Early Life and Education
Birth and Family Background
Mark Alan Ruffalo (Hulk) was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His mother, Marie Rose (née Hébert), was a hairdresser and stylist, while his father, Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr., worked as a construction painter. Mark grew up with two sisters, Tanya Marie (who passed away in 2023) and Nicole, and a brother, Scott (who passed away in 2008). His father was of Italian descent from Girifalco, Calabria, and his mother had French Canadian and Italian roots. Ruffalo’s upbringing was influenced by a mix of religious beliefs, including Bahá’í, Catholicism, and born-again Christianity, which fostered a household rich in diverse viewpoints on faith.
Educational Struggles and Achievements
Despite his struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD, Ruffalo described his childhood as happy. He attended both Catholic and progressive schools. His family moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he competed in wrestling during his junior high and high school years. Ruffalo graduated from First Colonial High School in 1986, where he began acting at the Patriot Playhouse. He later moved to San Diego, California, and then to Los Angeles, where he studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory and co-founded the Orpheus Theatre Company. During this period, he wrote, directed, and starred in several plays while also working as a bartender.
Early Career (1989–2002)
Initial Screen Roles and Theatre Work
Ruffalo’s screen debut came in a 1989 episode of CBS Summer Playhouse. He had minor roles in various films, including Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance (1994) and Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur (1995). His breakthrough in theatre came with the original cast of Kenneth Lonergan’s play This Is Our Youth (1996). Mark Ruffalo also appeared in minor film roles such as The Dentist (1996) and Ang Lee’s Ride with the Devil (1999).
Breakthrough with “You Can Count on Me”
Ruffalo’s significant breakthrough came with Kenneth Lonergan’s film You Can Count on Me (2000), where he played Laura Linney’s character’s brother. The film garnered critical acclaim and two Academy Award nominations. Ruffalo’s performance earned him comparisons to the young Marlon Brando and awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Montreal World Film Festival.
Established Actor (2003–2009)
Romantic Comedies and Diverse Roles
In the mid-2000s, Ruffalo became a familiar face in romantic comedies like View From the Top (2003) and 13 Going on 30 (2004). He also appeared in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and Michael Mann’s thriller Collateral (2004). His role in Just Like Heaven (2005) further established him as a romantic lead.
Broadway Debut and Acclaimed Performances
Ruffal (Hulk) made his Broadway debut in 2006 with Clifford Odets’s Awake and Sing!, earning a Tony Award nomination. He continued to take on diverse roles, such as in David Fincher’s Zodiac (2007) and Terry George’s Reservation Road (2007). Other notable films during this period include The Brothers Bloom (2008) and Blindness (2008).
Acclaim and Marvel Films (2010–2019)
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Directorial Debut and Acclaimed Performances
Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) directed his first feature film, Sympathy for Delicious (2010), which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He starred in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island (2010) and received an Academy Award nomination for The Kids Are All Right (2010).
The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Ruffalo (Hulk) gained international fame as Bruce Banner / Hulk in The Avengers (2012), replacing Edward Norton. He reprised this role in several Marvel films, including Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Continued Critical Success
Ruffalo starred in the HBO adaptation of The Normal Heart (2014), earning an Emmy nomination. He received further acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for his role in Foxcatcher (2014) and another nomination for Spotlight (2015).
Recent Work and Future Projects (2020–Present)
Recent Acclaim
Ruffalo won a Primetime Emmy Award for his dual role in the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True (2020). He continued his role as Bruce Banner in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2020) and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).
Upcoming Projects
In 2023, Mark Ruffalo starred in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things and the Netflix miniseries All the Light We Cannot See. He is set to appear in Bong Joon-ho’s science fiction film Mickey 17 in 2024.
Mark Ruffalo’s career showcases his versatility and dedication to his craft, from early theatre work to international recognition in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond.
Personal Life
Marriage and Family Mark Ruffalo married Sunrise Coigney in 2000. Together, they have three children .
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Health Challenges After completing the film The Last Castle, Mark Ruffalo was diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma, a type of benign brain tumor. The surgical procedure to remove it resulted in partial facial paralysis and affected his hearing. While the paralysis subsided after a year, Ruffalo remains deaf in his left ear .
Tragic Loss On December 1, 2008, Ruffalo’s younger brother, Scott, was discovered outside his Beverly Hills home with a bullet wound to the head. Scott passed away a week later, and the case remains unsolved .
Residences Ruffalo and his family reside in Sullivan County, New York, with the Catskills being his “home”. Additionally, Mark Ruffalo owns two apartments in New York City, one for business purposes and the other as an investment . His mother and stepfather live in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where Ruffalo and his family occasionally spend summers .
Legal Issues In May 2022, Ruffalo faced a lawsuit from residents of Ellenville, New York, for failing to clean up a fire on the set of I Know This Much Is True. The plaintiffs claimed the fire caused damage to their homes and exposed them to toxic fumes, resulting in physical and emotional injuries .
Activism and Political Views
Political Involvement Ruffalo endorsed Bernie Sanders in both the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. He also supported Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 and 2019 UK general elections. Ruffalo has criticized NBC for hiring white conservative commentators and condemned the not guilty ruling in the Kyle Rittenhouse case .
Environmental Advocacy Ruffalo is a prominent figure in the anti-fracking movement. He appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show to discuss hydraulic fracturing and has been involved in various environmental campaigns. In 2019, he starred in Dark Waters, a film highlighting environmental pollution by DuPont. He also supported the Standing Rock Indian Reservation against the Dakota Access Pipeline and advocated for the closure of nuclear power plants .
Anti-War Stance Ruffalo has been vocal about the need for accountability for the Iraq War and has criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. He was among the celebrities who wore an “Artists Call for Ceasefire Now” pin at the 96th Academy Awards, supporting protesters blocking the red carpet .
Civil Rights Advocacy Mark Ruffalo is a staunch supporter of pro-choice policies and LGBT rights, though he has faced criticism from the transgender community for supporting the casting of a cisgender actor in a transgender role. He also supported the “Education Is Not a Crime” campaign, which highlighted the Iranian government’s discrimination against Baha’i students .
Historic Preservation In 2023, Mark Ruffalo campaigned to prevent the demolition of the West Park Presbyterian Church, a landmark building in his neighborhood, aiming to raise funds for its preservation .
Views on Conspiracy TheoriesMark Ruffalo has expressed skepticism about the official accounts of the 9/11 attacks and has been involved in controversy regarding the cause of a microcephaly outbreak in Brazil, which he attributed to a chemical larvicide rather than the Zika virus .
Acting Credits and Awards
Major Nominations and Awards Mark Ruffalo has received numerous nominations across the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards (EGOT):
- Emmy Awards: 3 nominations, 2 wins
- The Normal Heart (2014): Outstanding Television Movie (win), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (nomination)
- I Know This Much Is True (2020): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (win)
- Grammy Awards: 1 nomination
- Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In (2018): Best Spoken Word Album (nomination)
- Academy Awards (Oscar): 4 nominations
- The Kids Are All Right (2011): Best Supporting Actor (nomination)
- Foxcatcher (2015): Best Supporting Actor (nomination)
- Spotlight (2016): Best Supporting Actor (nomination)
- Poor Things (2024): Best Supporting Actor (nomination)
- Tony Awards: 1 nomination
- Awake and Sing! (2006): Best Featured Actor in a Play (nomination)
Hollywood Walk of Fame On February 8, 2024, Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, accompanied by his wife Sunrise Coigney and their two eldest children.