(born 8 December 1976) is a British actor. He has received international attention from playing Merry in Peter Jackson's adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and for his role as Charlie Pace on the television show Lost. He also portrayed the character Dr. Simon Campos on FlashForward.
Early life
Monaghan was born in Berlin, Germany, to British parents: Maureen, a nurse, and Austin Monaghan, a science teacher. Monaghan has a brother, Matthew, who is a year older, and is a teacher, singer and musician. Monaghan's family lived in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, and Münster, moving about every four years. When he was about 11 years old, his family moved from Germany to Heaton Moor in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and later to Manchester. Monaghan's first language is English, but he also speaks some German and is well known for his ability to impersonate others and replicate accents. His earlier ancestors may well have come from the Irish midlands, possibly County Longford or Roscommon. Bernard is his maternal grandfather's name, and Patrick his paternal grandfather's name, the later being evidence of his possible Irish heritage. He chose Luke as his confirmation name after one of the characters from Star Wars, his favourite movie, which was also one of his inspirations for becoming an actor. He attended St Anne's Roman Catholic High School (where his uncle taught and later became head teacher) and Aquinas College, where he studied English literature, drama and geography.
Career
Although Dominic held many occupations when he was younger, he always wanted to be an actor. After his second year at St. Anne's, Monaghan became a regular in school plays such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Bugsy Malone before joining Manchester Youth Theatre. There, he was scouted for Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, on which he played Hetty's under-aged sidekick, Geoffrey Shawcross, for four seasons. He made his feature film debut as Russian sailor Sasha in TV film Hostile Waters.
Monaghan narrated Ringers: Lord of the Fans, a documentary about Lord of the Rings fandom. He also provided the narration for The Discovery Channel's documentary Devil's Bible in 2008.
He was a regular cast member on the hit ABC series Lost playing a drug addict-rock star named Charlie Pace. He continued to guest star on the show occasionally.
On 15 July 2009 it was confirmed that he would join the cast of ABC Studios' science fiction television series FlashForward as the character Simon. The series premiered on 24 September 2009.It was canceled after its first season. On 18 March 2010 Monaghan was spotted at the Universal Sheraton filming a short called Gloria. It was part of a program called REESES Puff's Extraordinary Cinema (Where the teens replace the pros). He played the part of Caleb Reese. The short has wrapped and can be viewed online at http://www.fresh-films.com/springprogram.htm]] Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan play a couple in the video Love the Way You Lie song by Eminem. Scenes include the celebrities on top of a liquor store. Fox and Monaghan also filmed inside the store and "at a seedy dive bar next door" to the store.
Personal life
Monaghan is a nature lover, and has been active in the planting of trees, cacti, and the pod-seeds of mature hedge-row bushes. He owns a small forest in India, and has worked with the animal rights group PETA.Despite his involvement with PETA, Monaghan is not a vegetarian. Monaghan has a great love for insects and reptiles that he developed during his childhood, and has kept an assortment of pets.
An avid outdoorsman, Dominic enjoys activities such as surfing, kayaking, snowboarding, football, basketball, and hiking. He has also stated that he likes hunting for insects and reptiles outdoors. He learned karate as a child, practices yoga, and often goes to the gym for strength and weight training. He is a long time supporter and fan of Manchester United.
Dominic loves to play various games, and has hosted game nights for fellow cast members in the past. He is also fond of working the New York Times crossword puzzle.
On his right arm he has a tattoo of the English word "nine" written in Quenya-mode Tengwar, a reference to his involvement in the Lord of the Rings and the fact that his character was one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring. Seven other cast members and one of the stunt doubles (John Rhys-Davies' stunt double) also got matching tattoos during the film's production, at Dominic's instigation. Below that tattoo is another that reads, "Life imitates art", an Oscar Wilde quote. On his left arm is a tattoo, "Living is easy with eyes closed", a line from The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever". He also has two stars tattooed on his left foot, one black, and one white.
He resides in the Los Angeles, California area. In 2008 Monaghan held a photographic exhibit in Los Angeles in which he sold prints of his own works. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibit were given to an orangutan rescue organization.
He has been dating his Lost co-star Evangeline Lilly since 2004, ending for a short time in 2007, but reunited in 2009.
In June 2008 Monaghan traveled to Argentina with Lilly to film the pilot of the American version of CQC, (a successful television programme in more than five countries). The two are frequently seen together in Vancouver, where she has a home.
He has long been working on a script with LOTR co-star and good friend Billy Boyd.Dominic provided the inspiration for the naming of Boyd's band Beecake after he sent his friend a picture of a cake covered in bees.
Filmography
Films
Year Film Role Notes
1997 Hostile Waters Sasha TV film
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Meriadoc Brandybuck
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Meriadoc Brandybuck
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Meriadoc Brandybuck Screen Actors Guild Award win
An Insomniac's Nightmare Jack
2004 Spivs Goat
The Purifiers Sol
2005 Ringers: Lord of the Fans Narrator
Shooting Livien Owen Scott
2008 I Sell The Dead Arthur Blake
2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Chris Bradley / Bolt
2010 Soldiers of Fortune Sid post-production
2011 Pet Seth in production
Television
Year Series Role Notes
1996–1998 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Geoffrey Shawcross Main cast member.
2000 This is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper Jimmy Furey
Monsignor Renard Etienne Pierre Rollinger
2004–2010 Lost Charlie Pace Main cast member 2004 - 2007
Recurring special guest star 2008 and 2010.
Screen Actors Guild Award win; 65 episodes
2008 MADtv Himself Aired April 26, 2008
2008 CQC Himself June 23, 2008. In CQC Argentina with Evangeline Lilly
2009 Chuck Tyler Martin One episode - Chuck Versus the Third Dimension
2009–2010 FlashForward Dr. Simon Campos Main cast member
Music Videos
Year Artist Song
2010 Eminem featuring Rihanna Love the Way You Lie
(Source:wikipdia)
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