Mark Ruffalo’s biography is a captivating look into the life story of one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors. From his early days on stage to his rise in the film industry, Ruffalo’s success story showcases his dedication and talent across various genres. Over the years, he has earned numerous accolades, including Emmy and Oscar nominations, making him a standout figure in film and theater. His acting credits, combined with his activism, reflect a life filled with personal and professional achievements.
Biography Summary
Mark Alan Ruffalo, born November 22, 1967, is a well-known American actor. He began his acting career in the early 1990s, gaining attention through his roles in Kenneth Lonergan’s play This Is Our Youth (1996) and the drama You Can Count on Me (2000). Ruffalo demonstrated his range by appearing in romantic comedies like 13 Going on 30 (2004) and Just Like Heaven (2005), as well as thrillers such as In the Cut (2003), Zodiac (2007), and Shutter Island (2010). His work in the 2006 Broadway revival of Awake and Sing! earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Ruffalo achieved global recognition for playing Bruce Banner / Hulk, a role he began portraying in 2012 as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His performances have also led to multiple Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, including roles such as sperm-donor Paul Hatfield in the comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right (2010), Dave Schultz in the biopic Foxcatcher (2014), Michael Rezendes in the drama Spotlight (2015), and a passionate lawyer in the science fantasy Poor Things (2023). In addition, Ruffalo received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a gay activist in the television drama The Normal Heart (2015) and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his dual role as identical twins in the miniseries I Know This Much Is True (2020).
Early Life
Mark Alan Ruffalo was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on November 22, 1967. His mother, Marie Rose, worked as a hairdresser and stylist, while his father, Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr., was a construction painter. He had two sisters, Tanya Marie, who passed away in 2023, and Nicole, along with a brother, Scott, who passed away in 2008. Ruffalo’s father was of Italian descent from Girifalco, Calabria, while his mother had French Canadian and Italian ancestry. Multiple religious perspectives influenced his upbringing, as his father followed the Bahá’í faith, and his mother was Christian. Reflecting on his childhood, Ruffalo shared that he grew up in a home with various religious views, which fostered a broad understanding of faith.
Ruffalo attended both Catholic and progressive schools during his education. Despite being a “happy kid,”1 he faced challenges due to undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD during his childhood and into adulthood.2
During his teenage years, Ruffalo lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where his father worked. He participated in wrestling in junior high and high school in both Wisconsin and Virginia. Ruffalo graduated from First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach in 1986, where he also acted with the Patriot Playhouse. Later, he moved with his family to San Diego, California, and eventually to Los Angeles, where he studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory. Ruffalo co-founded the Orpheus Theatre Company, where he took on multiple roles, including writing, directing, and starring in several plays. During this time, he supported himself by working as a bartender for nearly a decade.
Career
1989–2002: Early Roles and Theatre Debut
Mark Ruffalo made his screen debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse in 1989, followed by smaller film roles. In 1994, he appeared as Vinnie Webber in the Canadian series Due South. That same year, he made his film debut in the horror movie Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance, followed by Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur in 1995. Ruffalo gained recognition for his stage work, starring as Warren Straub in Kenneth Lonergan’s off-Broadway play This Is Our Youth (1996). He was a member of the theater company Naked Angels, co-founded by Lonergan. Ruffalo acted alongside Josh Hamilton and Missy Yager in the play.
During this period, he appeared in films like The Dentist (1996), the crime comedy Safe Men (1998), and Ang Lee’s Ride with the Devil (1999). His collaboration with Lonergan continued in You Can Count on Me (2000), where Ruffalo played Laura Linney’s character’s brother. The film was critically acclaimed, receiving two Academy Award nominations, and Ruffalo earned praise for his performance, with comparisons to Marlon Brando. His role earned him awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Montreal World Film Festival. In 2001, he appeared in The Last Castle alongside Robert Redford, followed by roles in XX/XY (2002), My Life Without Me (2003), Windtalkers (2003), In the Cut (2003), and We Don’t Live Here Anymore (2004).
2003–2009: Established Actor
In the mid-2000s, Ruffalo transitioned into leading roles, particularly in romantic comedies. He starred in View from the Top (2003) with Gwyneth Paltrow, and his role in 13 Going on 30 (2004) with Jennifer Garner became a fan favorite. That same year, he appeared in Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) as Stan, a technician tasked with erasing memories. Ruffalo also played a narcotics detective in Michael Mann’s Collateral (2004), starring alongside Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, earning praise for adding depth to his character. In Just Like Heaven (2005), he acted with Reese Witherspoon, and later that year, he appeared in Rumor Has It with Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, and Shirley MacLaine.
The true value of somebody in this town [Hollywood] is very hard to determine. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo starred in the 2006 political drama All the King’s Men, based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren, and also made his Broadway debut in Awake and Sing! at the Belasco Theatre. His performance as Moe Axelrod was highly praised, earning him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor. In 2007, he starred in David Fincher’s Zodiac as homicide inspector Dave Toschi, who led the investigation into the Zodiac killer. Ruffalo’s portrayal of Toschi was lauded by critics, with Roger Ebert praising him for his subtle yet dedicated performance. That same year, he appeared in Reservation Road as a lawyer who accidentally kills a child, followed by roles in The Brothers Bloom (2008), Blindness (2008), and What Doesn’t Kill You (2008). In 2009, Ruffalo had a small role in Where the Wild Things Are as Max’s mother’s boyfriend.
2010–2019: Acclaim and Marvel Films
Mark Ruffalo made his feature film directorial debut with Sympathy for Delicious (2010), starring Juliette Lewis, Laura Linney, and Ruffalo himself. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize. In 2010, Ruffalo signed with the Creative Artists Agency and later joined United Talent Agency.
That same year, he co-starred in Martin Scorsese’s thriller Shutter Island as U.S. Marshal Chuck Aule, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. He also starred in Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right alongside Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. Ruffalo’s role in the film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, with critics praising the chemistry between the cast.
Ruffalo gained widespread recognition when he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in The Avengers (2012), taking on the role of Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk, replacing Edward Norton. His portrayal was well-received, with The Guardian commending his ability to bring depth to both Bruce and the Hulk. Ruffalo continued in the role in Iron Man 3 (2013) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
In 2013, he starred in Begin Again, a romantic comedy with Keira Knightley, and earned praise for his role as Ned Weeks in HBO’s adaptation of The Normal Heart (2014), which earned him an Emmy nomination. Ruffalo’s performance as wrestler Dave Schultz in Foxcatcher (2014) led to his second Academy Award nomination. Critics lauded his portrayal, with The Guardian highlighting the compelling depiction of sibling relationships in the film.
Ruffalo’s versatility continued with his role as a father with bipolar disorder in Infinitely Polar Bear (2015), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. The same year, he starred in the drama Spotlight, portraying journalist Michael Rezendes. The film, which focused on the Boston Globe’s investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, earned Ruffalo his third Academy Award nomination.
In 2016, he reprised his role as Agent Dylan Rhoades in Now You See Me 2, and in 2017, he returned to Broadway in The Price, alongside Danny DeVito and Tony Shalhoub. Critics praised his performance, noting the warmth and depth he brought to the role.
Ruffalo starred as Robert Bilott in the legal thriller Dark Waters (2019), a film he also produced. During this period, he continued his role as Bruce Banner in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), although he gained attention for accidentally revealing key plot details ahead of both Infinity War and Endgame‘s releases.
2020–present
In 2020, Mark Ruffalo took on dual roles as Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in the HBO limited series I Know This Much Is True, where he also served as an executive producer. His performance received widespread praise, with Variety noting that Ruffalo’s acting was the series’ driving force. His portrayal earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie.
Ruffalo continued as Bruce Banner / The Hulk in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) and appeared in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022). In 2022, he starred in the Netflix science fiction action-comedy The Adam Project alongside Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, and Zoe Saldana.
In 2023, Ruffalo played a key role in the black comedy fantasy film Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and co-starring Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and won the Golden Lion. Ruffalo’s performance was praised, with Entertainment Weekly highlighting how much fun he had playing an exaggerated and egotistical character. He received nominations for Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards for his work in this film.
Later in 2023, Ruffalo portrayed Daniel LeBlanc in the Netflix miniseries All the Light We Cannot See, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr. The series was released on November 2, 2023.
Looking ahead to 2024, Ruffalo is set to star in the Bong Joon-ho-directed science fiction film Mickey 17, which is based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7.3 He will act alongside Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, and Toni Collette.
Personal Life
Mark Ruffalo married Sunrise Coigney in 2000, and they are parents to three children. Following his work on The Last Castle, Ruffalo received a diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma, a benign brain tumor. The surgery to remove it resulted in temporary partial facial paralysis and permanent hearing loss in his left ear.
In a tragic turn of events, Ruffalo’s younger brother, Scott, was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head near his Beverly Hills home on December 1, 2008. Scott passed away a week later, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain unsolved.
Certainly, it’s very easy to fall in love with cash. If you’re going to make all your decisions based on cash, you’re going to have a pretty naffy career.
Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo calls Sullivan County, New York, his home, where he lives with his family. He also maintains two apartments in New York City for business and investment purposes. During summers, Ruffalo and his family often visit his mother and stepfather in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
In May 2022, Ruffalo faced legal action from residents of Ellenville, New York. The lawsuit claimed that he failed to properly clean up after a fire on the set of a car dealership used for filming I Know This Much Is True. Residents alleged that the fire damaged homes and exposed them to harmful fumes, causing physical and emotional harm.
Activism and Political Views
Politics
In the 2016 election, Mark Ruffalo supported Bernie Sanders and continued his support during the 2020 United States presidential election, endorsing Sanders on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He appreciated Sanders’ commitment to fighting for the public. In June 2017, Ruffalo used his Twitter (now X) platform to encourage NBC to diversify its hiring practices beyond white conservative commentators.
Ruffalo also endorsed Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader in the UK’s 2017 general election, on Twitter (now X). He praised Corbyn’s alternative to the corporate status quo. In 2019, he signed a letter endorsing Corbyn again, citing him as a figure of hope against rising nationalism and xenophobia.
In November 2021, Ruffalo criticized the not guilty verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, calling it a miscarriage of justice. In April 2022, he encouraged voters to familiarize themselves with state voter ID laws, promoting VoteRiders for assistance.
Environmentalism
Ruffalo became a prominent voice against fracking after discovering gas companies interested in his family’s land in Callicoon, New York. He appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show in 2010 to discuss the dangers of hydraulic fracturing and claimed that his activism led to his name being added to a terror advisory list, a claim denied by the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of Homeland Security.
In March 2016, Ruffalo produced the documentary Dear President Obama: The Clean Energy Revolution Is Now, critiquing President Obama‘s environmental record.4 He also supported the Standing Rock Indian Reservation’s protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2017.
Ruffalo co-produced Dark Waters in 2019, highlighting pollution issues related to chemical company DuPont. In 2020, he supported the closure of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and advocated for shutting down more nuclear facilities.
Anti-war Activism
Ruffalo has been vocal against wars and their consequences. In October 2019, he tweeted about the need for accountability for George W. Bush regarding the Iraq War. In 2020, he criticized Israel’s military actions against Palestinians, describing them as disproportionate and calling for equal standards for all nations. During the conflict in May 2021, he initially accused Israel of committing genocide but later retracted his statement, apologizing for the inflammatory remark.
In October 2023, Ruffalo supported an Artists4Ceasefire initiative during an Israeli military operation in Gaza. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterization of civilian casualties as collateral damage.
Civil Rights
Ruffalo is a pro-choice advocate, stressing the importance of accessible and safe abortion options. He has criticized capitalism for its failures and called for systemic economic changes. Despite supporting LGBT rights, he faced criticism from the transgender community for supporting the casting of a cisgender actor, Matt Bomer, in the role of a trans woman in the film Anything.
In 2015, he supported the “Education Is Not a Crime” campaign, which highlights the denial of university education to Baha’is in Iran.5
Historic Preservation
In 2023, Ruffalo opposed the sale of West Park Presbyterian Church in his neighborhood to prevent its demolition for housing development. He advocated for preserving the historic site and initiated a fundraising campaign for its maintenance.
Conspiracy Theories
Ruffalo has expressed skepticism about official accounts of 9/11 and supported alternative theories.6 In 2016, he shared an article suggesting a chemical used in water reservoirs, not the Zika virus, was causing microcephaly in Brazil, a claim critiqued by credible sources for its lack of scientific backing.
Awards
2020: Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie — I Know This Much Is True
Acclaims
On February 8, 2024, Ruffalo was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. He attended the ceremony with his wife, Sunrise Coigney, and their two oldest children. This recognition marks a significant milestone in his illustrious career and highlights his wide-ranging impact in film and theater.
Final Reflections
Mark Ruffalo’s biography highlights a success story shaped by perseverance, talent, and passion. His life story, marked by award-winning performances and impactful activism, inspires audiences worldwide. As he adds new chapters to his remarkable career, Ruffalo’s influence in entertainment and social causes solidifies his place as a prominent figure in modern Hollywood.
Reference List for Mark Ruffalo’s Biography
- Pearlman, Cindy. “Working on a Killer Movie.” Chicago Sun-Times, 25 Feb. 2007. Archived copy. ↩︎
- Hiatt, Brian. “The Hulk: The Last Angry Man.” Rolling Stone, 4 May 2015. ↩︎
- “Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Mickey 17’ Sets 2024 Release Date.” The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2022. ↩︎
- Ruffalo, Mark, and Jon Bowermaster. “Dear President Obama: The Clean Energy Revolution Is Now.” Huffington Post, 17 Mar. 2016. ↩︎
- “Education is Not a Crime Gains Momentum.” Bahá’í World News Service, 8 Feb. 2015. ↩︎
- Collins, Scott. “9 Stars Who Have Been 9/11 Conspiracy Truthers (Photos).” TheWrap, 11 Sept. 2017. ↩︎
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