Alexander Ludwig

A young Canadian actor, Alexander Ludwig landed the starring role of Will Stanton, a 14-year-old who discovers he is the last hope to save the world in the fantasy adventure "The Seeker: The Dark is Rising" (2007). A moderate hit, the film positioned Ludwig as a rising star, although he maintained his dedication to finishing his college degree.

Still, he managed to juggle his schoolwork with his acting career, starring opposite AnnaSophia Robb as a pair of psychically gifted alien twins who team up with goofy cabbie Dwayne Johnson in the big-budget Disney remake "Race to Witch Mountain" (2009). His profile received yet another massive boost when he was cast in "The Hunger Games" (2012) as Cato, the most vicious entrant in the titular fight-to-the-death showdown alongside archer extraordinaire Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence).

Tapped to become the world's next blockbuster franchise, the film shattered pre-sale records and earned excellent reviews. Positioned to ascend to even higher Hollywood echelons, Alexander Ludwig impressed with his levelheaded approach to his meteoric rise.

Born May 7, 1992 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Alexander Richard Ludwig was the son of a Harald Horst Ludwig, a businessman, and Sharlene Martin, a former actress best known for her role in "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan" (1989).

Despite his parents' reservations, he launched his entertainment career by landing a Harry Potter toy commercial at the age of nine. Ludwig went on to lens minor roles in forgettable fare like "Air Bud 3" (2001) and "MXP: Most Xtreme Primate" (2004) before ascending to more substantial supporting turns in the Judy Davis drama "A Little Thing Called Murder" (Lifetime, 2006) and the direct-to-DVD sequel "The Sandlot: Heading Home" (2007).

Ludwig shot even higher up the Hollywood ladder when he landed the lead role in the movie adaptation of the classic Susan Cooper young adult fantasy "The Seeker: The Dark is Rising" (2007). As Will Stanton, the seventh son of a seventh son, Ludwig made a convincing hero just discovering his special powers in the special effects-heavy adventure.

Despite his increasing professional momentum, however, Ludwig enrolled at the University of Southern California to study acting and filmmaking and repeatedly discussed in interviews his unwavering desire to complete school. He earned another high-profile in a fantasy project when he was cast opposite AnnaSophia Robb as Seth and Sara, two alien twins with supernatural powers who enlist a cab driver (Dwayne Johnson) to help them "Race to Witch Mountain" (2009) in the popular remake of the classic Disney film.

Ludwig made even bigger headlines when it was announced Ludwig had landed the meaty supporting role of Cato, the most dangerous and bloodthirsty of the teenage tributes forced to fight it out to the death in "The Hunger Games" (2012).

Based on the acclaimed trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the film told the story of a futuristic society that annually subjects 24 young women and men to a gruesome reality show where only one survives. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as heroine Katniss Everdeen, the film became a global blockbuster. Ludwig followed this big-screen triumph with smaller roles in the war drama "Lone Survivor" (2013) and the Adam Sandler comedy "Grown Ups 2" (2012) before co-starring on the TV historical drama "Vikings" (History 2013- ).

By Jonathan Riggs