Wisconsin’s own Hollywood hero: 16 facts about Mark Ruffalo

From the shores of Lake Michigan to the bright lights of Hollywood, Kenosha’s own Mark Ruffalo has become one of the most recognizable faces in cinema. This Wisconsinite has not only conquered the big screen but has also become a vocal activist for various causes.

Here are 15 interesting facts about Mark Ruffalo, our home-grown star:

1. Wisconsin born and bred

Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he spent his early childhood.

2. Middle class roots

His father, Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr., worked as a construction painter, while his mother, Marie Rose, was a hairdresser and stylist.

3. Diverse background 

The actor has a diverse ethnic background—his father is of Italian descent from Girifalco, Calabria, and his mother has French Canadian and Italian ancestry.

4. Three religions

Ruffalo grew up in a household with three religions: born-again Christianity, Catholicism, and Bahá’í Faith.

5. Early diagnoses

As a child, he struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD, challenges he overcame to become a successful actor.

6. Working behind the bar

Before hitting it big, Ruffalo spent nearly a decade working as a bartender to support his acting dreams.

7. Breakout role

His breakout role came in Kenneth Lonergan’s film “You Can Count on Me” (2000), which earned him critical acclaim.

8. Oscar noms

Ruffalo has received four Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, showcasing his versatility in dramatic roles.

9. Heroic Hulk

He’s perhaps best known for playing Bruce Banner/Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role he’s portrayed since 2012.

10. Altruistic activism 

Beyond acting, Ruffalo is an outspoken environmental activist, particularly against hydraulic fracturing.

11. Brother’s unsolved murder

Tragedy struck Ruffalo’s family in 2008 when his younger brother, Scott, was fatally shot in Beverly Hills. The case remains unsolved, adding a personal dimension to Ruffalo’s advocacy for gun control and social justice.

12. Terror advisory list

In 2011, he was placed on a terror advisory list after organizing screenings of a documentary about natural-gas drilling.

13. Tumor survivor

Ruffalo is a survivor—in 2001, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was successfully removed but left him partially paralyzed for a time.

14. Behind the camera 

He’s not just an actor but also a director, making his debut with “Sympathy for Delicious” in 2010.

15. Family life

Ruffalo has been married to Sunrise Coigney since 2000, and they have three children together.

16. Wisconsin love

Despite his Hollywood success, Ruffalo maintains strong ties to his home state—he and his family often spend summers in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where his mother and stepfather live.

From his Kenosha roots to his current status as a Hollywood A-lister and activist, Mark Ruffalo continues to make Wisconsin proud both on and off the screen.