Lars Mikkelsen portrays Russian president Viktor Petrov starting in the third season of House of Cards. He was born May 6, 1964 in Gladsaxe near Copenhagen, Denmark, and he is the older brother of actor Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal television series, Casino Royale).
His role in the successful Danish crime series Forbrydelsen (The Killing, 2007), playing the mayoral candidate "Troels Hartmann", led to roles in international productions, including an episode of the British series Sherlock (2010) and a leading role in the international crime series The Team (2015).