Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Karl Urban now lives in Auckland. Born on June 7, 1972, he is the son of a leather goods manufacturer (who had hoped hoped that Karl would follow in his footsteps). His first acting role was when he was 8 -- he had a line on a television show. However, he did not act again until after high school, throughout his school years, he wrote, directed and starred in many film and stage productions. He was offered a role in the NZ drama "Shortland Street" (1992), as he was preparing to attend Victoria University. After appearing on the show for the 1993-1994 season, he postponed his university studies to further pursue his acting career, training and working throughout Australasia in theatre and film.

Over the next few years, he landed several theater roles in the Wellington area. Eventually, he moved to Auckland where a number of guest roles in NZ television followed. One of his first roles was that of a heroin addict in the drama "Shark In the Park" (1989). Urban's feature film debut was in Heaven, starring Martin Donovan and Richard Schiff. Also was on a movie, entitled Once in Chunuck Bay (AKA Chunuk Bair (1992). Other television roles followed, including a guest starring role in the series "White Fang" (1993).

Karl Urban has played several roles in XENA. He first appeared in Altared States as the conniving Maell, who fell to a watery death after plotting to kill his brother Icus. Karl next appeared in Destiny as Julius Caesar, his main role on the show. Caesar also appeared in The Deliverer, When in Rome, A Good Day and Ides of March. Karl has also appeared in XENA and HERCULES as Cupid. The episode A Comedy of Eros saw this character appear on Xena. Karl returns again in S5`s Lifeblood, in a role he filmed for the unseen pilot show, Amazon High. He made one final return in S6 in th classic episode, When Fates Collide.

Karl appears in the NZ movie The Price of Milk (2000) with Danielle Cormack. He has the role of Eomer in The Lord of the Rings, shot in New Zealand and this has catapaulted him to stardom. He appeared in the horror movie Ghost Ship and is lined up for the next Pitch Black movie with Vin Diesel and Judi Dench, and in the follow up to The Bourne Identity with Matt Damon.