Kellan Lutz

Kellan Christopher Lutz (born March 15, 1985) is an American fashion model and actor. He is best known for playing Emmett Cullen in The Twilight Saga film series (2008â€"2012). Lutz has since played Poseidon in the 2011 film Immortals, Tarzan in the 2013 animated film Tarzan and Hercules in the 2014 film The Legend of Hercules.

Early life

Lutz was born on March 15, 1985 in Dickinson, North Dakota, the son of Karla (nÃ©e Theesfeld) and Bradley Lutz. He has one sister and six brothers. Both of his grandfathers were of German ancestry, while his paternal grandmother was of German and English ancestry and his maternal grandmother is of English and German ancestry. Lutz grew up in the Midwest and Arizona, and graduated from Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, before deciding to pursue an acting career. He attended Chapman University to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.

Career

Lutz has acted on a number of television shows. He had recurring roles on Model Citizens (2004) and The Comeback (2005), and smaller roles in episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful, CSI: NY, Summerland, Six Feet Under, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Heroes. He was also in the films Stick It (2006), Accepted (2006), and Prom Night (2008). Additionally, Lutz has performed on the California stage and was the host of Bravo's Blow Out. He also appeared in the 2006 commercial for Hilary Duff's fragrance With Love... Hilary Duff, and in the 2007 music video for her single, "With Love". In 2008, he appeared in another music video, Hinder's "Without You". In the same year, Lutz also appeared in the miniseries Generation Kill, based on the book by Evan Wright and had a starring role in the film Deep Winter.

Lutz's big break came when he played Emmett Cullen in the film adaptations of the Twilight (2008) saga by Stephenie Meyer and reprised his role for the sequel, The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009). He also appeared as George Evans in the 90210 spinoff (2009) on The CW. Lutz also appeared the 2010 remake A Nightmare on Elm Street as Dean, "a well-liked, well-off high school jock", in April 2010. He reprised his role as Emmet Cullen in the third installment of the Twilight saga, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010). He appeared as the feisty Poseidon, God of the Sea in Immortals (2011). Lutz reunited with his Twilight co-star and close friend, Ashley Greene, in the film A Warrior's Heart (2011). He was considered for the lead role in Conan the Barbarian (2011), but eventually lost out to Jason Momoa. He also reunited with his Immortals co-star Mickey Rourke in the action film Java Heat (2013), which was in Indonesia. In 2012, Lutz was one of the candidates for the lead role in the film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, a role that ultimately went to Jeremy Renner. Lutz starred in the epic The Legend of Hercules (2014), but the film was a critical and commercial failure.

Lutz is signed with Ford Models. He is one of the models featured in the 2010 Calvin Klein X underwear campaign.

In 2012, Lutz made a special guest appearance on the TV Show 30 Rock, as himself, where he pretended to be related to the character J.D. Lutz, who is played by actor John Lutz.

Charity work

Lutz supports the animal charity PETA and stars in a video supporting the adoption of animals instead of buying them. He is also a supporter of West African primate conservation charity Ape Action Africa, and used the Dublin premiere of the film Tarzan to raise funds for the charity's work to save endangered gorillas and chimpanzees.

He is also a supporter of rebuilding efforts in New Orleans, in particular with the St. Bernard Project.

Lutz endorsed the documentary film The Paw Project, which focuses on the declawing of exotic and domesticated cats in America.

Personal life

Lutz enjoys numerous outdoors and fitness activities. He also has a passion for horror films, and prefers to perform his own stunts when making films. Alike when filming the Twlight Saga, he didn't have a stunt double. Lutz is a devout Christian.

Relationships

Lutz was in a relationship with actress Kayla Ewell from September 2006 to July 2008. He dated 90210 co-star AnnaLynne McCord on and off from January 2009 to May 2011.

In August 2011, Lutz began dating Australian actress Sharni Vinson. They split up in May 2013 after almost two years of dating.