifted his focus to modeling and acting. On November 15, 2008, Momoa was attacked with a broken beer glass at a Hollywood café, requiring 140 stitches and reconstructive surgery, leaving a scar on his left eyebrow. The scar became a signature feature. Momoa is an avid practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was also named UNEP Advocate for Life Below Water in 2024. He founded Mananalu, a sustainable water company, to reduce plastic pollution.
Jason Momoa dated actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon from 1999 to 2005, with an engagement in 2004.
He began dating actress Lisa Bonet in 2005, after meeting through mutual friends. Lisa was his teenage crush. They welcomed daughter Lola Iolani in 2007 and son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha in 2008. The couple married in October 2017, though they often referred to each other as spouses earlier. They announced their separation in January 2022, with Bonet filing for divorce in January 2024, finalized the next day. They co-parent their children and maintain a respectful relationship.
He began dating actress Adria Arjona in 2024. He is an animal lover, owning a pet pig, half-wolves, a dog, and a python with Bonet.
Jason Momoa on IMDB
