Why Did It Take Us So Long To Appreciate Karl Urban?

It's no doubt that Amazon's The Boys has put Karl Urban in the spotlight once again, but he's been dominating roles for several decades. Starring in storied franchises like Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Thor, Karl Urban has the ability to inhabit any character he takes on. Which is to say, even though he's been working steadily for decades, we still think Karl Urban should be bigger. Perhaps his turn as Billy Butcher in The Boys will continue to push him to new heights after it ends with it's next season.
#karlurban #theboys #billybutcher #theboysamazon
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[@Schlabbeflicker]

Karl Urban plays a character in every movie he's in. Dwayne Johnson plays Dwayne Johnson in every movie he's in.

[@Fe22234]

Except Pain and Gain

[@dungww2006]

dwayne did play a villain in Doom who coincidentally fought against karl's character

[@BlazingOwnager]

@@dungww2006 I was going to say that. He's one of the only actors in The Rock's entire career that ever was allowed to kick his ass on camera. Honestly Johnson has such a huge ego he probably hates Urban for it.

[@Bampiss]

Butcher is the first time i love his acting. So point aint valid. You can say that to the rock / liam neeson / jason statham. Those mtfkr is a non dimensional actor

[@BlazingOwnager]

@@Bampiss There's no accounting for taste. He killed it as Bones and Dredd.

[@janrnstrvra]

the scene where butcher talks to vogelbaum is one of my favorite scenes from the entire series so far. karl's acting from that scene is just fooking diabolical.

[@DashMatin]

OMLANDA

[@jamesbedwell4715]

*ANGRILY DRINKS TEA* 🇬🇧 🤛

[@RavenOnATree]

oi... ue...

[@Kwad_rat]

Actor who can modulate his voice and appearance. Rare gem. I would like a Dredd sequel, thank you very much

[@gunrock00]

As an English man though, his London mockney accent is so OTT, it took four seasons for me to get past it's ridiculousness.

[@Michael-hc2vs]

@@gunrock00thing is he can actually do a decent English accent. I have a feeling his butcher voice was done very purposefully since he’s such an over the top character

[@gunrock00]

@Michael-hc2vs yeah perhaps, the thing is, I've known Londoners who who on occasion, talk a fair amount like that ("well, what a sorry-looking bunch of c?nts you lot are...") but even they are purposely exaggerating the accent, the use of strong swear words, etc. for effect.

[@Atomik0468]

@@gunrock00 That's on purpose, the boys in its entirety is meant to be satire. everything in the show is supposed to be over the top

[@aksharaghav9657]

I started appreciating him since Dredd.

[@GoFidoGo]

Dredd was fantastic. Excellent direction and action. Tightly written. But Urban's acting was a foundation of it all.

[@dominiquepowell3158]

One of his best works

[@Ostnizdasht206]

I was just going to say.

[@bucknasty8597]

Dread is so fucking good. But I've liked him since doom and Bourne supremacy

[@nopenope1]

I did, too. Thinking about it, Bone or Bones? (different dubed here) was very good, too. I thougt it was the best part of that first movie, his performance, but I did not remember his name.

[@rouged3392]

His little head wobble and smirk he improvised in The Boys is the best part of him.

[@Bampiss]

True. Contra to homelander serious demenour. His playful yet sarcastic character especially facing homelamder f2f is bad ass. A human vs supes,yet no fear at all

[@zyourzgrandzmaz]

The boys sucks. If you've read the comics you'd throw up watching that pile of garbage

[@protogenxl]

He did Dredd in 2012 and never took the helmet off, did people not understand then?

[@Kurogane72]

Unfortunately no, because no one saw it

[@rodrigomachado5291]

@@Kurogane72only brainlets didn’t see it.

[@JackXombi]

Right!?

[@solarwinds9363]

I saw it in all its glorious 3D in a London theater. I loved it so much, I also bought the 3D DVD to show my husband but it didn't have the same effect unfortunately.

[@keelahrose]

We did; this video is on crack

[@David-nq8cv]

He's that amazing of an actor you don't see Karl but the characters he's performing

[@BetterWithBob]

I regularly forget that Billy Butcher isn't a real person because his performance is just that good.

[@birddog9002]

Exactly this I didn't even realize he was in some of those movies he played in until now

[@MikahTheMan]

He has that Johnny Depp effect where he’s able to look and appear completely different in whatever role he’s in. I definitely didn’t realize how many movies he’s been until watching The Boys and having to look him up cuz I’ve seen a majority of his movies

[@manubeez1708]

Better than jhonny

[@richle905]

I worked on more than one low/no budget project where Karl Urban worked for minimum rate. It would have been after Xena before Lord of the Rings hit theater. He seems to love genre movies so did anything but it also seemed like he did it because he wanted to help people get traction in the business. On set he was very easy going and no fuss. He created a lot of good will in the industry. I am not surprised by his success.

[@VickieannOglesby]

richie905..that is so sweet to hear this about him..I'm glad for his international success.

[@allisonnicole.]

He’s like a comic book character come to life

[@anyaguilar1595]

Who's gonna tell him

[@waanaabe-4795]

Ho no he's better. I don't much care for the drawing in that comic, but then a lot of super hero comics come out too "squarish"?

[@nessdagoat]

He’s up there in John Malkovich territory as a character actor. I didn’t realize he was in so many things I’ve watched

[@wrestlinginfodude2644]

After boys he will never be character ever again,he will be in leads roles only

[@youngmonkey2504]

@@wrestlinginfodude2644 I hope you’re right! Loved him since I saw Dredd then learned he played Eomer

[@justagent5844]

@@wrestlinginfodude2644 Almost Human was so great, really wish Fox hadn't PO'd the creator and we were able to get more than one season

[@DEATHKILLER510]

Carl Urban as Batman would be Dope

[@muotes]

Dredd was an incredible movie. It had that perfect gritty Neill Blomkamp aesthetic, super tight plot, amazing special effects. Seriously underrated. Probably my favorite english-language action film that's not centered around cars (sorry Fury Road)

[@tornadochaser2457]

I heard a rumor that Fury Road says "You'll pay for this!", so be careful! And perhaps be careful while watching Venom movies too.

[@dennisdavidov782]

One of my favorite actors, solid in every role he plays. Before The Boys he was also very good on the short-lived series Almost Human.

[@tutorialslave]

To this day, I can't get the interaction between him and his cyborg partner in the strip club out of my head. "Don't scan my balls, man!"

[@dahliaherrod4301]

I thought I was the only one who remembered that show. I was so mad when they canceled it.

[@kitlerfox]

Seconded. Loved him in that show. Glad to see others remember

[@faraxongaming]

Almost Human was way better then the Minority Report show that came out the next year.

[@alewiina]

I absolutely LOVE that show and I will be forever salty that they cancelled it. It was SO good.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

He was really good in the short-lived series 'Almost Human' as well. I was gutted when that got cancelled. It had so much potential.

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

Amazing actor. Always loved him. Dredd was good, man. He nailed McCoy on Star Trek. Urban as Butcher in the boys is great.

[@dylanc2516]

Karl Urban is a shape shifter! Ive seen so many movies with him and never realized it was the same person. Amazing actor!

[@robertprueter3292]

It's rare I get to say this, but I was pretty early on Karl Urban. First saw him as a kid in the Hercules/Xena roles (not that I picked him out at the time), but it was Lord of the Rings where I took note of him. Kept on eye on him ever since and he is the lone reason I am tempted to watch The Boys. Karl Urban is just that good, he can sell a show by himself.

[@EpicAnimeFights]

I remember a scene in LOTR extended edition when he finds Eowyn "dead" after the battle for Pelennor Fields. He drops his mask and sword, starts screaming and crying. This was the moment I knew he was extremely underrated and I was a bit sad they didn't show more of him in the movies. What a piece of acting, it is incredible. I'm glad he is getting the recognition he deserves.

[@vicoussoulja]

Geez I never realized I seen him in so many rolls until this video 😅😂. Almost Human showed me his talent 😎

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

exactly, you know they're a good actor when you didn't even recognize them most of the time

[@alewiina]

He was amazing in Almost Human and I am still mad that show got cancelled

[@muriaal]

​@@alewiina - me too 😔

[@justagent5844]

@@alewiina I often wish Fox hadn't meddled and upset the creator, so we would have gotten more than one season. It was so good!

[@benw4409]

He's in so many huge franchises but never a leading man (except Dredd and The Boys) and as a result can disappear into every role he has. Improves everything he's in.

[@anyamccullough2844]

I don't have a favorite role. However, I'm forever going to be sad that Almost Human didn't get more than 1 season and never got super well known. Even if he had better roles in his career as a whole, that one is super underrated imo ❤️

[@sentimentalhermit]

He was great as Dredd, never taking his helmet off. The way his McCoy in the Kelvin timeline Star Trek films instantly makes you think of DeForest Kelley also shows how well he can inhabit a character

[@Kurogane72]

Dredd is so seriously underrated in the action canon, people really needed to see that movie, it was so good.

[@Magdalena8008s]

Everyone from New Zealand is spectacular. Legitimately.

[@AlternativeElvis]

Thank you, though I ought to point out that everyone in NZ has been in Shortland Street, even me, and I’m not an actor!

[@waanaabe-4795]

Yeah, I'm discovering more and more of them. Like Canadians that pass for Americans, most people don't bother to look up where these guys come from; they pass for whatever accent they put on and no one's the wiser. I almost forgot that Anthony Starr/Homelander was also from NZ! But yeah, Karl Urban is SO NOT Butcher IRL, yet it seems effortless.

[@Fe22234]

There has to be at least 1 cunt on that island.

[@bibaolaitan5189]

​@@waanaabe-4795Anthony starr is brit not NZ.

[@waanaabe-4795]

@@bibaolaitan5189 Nope. Born and raised n Wellington NZ

[@Barbossa778]

Karl Urbana judge Dredd is criminally underrated. Not just his performance but the entire movie

[@michaelhemara]

As a New Zealander, I've known Karl to be a brilliant actor for some time. He's now sci-fi and fantasy royalty and deserves all the praise for bringing so much of these genres to life.

[@KimCarter]

FINALLY Karl gets his due. Shocked you didn’t mention Red. While I enjoyed him in ST and LOTR, it was Red that really made me sit up and take notice. That epic fight with Bruce Willis! Come on!

[@joonefps]

He played Detective John Kennex in a show called Almost Human, which was awesome. He got to show off his action and comedy chops simultaneously in that role. Such a shame they cancelled it after one season.

[@madlikechloe980]

He has been my dream cast for Batman for YEARS! I live Karl Urban!

[@JdeeGeekyGao]

Karl came to one of the cons in my city it was the first con in the new convention centre after our EQ's. He sat there and gave us a heart warming speech about how he proud he was of a NZ community pulling together to support each other and help our neighbors. He said that seeing something like the aftermath on the news of a city in his country going through that was heart breaking and sad but that we made him proud seeing the strength we showed after. It was surreal for me because I watched him on Shortland street, Hercules, Xena those were all on screen for me when I was a kid and I am so glad he is getting the recognition he deserves finally. Man is a true gem.

[@rockeyepunkcovers4921]

In 2006 he was in an amazing New Zealand film called Out of the Blue... that's probably my favorite thing he's done.

[@Deathstroke4200]

I'm still wanting Dredd 2! Karl Urban is an awesome actor can't wait to see him as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2.

[@jojijoestar7233]

Damn, I really thought they were going to get The Miz for it

[@iJoker88]

He’s one of my favorite actors. There was also a short lived series he lead back in 2013, “Almost Human”. I picked up that show because of him.

[@SweetLilWren]

I loved Karl Urban since he was in Ghost ship

[@Graavigala85]

oh feck havent heard of that movie in ages...

[@shaw5240]

and eating rotten worms

[@iamshaunsimpson]

Deep cut!! Wish that movie had lived up to its first 10 minutes

[@sojourndestination3031]

HE WAS IN GHOST SHIP!!? Okay I gotta watch it again because that movie is a hidden gem.

[@tdotwitz]

HE WAS IN GHOST SHIP?!!!! AS WHO?!!! 😂 wow!! This man is unrecognizable in his roles!! He really just becomes the character he plays!!

[@thescottishaccent]

Loved him for years! Also, best Judge Dredd we could possibly have had!

[@GamingLovesJohn]

Karl Urban is an amazing chameleon of an actor.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

i dont think we should call actors who can disappear into any role "chameleons" or "character actors"... they are just great actors... if you play the same role in every movie, or don't feel like a different character, (cough will smith), then you're just not a good actor. changing into a different character is the entirety of acting, not some special skill that some actors can do.

[@VickieannOglesby]

I agree

[@enthusiastech]

I've always appreciated him since watching a show called Almost Human in which he was the main character. It was an interesting concept, but unfortunately the show was canceled after one season.

[@domi_marshal]

This man had like 10 VASTLY different looks, and I had a crush on each and every one of them before I even knew it was all the same guy 😢 what a babe. And a great actor to boot

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

I'm glad I've been a fan since LOTR

[@Richard_Nickerson]

I'm genuinely shocked at how few comments mention LotR

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

@@Richard_Nickerson I could also bring up his 4 characters in Hercules and Xena, two highlights being Cupid and Caesar. Lol, not to mention Antony Starr (Homelander) playing the biblical David who kills Goliath.... somehow during the age of Caesar.... 😶

[@Richard_Nickerson]

@@GEMINIEARTHWALKER I only recently learned that he was multiple characters in the Hercules/Xena universe.

[@lancelange9377]

I've seen Doom about 40 times. I love it. He absolutely delivered as McCoy.

[@colbymclemore7642]

He will forever have my respect for refusing to remove the Dredd helmet for the sake of accuracy and pleasing fans over showing his face. That’s an actor.

[@sirwinsalot]

Karl urban has always been one of my underrated favourite actors so I'm glad the boys is what launched him into the mainstream, He's had some up and down movie's but never quite captured that crowd he always deserved.

[@Theguyfromvoid]

Almost Human is where I found him first and been a fan ever since.

[@SirSicCrusader]

I cant believe just how many of the films he's been in I have seen and I always noticed him, so I guess I'm an old fan of his at this point :0 and even billy butcher which has a big hint of that NZ accent, he's so much fun in the role I just don't care :D

[@SirGretz]

I’ve loved Karl on the screen since Doom. Glad he’s finally getting more recognition

[@angelromanflores2709]

maybe I'm early enough for you to see this I always love watching your content and i appreciate your work keep it up!

[@WereSquatch]

I always have, hes one of my Dads favorite actors. He actually only started watching the Boys because he knew he was in it

[@andrewelder2739]

First thing I saw him in was the Doom movie with Rock "The Dwayne" Johnson. I thought it was a decent actioner, but immediately thought Karl Urban was gonna be a big star. Glad to see how consistently he's been able to work, and in such a massive variety as well!

[@EricckkkMoneyyy7777]

I don't know if you mentioned Karl in the role as Bones in Star Trek, he did have good a bedside manner, I'm just saying hehe. Karl has always had a very dedication and range but mostly he's such a real ass good guy. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@nicholassmith8212]

I've always loved and appreciated Karl

[@duelieur9692]

The first time exposure of him was when he played Doctor M'coy in Star trek kelvin timeline remake. Didn't know he was in LOTR though. Seems He usually cast as supporting character, but now as butcher he nailed it.

[@ther3aper561]

I really started to notice him in Star Trek 2009 and have loved him since

[@BlazingOwnager]

I've been a fan of him since the 2009 Star Trek. He nailed Bones so entirely I was an instant fan.

[@slackstarfish8133]

He easily has the second best character and performance on the boys. You know who really is underrated though, Karen. She portrays so much emotion without even saying a word

[@HEATFAN1707]

His role in RED goes very under appreciated one of my favorite movies. They made 2 or 3 of them but the first was always the best as he made for the best antagonist

[@jennykra7350]

It was hilarious.

[@sutejasastra]

Wow, never knew he was in Xena and Hercules, as I grow up watching it and love Eomer part!

[@Johnny-xu7kb]

I had no idea who he was before The Boys, but looking through this - i have liked him in quite a number of roles without knowing :)

[@CrocodileWhispers]

My dad wouldnt shutup about his Bones performance. Love Urban

[@jobinthomas8887]

Him smiling while taking hits from homelander and translucent are always peak moments

[@WatPatat]

I've loved this man since I saw him in LOTR, it took too long but I'm happy he's being recognized finally. I loved Dredd, he was so great in it and he's great in Doom too

[@curtofilms4813]

I saw Karl Urban at a convention in Brisbane before he starred in The Boys. Only half full. If he came back today it be different experience. How it can all change because of 1 role 😊

[@nifferwolf]

When I saw the BTS of LOTR it was evident just how much he put in to his roles and what a genuine guy he was. Been rooting for him ever since. So sad Dredd didn't do well. My partner and I have been lamenting a Dredd sequel since we left the cinema.

[@twdodd439]

Does nobody remember his buddy cop tv show, "Almost Human"?? its a shame it only went 1 season. great premise and plot ideas, excellent world and character building, and funny af. it ended on a such a cliffhanger. damn, now i want to go watch them again.

[@dman6261]

I'm truly in love with this actor. Butcher's character is amazing

[@basickben]

I've watched over half these movies, Including Dredd (in recent yrs), didn't realize it was ever him... and I'm a pretty hardcore movie n tv buff, he truly is another chameleon of the industry 💪🏾😎

[@rinzler_d_vicky]

I started to watch The Boys because it has Carl Urban in it. I knew the show will be fun every moment he was on screen, and was delighted by the menacing Homelander playing as Anthony Star.

[@m4ur1r4g3]

I always liked him and was happy to spot him

[@xxjcd702]

one of the finest character actors of our time, absolutely love his work! what a legacy he'll leave behind

[@myxboxname8767]

I knew Butcher seemed familiar he was real good as Skurge

[@occiferkodi]

Dude. He’s inspired me to dream of one day when I grow up being just like Butcher

[@daoyang223]

Lots of actors went unnoticed until they got old. Antony Starr was in banshee until he became Homelander. Daniel Wu was in a bunch of Jackie Chan movies before he was noticed in AMCs Into the Badlands. And a few more to name: Javier Bardem Mads Mikkelsen Benedict Wong

[@Deviantygr]

IMHO Mark Strong is also criminally underrated.

[@daoyang223]

@@Deviantygr theres so many more i didnt name haha! Feel free to throw in more names

[@SCBiscuit13]

The way he is shot in The Boys and his presence of a big guy. Definitely a role of his career so far. I hope he gets some more recognition.

[@poundsofslothcigars]

wouldja kindly take the S outta Us bcuz I loved butcher from the jump and after that first season I went back and looked at his portfolio and loved most of it.

[@reecewheeler2041]

Karl Urban is one of those actors that can make me smile whenever he's on screen

[@alexblainelayter7703]

The quality of his films correlates with his state of undress. The better the film, the less likely it is that he's naked. But that really only means that all his films are very watchable. And at some point I even watched the Price of Milk. Karl has been one my favourite actors for years, he's such a gem. I love that he's such a geek and takes on films because he likes the franchise. And he always gives it his A game.

[@TheGoddon]

Every single performance of his pops out. Even the star trek ones.

[@dahliaherrod4301]

I have loved Karl Urban since Xena when he played Cupid. I remember him as Krill in Bourne and Eomer in LOTR. He's a fantastic actor and I'm so happy he's finally getting his just due.

[@shaynemerchant5013]

Exactly what I came here to say, I have appreciated him since Xena. But I remember him as Caeser better then Cupid. I think he played 3 different roles on Xena in the end.

[@dahliaherrod4301]

@@shaynemerchant5013 😂 I think all the actors did triple duty on those shows by the end except maybe the guy who played Iolaus. I preferred Karl as Cupid but that probably has more to do with the costume than anything 😏🤭

[@shaynemerchant5013]

@@dahliaherrod4301 even iolas did!! I think michael hurst is credited for 13 different character roles over the 2 shows lol

[@dahliaherrod4301]

@@shaynemerchant5013 Wait what?! See now I gotta go back and rewatch these shows. It's been 20 years

[@LautaroGalanCid]

His Billy Butcher is truly a masterpiece of interpretation.

[@capitalofcambrom]

It took me maybe 5 seconds to love Karl Urban when I first saw him as Lord Vaako in Chronicles of Riddick. He's great in basically everything!

[@DreadMerlot]

Oh YEAH! Urban is one of my favorite actors, alongside Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, and John Malkovich.

[@457mm.stalinium]

waiting for the day his buddy Karl Rural shows up ! They're gonna be diabolical !

[@CTEagleCeltic]

First time I notice Urban was in the Riddick sequel, dude looked like a video game character.

[@thepayne7862]

I've appreciated him ever since I first saw him playing Cupid in Hercules the Legendary journey.

[@kaylahemphill6725]

This is a bold compliment, but he reminds me of Lee Pace with the way that they both meld so much into their characters that you just don't realize it's them sometimes.

[@fluffybacon]

Karl Urban is a lot like Gary Oldman. Absolutely fantastic actor and I never realise it's him right away.

[@tonyk5927]

Always loved Karl Urban performances even way bfr The Boys

[@andymc96]

I liked him since pathfinder, but it was Star Trek that showed me what range he had.

[@diegodreossi1458]

I knew him in Star Trek, he is great

[@UnbeatensoldierMW]

He deserves more

[@joshuaperrine2019]

Glad people are finally agreeing with what I have been saying for about 15 years

[@johnpaulgonzaga5997]

Karl was also in Ghost Ship. This was before LOTR. Jeremy Jahns mentioned in his segment before that he'd be a really good Batman given his awesome performance as Dredd and I agree.

[@jesse2083]

I've been a fan of his since Xena Warrior Princess, severely under rayed for sure!

[@TigerLilyBlossom1]

He is great ! Definitely a big fan here!!

[@rookie1405]

I knew of him from the xena series. Didn’t even realise he was in those other things

[@RemixedVoice]

Karl = 10/10 Celebrity Crush

[@THEchiQ]

I think he’s about my age, and I remember his role on Shark in the Park, which featured some of the best acting talent in Aotearoa/NZ at the time.

[@citizensnips2348]

I was 12 or 13 when I saw him play Eomer in LOTR in the cinema. I said to myself, that guy will go far. I should have gotten into casting

[@bucciarati7766]

i been appreciating him since Xena!

[@cbpd89]

How could someone not appreciate this man? He is Eomer son of Eomund, rider of Rohan!