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The Calvin Klein Deal That Turned Travis Fimmel Into A Star

Photos from the Calvin Klein deal that catapulted Travis Fimmel’s career.
Australian Travis Fimmel pictured as the new male face of Calvin Klein in LondonAnthony Harvey via Getty Images

With only one season left on Vikings, fans are still left wondering if their beloved Ragnar – played by Travis Fimmel – would return. 

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This clamour for Travis to return on the small screen has got us thinking – what is it about the Aussie actor that’s so compelling? And what put Travis in the spotlight in the first place? Digging around his past work, we unearthed some pretty steamy stuff: Travis Fimmel’s Calvin Klein days. 

Yes, we have pics. You’re welcome.

RELATED: Does Travis Fimmel Have A Wife?

Who Is Travis Fimmel?

Travis Fimmel was born on July 15, 1979, in rural Echuca, Victoria. The country boy grew up milking cows for his family’s cattle farm and spent his free time fishing with his two older brothers. He had aspirations of playing Australian rules football as a teenager, but a broken leg pulled him away from an opportunity to play professionally. 

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Travis Fimmel’s model days began in the early 2000s, when he was scouted at a gym in Melbourne. He did a few modelling gigs in London, but it was in LA where he met and eventually scored a major deal with Calvin Klein.

Travis Fimmel pictured visiting the IWC booth
(Credit: Harold Cunningham via Getty Images)

Travis Fimmel’s Calvin Klein Deal

Travis signed the million-dollar deal to model exclusively for Calvin Klein for one year in 2002. This move launched dozens of billboards across LA with Fimmel clad only in his underwear. Suffice to say, all eyes were on him and his name was on everyone’s lips. There were even rumours that Travis’ billboards caused traffic jams!

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After he signed on to Calvin Klein, he became hugely popular. Remember Samantha’s hot model boyfriend, Jerry “Smith” Jarrod on Sex and the City? Some say the character was based off of Travis. They even had the same long blonde hair. 

He then appeared in spreads and on the covers of magazines like W, where he posed topless with then-rising star Gisele Bundchen on his arm. 

Australian Travis Fimmel pictured as the new male face of Calvin Klein in London
(Credit: Anthony Harvey via Getty Images)
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At the height of Travis Fimmel’s modelling career, he was named by People Magazine as one of the sexiest bachelors in the world. However, he preferred to be known for acting rather than modelling. He took on the role of Tarzan in a 2003 TV series, and did small roles in films like Surfer, Dude, where he starred alongside Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

What Is Travis Fimmel Doing Now?

Travis is continuing his acting career and is showing no signs of stopping soon. He landed his Vikings role in 2013, and has gained a sizeable fan base since then. His performance on the show has also been commended by critics as “captivating”.

On Vikings Travis plays Ragnar, the legendary Viking chief. The first season follows Ragnar as he begins to raid England and, among other things, befriends Athelstan, an Anglo-Saxon monk. Fun fact: Gay ships between the two are aplenty in fan communities, even though the characters aren’t really gay.

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In 2016, he played Anduin Lothar in the Warcraft movie, then followed it up with an appearance in the 2017 drama Lean On Pete. He returned to the big screen in 2019 with three films – Finding Steve McQueen, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, and Dreamland, where he stars alongside Margot Robbie and Garrett Hedlund. 

He’s also got two more films in the works, including Charlie Day’s comedy El Tonto.

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Is Travis Married? Dating Anyone?

It’s hard to tell as the actor is notoriously tight-lipped about his private life. He only recently got an Instagram account, and that already was a surprising enough move that his fans and co-stars were left shocked! 

In the past, Travis has been rumoured to be dating actress Serena Viharo, model-actress Joy Bryant, and even Nicole Appleton of All Saints.

Conclusion

No matter how old he gets, Travis seems to be able to maintain his hotness. He’s traded in his surfer boy model body for that of a rugged, brawny Viking. But that doesn’t mean he’s any less attractive. And Travis has continued to prove that he’s more than just a pretty face – with the success of Vikings and more film projects lined up, we can’t wait to see more of what Travis can do.

RELATED: Calvin Klein Breaks New Underwear Campaign

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