The Insane Body Transformations These Actors Went Through For Their Roles

Edward Norton

Norton has always been a skinny actor, usually putting himself in the role of the "wimpy nerd." But, when he was cast as Derek Vinyard in American History X, his life, and his physique, changed forever...

Packing on the Pounds

Norton put on 30 pounds for the role. He mixed weighted exercises with traditional calisthenics to make it look like he was actually training in a prison format. He even received an Oscar for his performance, partly because of his transformation.

The More You Know

Robert Ludlum, the creator of the Jason Bourne series, died while the first Bourne film was in post-production.
Tom Cruise earned $75 Million for his role in Mission Impossible 2.
Viggo Mortensen had no intention of working on The Lord of the Rings until his son begged him to do it.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for.

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.