Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Alan Ruffalo is an American actor, director, humanitarian, social activist, and film producer. He made his screen debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse, followed by minor film roles. He was part of the original cast of This Is Our Youth, for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Following was his roles in 13 Going on 30, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac, and What Doesn't Kill You. In 2010, he starred in the...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth22 November 1967
CityKenosha, WI
CountryUnited States of America
Sometimes, as an actor, you're so deeply immersed in a part that you lose control of it. If you're really lucky, a few times in your life it'll take you somewhere you never expected to go. It really blows the top off your understanding of your craft.
For the longest time, I was Scott Ruffalo's brother. I mean, he was the mayor of Beverly Hills. He was just so beloved there.
I started out in Los Angeles doing plays and bartending. I did at least 30 plays that nobody saw before I got Ride With the Devil.
The sculptor Frosty Myers and I met when we were bidding against each other at an auction. He's an eccentric, a liberal with a collection of rifles, and his stuff is big art. We share a love of tractors. I'm trading him one for a piece of art.
I didn't apply to any colleges - I lied to all my friends and told them I was going to UCSD, because all their parents would be like, 'Mark, where're you going to college?' and I'd just lie 'cause I felt it was unrealistic to be an actor.
I mean, I think I admire my wife the most out of anyone. She's really smart, in a practical way that I don't have. We balance each other.
I can't just 'Jim Carrey' something like that, ... I don't have that kind of genius. So I went and hired a clown and we did isolating exercises, where one part of your body does one thing and another part does something else. And then, at 2 in the morning, after working on it for hours, I was lying down, and I thought, 'Oh my God, I've got it now!'
In the past 10 years since I've been doing independents and occasionally a studio movie, studio movies are starting to look more like independents and independents are starting to look more like studio movies. Both of them see that they can make money. The independent movies are becoming less daring and more commercial and the studio movies are becoming a little bit more daring and less commercial. So it's kinda a weird times.
I've been having a lot of fun with the Hulk motion-capture stuff, actually. The only distinction that I hold is that I am the only actor to ever play Banner and the Hulk.
I've been able to hide behind the character in Eternal Sunshine . People don't recognize me from Collateral . But this feels more exposed.
But the frustration of not being seen, not having anyone acknowledge this great talent that I was sure was in me, was really frustrating.
I love 'The Sportswriter' by Richard Ford. Ford really captures for me the bittersweetness of the quietly suffering American man. It's stoic, sad, and really beautiful.
You really can have your dreams and at the same time have a family. But it has to be a really deliberate practice.
It was a bunch of young girls, ... They were standing in close proximity. I said, 'Hi. How are you?' One of them asked (he puts on a high girly voice), 'Are you Matt from 13 Going on 30 ?' They were nice and everything. But I usually like to be low-key and private.