Mark Ruffalo, an actor recognized worldwide for his performance as the Hulk in the movies, has Italian roots on his father's side, descendant of immigrants from gyrfalcon, in the region of Calabria, southern Italy.
Throughout his career, Ruffalo has mentioned the influence of Italian culture in your life, especially as it relates to cooking and family values.
Ancestry and education
Of Italian-French-Canadian descent, Mark Alan Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, an industrial city in the United States. He is the son of Rose Marie, a hairdresser and fashion designer, and Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr., a house painter, direct descendant of Italians from province of Catanzaro, in Calabria.
He grew up with two sisters, Tania and Nicole, and a brother, Scott. As a child, he struggled with dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, but describes it as a happy time.
As a teenager, he moved with his family to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he graduated from First Colonial High School in 1986. They later settled in Los Angeles, where Ruffalo studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory and founded his own theater company, the Orpheus Theatre Company.
Career and recognition
The theater debut took place with the play This Is Our Youth (1996). In cinema, it attracted attention in You Can Count on Me (2000), and participated in notable productions such as 13 Going on 30 (2004) Zodiac (2007) and Shutter Island (2010)
Ruffalo achieved worldwide prominence in 2012, when he played Bruce Banner/Hulk in the Marvel universe. He received Oscar nominations for his performances in The kids are all right (2010) foxcatcher (2014) Spotlight (2015) and poor things (2023)
On television, he won an Emmy for his performance as twin brothers in the miniseries I know this much is true (2020)
Connection with Italy
Ruffalo maintains a strong emotional connection with his Calabrian roots. In several interviews, he has highlighted how family ties and Italian culture shaped their worldview.
In a statement to the magazine GQ, said:
“Family and siblings were always emphasized to us: 'Your blood is thicker than water, don't let anyone come between you, your friends are temporary, your family is forever.' That's how we survived as immigrants in the United States.”
The Italian family experience is reflected in his art, as in drama I know this much is true, in which the actor portrays, in depth, the bonds between brothers and the inherited emotional heritage.
Ruffalo has also expressed interest in producing a film that portrays the experience of Italian immigrants in the United States, reinforcing his commitment to his ancestry.
Personal life
Mark Ruffalo is married to Sunrise Coigney since 2000. The couple has three children: Keen, Beautiful Night e Odette.
He lives with his family on a farm in Sullivan County, in the interior of the state of New York and is recognized for his commitment to social and environmental causes.
This article is part of the series “Made in Italy: World Stars”, in Italianism, celebrating international personalities with Italian roots.
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