[1] He received favorable reviews for his performance in this film, often earning comparisons to the young Marlon Brando, and won awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and Montreal World Film Festival. Next: Mark Ruffalo Almost Passed On His Iconic '13 Going On 30' Role. They have three children. The next year in 2015, he starred as a father of two with bipolar disorder in the independent comedy film Infinitely Polar Bear, for which he earned a Golden Globe Award nomination, and he also appeared as journalist Michael Rezendes in the drama film Spotlight, for which he earned his third Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA Award nomination. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { There, he attended the Stella Adler Conservatory while working as a bartender a job that he did for almost a whole decade. It became tough not only for Ruffalo's career but his marriage as well. Terrorist Advisory List. His dad, Frank,(whom he described as "an artist who never found his art form") packed his bags and moved back to Wisconsin, leaving his four kids and wife Marie behind. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); In the ensuing scuffle, Ruffalo snatched the photographer's camera and confiscated the memory card. The Dark Waters star had a wake-up call in 1994 when he lost his best friend Michael to suicide. Recalling the events in an interview with the Acoustic Neuroma association, he said: I could hear some murmurings in the room next door and she came in and she was white as a sheet and she sat down and she said `you have a mass behind your left ear the size of a golf ball'.". ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb, Looking back, he now says that turning bad luck into good and seeing the best in things has become a recurring theme in his life. Here's a look back at Mark Ruffalo's tragic real-life story. Now is the time to avoid hyperbole", "Mark Ruffalo and Viola Davis lead reactions as Kyle Rittenhouse found not guilty", "We come together to mourn the lives lost to the same racist system that devalues Black lives and devalued the lives of Anthony and JoJo", "Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict: Hollywood Reacts To Acquittal With Outrage But Not Surprise", "Mark Ruffalo Jokes That His Kids Do Not Respect the Hulk: See His Family on the Red Carpet", "Mark Ruffalo Shares His Kids Shot a Scene for 'Thor: Ragnarok': 'They Had a Great Day' (Exclusive)", "Crazy Dream That Led To The Discovery of Mark Ruffalo Brain Tumor", "Mark Ruffalo's Brother Shot in the Head", "Mark Ruffalo Opens Up About the Murder of His Younger Brother Scott", "Mark Ruffalo's stepfather to speak at screening", "Mark Ruffalo and HBO Sued Over 2019 Fire on Set of I Know This Much Is True", "Kylie Jenner Isn't the Only Celebrity Who Believes in Chemtrails", "9 Stars Who Have Been 9/11 Conspiracy Truthers (Photos)", "Mark Ruffalo's pro-choice stance on abortion rights sets a powerful example", "Mark Ruffalo says capitalism is 'killing us'; millionaire actor calls for 'economic revolution', "Mark Ruffalo Reveals The Message Of "The Normal Heart" And The Personal Reason LGBT Equality Is Important To Him", "Mark Ruffalo Defends Matt Bomer Amid Transgender Casting Criticism", "Celebrities split over Ellen DeGeneres's remarks about George W. Bush", "Is Socialism Here To Stay In 2016, Or Is Bernie Sanders Just Another Howard Dean? It was successfully removed with surgery, but Ruffalo suffered from partial paralysis of his face for a . Understandably, his death affected Mark deeply. . Ruffalo cited VoteRiders as a source of assistance for voter ID requirements across the United States .[71][72]. It was shattering to them.". The 'Crazy' Way Mark Ruffalo Discovered He Had a Brain Tumor - MSN Mark Ruffalo has dealt with depression since he was a child. En espaol | Mark Ruffalo, 52, famous for virtually bulking up to play the Hulk in the wildly popular films about and including the Marvel superhero, bulked up in real life this year to play identical twins in the six-part HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True (HBO, May 10, 9 p.m. Just as Ruffalo's career was starting to pick up, he was forced to withdraw from acting due to some scary health issues and their lingering effects. ", During an interview with theObserver, Ruffalo commented on his depression, "It's dysthymia. Is Mark Ruffalo paralyzed? - Quora He'd been in the hospital a week earlier, and he was told his immune system wasn't robust enough for him to work again. From his role as Inspector David Toschi inZodiacto the Incredible Hulk inThe Avengers, Mark Ruffalo has made an acting career for himself filled with success and recognition. His three siblings ( Scott Ruffalo, Tania, and Nicole) are all hairdressers. However, he beat the odds after six months of paralysis, Ruffalo was able to make very slight movements, signaling the beginning of a recovery that would still take several more months. Net Worth Mark Ruffalo health: Actor's life-threatening condition "[62], Ruffalo is pro-choice. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. What is it? Eventually, word got out about Ruffalo's diagnosis and subsequent surgery, putting those rumors to rest. Mark Ruffalo Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements It led to other significant roles, including the films XX/XY (2002), Isabel Coixet's My Life Without Me, John Woo's Windtalkers (2003), Jane Campion's In the Cut (2003), Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004), which is based on two short stories written by Andre Dubus. "I've been struggling with that my whole life. The paralysis subsided after a year, but Mark remains deaf in his left ear. [4][5], Ruffalo attended both Catholic and progressive schools throughout his education. It appeared to fans as if Ruffalo simply disappeared into thin air. Ruffalo retreated to his home where he stayed in self-imposed exile, refusing colleagues and friends alike. In all, I disappeared for a year." [12], In 2008, Ruffalo starred as a con man in The Brothers Bloom with Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz and co-starred with Julianne Moore in Blindness. "I made a tape for him, for when he was old enough to understand. However, he beat the odds after. [1] He appeared opposite Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise as a narcotics detective in Michael Mann's crime thriller Collateral (2004). [emailprotected]. "When I woke up I was so sickand I was not dead, so that was goodbut I was so sick I almost wished I was." He has also received two Primetime Emmy Awards; Outstanding Television Movie for The Normal Heart (2014) and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in I Know This Much Is True (2020). Ruffalo has been nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right (2010), the biopic Foxcatcher (2014), and the drama Spotlight (2015). Terrorist Advisory List. That's rare."[28]. Ruffalo gained international recognition for playing Bruce Banner / Hulk since 2012 in the superhero franchise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most recently appearing in the television series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022). [43], In October 2020, speaking to Mehdi Hasan, Ruffalo condemned what he called Israel's "asymmetrical warfare" against the Palestinians, stating, "There is no reason that an ally of America should not be held to the same standards as any other nation in the world." We don't know what it is exactly, and you'll need an MRI.' It was so heavy." In 2001, Mark Ruffalo grabbed the attention of the on-set doctor for a film he was working on. Click to reveal Ruffalo was forced to pass the part of Merrill Hess to Joaquin Phoenix, but that was the least of his worries, as his wife was just weeks from giving birth to their first child at the time. In 2006, the brother of Sean Penn was found dead at his Santa Monica condo, with a suspected overdose the cause. TIL that Mark Ruffalo was diagnosed with a brain tumor that resulted in temporary facial paralysis and the permanent loss of hearing in his left year. Ruffalo feared that the surgery had ruined his acting ability, but, fortunately, the best was yet to come. "People are so afraid of mental illness but its everywhere," he told Observer. "My father told me that my heart had stopped briefly on the operating table," he explained. In the '90s, The Avengers star made notable appearances in playwright Kenneth Lonergan's plays. Following the successful operation, the actor was still left with challenges such as complete paralysis of the left side of his face and loss of hearing in his left ear. MCU star and Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo might seem, from the outside, like he has the perfect life, but in truth he's been struggling for a long time. But did you know that a health threat in the early 2000s almost ruined it all for him? Marshal Chuck Aule, the partner of Leonardo DiCaprio's character Teddy Daniels. "[44] In 2021, he said it was "inflammatory" and "disrespectful" to suggest Israel is committing genocide. He's enjoying the heights right now, but, before playing Bruce Banner/the Hulk in Hollywood's biggest franchise, he had to first experience the lowest of lows, going through things that most of us would struggle to overcome. Ruffalo first learned of his tumor in 2000, while shooting the film You Can Count on Me. The actor sought out his own meditation teacher to see if it would work for him in the same way, and the results were astonishing. Real Talk with Mark Ruffalo: On Manic Depression, Bernie Sanders, and [68] While on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ruffalo endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president in 2020 United States presidential election, stating "you know when he gets in the office, he is going to be fighting for us". To paraphrase Ruffalo, he had a childhood filled with happiness, though it had its share of complications. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). "I didn't want any visitors," he later recalled. More info. Mark Ruffalo Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth Ruffalo also owns two apartments in New York City, one for business and another for investment. For Mark, reaching the pinnacle of his acting career still brought his fair share of struggles. Mark also explained that he underwent various therapies to help alleviate the paralysis, including acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage, and other forms of alternative medicine in conjunction with his prescribed regimen. I'm like, 'What the f*** am I doing here? Make it count. Grade school was always difficult for him in an interview with Parade, Ruffalo said, "I was miserable. At least, that's what the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled. [60], Ruffalo was interviewed by "We Are Change" at an anti-war rally in 2007. Now at 53, his popularity has increased even more due to his role as Bruce Banner aka Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It might not show, but the affable Avenger is now into his 50s, and his half-century on this earth really has been the proverbial rollercoaster ride. The A-Z of famous names supporting Labour, the Tories, the Lib Dems and Greens", "Mark Ruffalo in Standing Rock; Leo DiCaprio, Jesse Jackson Head to Standing Rock", "Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo enlisted by Green Party in bid for government support", "I have reflected & wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing "genocide". This apparently made him a threat to security, which he found "pretty f***ing funny" at first. [1], In the mid-2000s, Ruffalo appeared as a romantic lead in View From the Top (2002), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Just Like Heaven (2005) and Rumor Has It (2005). Outside his acting career, Ruffalo has spoken out onhumanitarianandenvironmentalissues, among others. The way the world looked to me changed." In 1994, Mark's best friend died by suicide. According to the magazine, it compromised his profession as an actor, as it put his facial and auditory nerves. In that time, Ruffalo kept quiet about why he'd dropped off the map, but that didn't stop people from guessing. He was raised alongside two sisters and a brother by working-class parents of Italian and French-Canadian descent. During his diagnosis and recovery, with the exception of his close friends and family, Ruffalo kept details about his condition a secret. In 2003, Ruffalo scored leading roles alongside two popular female stars, playing a police detective opposite Meg Ryan in In the Cut (2003) and the love interest of Gwyneth Paltrow in the comedy View from the Top (2003). He told the doctor he had recently dreamt about having a brain tumour and wanted to get checked. [1] In 2006, Ruffalo starred in Clifford Odets's Awake and Sing! [59] The lawsuit claims that the residents suffered physical and emotional injuries and added that the fire caused damage to their homes and exposed them to toxic fumes. 210.65.88.143 As a young adult, the actor also dealt with ADHD and undiagnosed dyslexia. Dark times. In fact, given everything he's been through, it's a wonder that he isn't a total jerk. He might be able to pull off playing a scientific genius in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Ruffalo didn't exactly shine academically as a child. In December 2008, Ruffalo's younger brother and former roommate Scott was murdered. Amy Sussman/Getty Images While the actor says he did experience temporary paralysis following his operation, the symptoms resolved in the months that followed. Although the operation was a success, the side effects resulted in Ruffalo losing hearing in his left ear, and one side of his face became completely paralyzed. Actor: Spotlight. The Ruffalo family lived here for a number of years before Soda Butler also went out of business. He was rushed to hospital and managed to hang onto life for a week, but, when it became clear that he wasn't going to recover, his life support was switched off, devastating his family. But this somewhat positive outcome was quick to change. Prior to 9/11, he moved to upstate New York to get away from the spotlight and focus on recuperating. He went on to star in the romantic comedies 13 Going on 30 (2004) and Just like Heaven (2005) and the thrillers In the Cut (2003), Zodiac (2007), and Shutter Island (2010). In an interview with the Acoustic Neuroma Association regarding his experiences before and after his operation, Ruffalo said he focused on trying to move his face muscles for about an hour every day. If this is it, if I have a piano dropped on me tomorrow, then I would go down thinking, "You know what, I did okay as far as my career goes, because that's a gift. RELATED:Maria Menounos Says This Was the First Symptom of Her Brain Tumor. Because his wife was expecting their first child at the time of his diagnosis, he initially kept the news to himself, but several weeks after the birth of his son Keen, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Father was a construction painter and mother a hairstylist. Ruffalo was informed that he had a mass the size of a golf ball behind his left ear (known as an acoustic neuroma) and would need surgery to have it removed as soon as possible. "She came in and she was white as a sheet, and she said, 'you have a mass behind your left ear that's the size of a golf ball. Rated 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the project drew attention to the actor despite working opposite other established actors like Matthew Broderick and Laura Linney. Though the tumor was benign, the surgery resulted in partial facial paralysis. His part in This Is Our Youth opened doors for him in TV and film. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. [61] Ruffalo expressed views in line with the 9/11 truth movement when he stated: "I'm baffled by the way all three buildings came down. xhr.send(payload); [52], On December 1, 2008, Ruffalo's younger brother, Scott, was found outside his home on North Palm Drive in Beverly Hills with an execution-style bullet wound to the head. Mark L. Ruffalo, M.S.W., D.Psa., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Tampa, Florida, and serves as Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Adjunct Instructor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. "The moment he left, I realized that death wasn't an escape, that suicide wasn't an answer." He is the founder of the 'Solutions Project', which works for achieving 100% renewable energy. [11], Ruffalo had minor roles in films including The Dentist (1996), the low-key crime comedy Safe Men (1998), and Ang Lee's Civil War western Ride with the Devil (1999). "It's pretty much a daily practice that quiets your brain and oddly enough, actually slows down time, so you're not so much trapped in your immediate reactions to things," he explained.