But did you know that a health threat in the early 2000s almost ruined it all for him? [16][30], In 2008, Ruffalo expressed concern that gas companies were eyeing his family's land in Callicoon, New York. [35], In February 2016, Ruffalo tweeted a Tech Times article in which a group of Argentinian doctors attributed the cause of a microcephaly outbreak in Brazil to the use of a larvicide chemical added to reservoirs of drinking water to combat dengue fever, rather than the Zika virus. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { It was a benign brain tumor that had to be surgically removed. Terrorist Advisory List. And of everything that I've done since I've been on social media, which hasn't been that long, by the way, I haven't had such an overwhelmingly positive response as I have from The Normal Heart directly to me. A few years later, his brother Scott would be shot dead in a case that remains unsolved to this day. Mark Ruffalo - IMDb "I was like that for about 10 months and the likelihood of it ever getting better looked pretty remote," he told The Telegraph. After a year, the paralysis receded, but Ruffalo's left ear remains deaf. In 1989, he made his screen debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse. In 2009, he played a brief role in the film Where the Wild Things Are as Max's mother's boyfriend. Ruffalo has had a range of credits on screen and stage, including several performances of varying genresmostly as a supporting actor. The pair went through some of their toughest times together, forging a bond that went beyond blood. Mark Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Marie Rose, a hairdresser and stylist, and Frank Lawrence Ruffalo, Jr., a construction painter. Ruffalo also kept the diagnosis secret from his wife, Sunrise Coginey who was pregnant with their first child at that time. On Jan. 6, 2012, Adham passed away, leaving the case without a critical witness. After he did just that, Ruffalo made a lot of friends in the business, one of whom was Chris Penn. The tumor was found to be benign; however, the surgery to remove the mass resulted in partial facial paralysis and affected his hearing. "Its Dysthymia. At that point I thought maybe I wasn't enjoying it the way I thought I would, and so having that kind of taken away from me for a little while made me understand how much I actually loved it and cared about it," he added. The day after a chat with the on-set doctor, Ruffalo was sent to a neurologist who gave him a CT scan. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Ruffalo explained that meditation has helped him to cope with his anxiety. Amazingly, the actor knew about a tumor before doctors confirmed it, having had an incredibly vivid dream about it. 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. Mark Ruffalo health: Actor's life-threatening condition Ruffalo's statement chose to stand up for the dignity of Jews, who are facing a surge in anti-Semitism, and risk being attacked by his political allies. There, Frank started a new business called Soda Butler, a business reminiscent of the modern Soda Stream. Mark Ruffalois an American actor and film producer who has starred in numerous films and television series. "It reminded me that life is short and you'd better do what you want while you have a chance." While it did cause partial facial paralysis in Ruffalo, it was thankfully a benign tumor. He competed in wrestling in junior high and high school in Wisconsin and Virginia. Read on to learn the stranger-than-fiction way he learned of his condition, and why he now views the experience as a gift. [13], In 2010, he starred in Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right, with Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. 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. [1] In March 2007, he appeared in Zodiac as SFPD homicide inspector Dave Toschi, who ran the investigation to find and apprehend the Zodiac killer from 1969 through most of the 1970s. 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. It was a rough journey with prescribed steroids slowing down his recovery. From here on out, do the best you can to make it count.". 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). After doing his own investigation, New York magazine wrote, he became "anti-fracking's first famous face. Award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, of humble means to father Frank Lawrence Ruffalo, a construction painter and Marie Rose (Hebert), a stylist and hairdresser; his father's ancestry is Italian and his mother is of half French-Canadian and half Italian descent. The first day [after surgery], you know, I was just out of it and then the second day they came in they're checking my face, and my face began to go paralyzed so by the third day and fourth day out from the surgery I couldn't close my eye and I couldn't move my face on the left side of my face and that was pretty alarming.. In December 2008, Ruffalo's younger brother and former roommate Scott was murdered. He has explained his opinion by saying: "I don't want to turn back the hands of time to when women shuttled across state lines in the thick of night to resolve an unwanted pregnancy, in a cheap hotel room. "I had a friend who had been a longtime drug addict," Ruffalo told Rolling Stone. He even began to advocate for environmental causes and social justice. . These two things helped to speed up his recovery and regain his balance. When paramedics arrived at the 39-year-old hairdresser's Beverly Hills condo, they found him with a gunshot wound to the side of the head. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Mark Ruffalo Biography | Movies, Net Worth, Height, Wife - WikiBlog And the fact that so many people will take it to that extreme, when you're talking about that kind of inequality, that kind of oppression, that kind of apartheid. Mark Ruffalo health: Star was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma which is brain cancer (Image: Getty Images) Even after the tumour was removed, the resulting paralysis of the left side of. In an interview with the Acoustic Neuroma Association regarding his experiences before and after his operation, Mark said he focused on trying to move his face muscles for about an hour every day and walking. Whether he's picking up stranded hitchhikers, inviting fans to join him on the sets of his movies, or campaigning for the numerous charities he's involved with, the Wisconsin native is as humble a movie star as you're likely to meet, but life hasn't always been as kind to him as he is to others. Shyamalan agreed to consider the idea, but sadly, the pitch fell through when Ruffalo's doctors asserted he was in no condition to be acting. Joaquin Phoenix took on the part instead. Now at 53, his popularity has increased even more due to his role as Bruce Banner aka Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Mark first gained recognition for his work in Kenneth Lonergan's play This Is Our Youth (1998) and drama film You Can Count On Me (2000). Mark Ruffalo. From the Hulk to HBO, Mark Ruffalo Re-Assembles as a Producer - Variety Recently, it was rumored that he might finally get a standalone Hulk movie and he makes a cameo in the Disney+ series, Moon Knight. Fans Can't Stop Talking About Tom Holland's Face In Mark Ruffalo's MCU Picture, Mark Ruffalo Almost Passed On His Iconic '13 Going On 30' Role, The Real Reason Lisa Marie Presley Divorced Michael Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow Avoided Speaking Directly To The Restaurant Staff And Instead Ordered Through Her Personal Assistant, Despite The Age Gap, Joel Madden And Hilary Duff Don't Have Any Regrets About Their Relationship. Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. Mark retreated to his home where he stayed in self-imposed exile, refusing visits from colleagues and friends alike. Mark Ruffalo trivia: 60 interestng facts about the actor! He received a Tony Award nomination for his supporting role in the Broadway revival of Awake and Sing! When paramedics arrived at the 39-year-old. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. On top of everything he witnessed while living in MacArthur Park with his brother, he also had to deal with the loss of his best friend, who took his own life In 1994. Here's what really happened. that he started to bring his anger home with him. He begged God not to take away the one thing that he used to support his family, but, at that stage, it looked as though his face might never recover, essentially bringing his career as an actor to an end just as it was really getting started. There was a live action TV series (1977 - 1982) titled "The Incredible Hulk" Bill Bixby was the first actor to play Banner (renamed as Dr. David Bruce Banner) while bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno played Hulk. But this somewhat positive outcome was quick to change. Ruffalo struggled with ADD and dyslexia as a child, and in 2002, suffered a brain tumor whose surgery resulted in a prolonged period of facial paralysis. "My brother passing away was the final thing that kicked me over,"he recalled. However, he beat the odds after. In pre-production at the time of Scott's death, the film was released in 2010. For more health news sent directly to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. "My father told me that my heart had stopped briefly on the operating table, so that was scary to me," the star revealed. The 'Crazy' Way Mark Ruffalo Discovered He Had a Brain Tumor - MSN Police arrested Adham but eventually released her, and no charges were filed. "They told me the surgery went well, they got all the tumor, they preserved my nerve but I just heard a ringing in my left ear.". Mark had a CAT scan after which he received the devastating diagnosis of that he had acoustic neuroma, a form of brain cancer. [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. Mark Ruffalo Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements However, just when he was about to make a name in Hollywood, he was forced to take a break that nearly hampered his career. "For a long time, I felt like someone had it in for me," Ruffalo told Parade. What is it? This sounds sappy, but I was always aware of the frailty of human beings, the sorrow in the nature of things. Recovering from the rest of the post-surgery side effects took him away from acting, just when he was starting to gain momentum in the industry. The actor told the music mag that despite "all the crazy s*** going on in the world," practicing meditation gave him an "enormous amount of hope" that everything was going to be okay. You never get over it, you just get used to it. 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. Inspired, he signed on for the role of Paul, a man who is contacted by two children born to a lesbian couple who used his donated sperm. Thankfully, it started beating again, but despite the removal of the benign growth, his battle was just beginning. Though the tumor was benign, the surgery resulted in partial facial paralysis. Apparently Disney Could Get The Full Rights To Marvel Characters Hulk Rated 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the project drew attention to the actor despite working opposite other established actors like Matthew Broderick and Laura Linney. ", "Conspiracy Theories About Zika Spread Through Brazil With the Virus", "Dear President Obama: The Clean Energy Revolution is Now", "Mark Ruffalo seeks help in stopping MSNBC's white conservative hiring spree", "Mark Ruffalo in hulk rage at NBC, pushes petition to end 'white conservative hiring', "Election 2017: The surprising and not-so surprising ways celebrities will be casting their ballots today", "Who are celebrities voting for in 2017 General Election? [46][47][48], Ruffalo married Sunrise Coigney in 2000. "When he died, it rocked me out of a dark depression," he recalled. "[63] Ruffalo has called for an economic revolution, saying that "capitalism today is failing us, killing us, and robbing from our children's future. Three weeks after he welcomed son Keen into the world, he went under the knife, but not before recording a message in case he never woke up. His part in This Is Our Youth opened doors for him in TV and film. I felt like I didn't belong.". As the story gained traction, however, he was forced to start taking it seriously, setting the record straight when he sat down with The Telegraph. "Every news organization in the country ran it without bothering to check if it was true," he said. In his interview with the Telegraph, Ruffalo stated that he'd been considering stepping aside prior to Scott's death because of his growing disillusionment with Hollywood. Amy Sussman/Getty Images While the actor says he did experience temporary paralysis following his operation, the symptoms resolved in the months that followed. Friendships usually form based on common beliefs, interests, or experiences, and Mark and Michael were no different. My first reaction was that buildings don't fall down like that. [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. Outside his acting career, Ruffalo has spoken out onhumanitarianandenvironmentalissues, among others. During his interview with the Acoustic Neuroma Association, Ruffalo said his dream was "so startling" that he knew he couldn't put the surgery off for too long, but a previous bad experience with anesthesia had him terrified. "I Know This Much Is True," an HBO limited series based on Wally Lamb's 1998 brick of a book, begins when Thomas Birdsey enters a public library and amputates his . The Dark Waters star had a wake-up call in 1994 when he lost his best friend Michael to suicide. Initially it appeared that Scott might have died due to a Russian roulette mishap, but eventually the case was ruled a homicide. The star had to undergo surgery just four weeks after his diagnosis to remove the tumour, which he was terrified about. The way the world looked to me changed.". 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. He was raised alongside two sisters and a brother by working-class parents of Italian and French-Canadian descent. The surgery to remove the tumor, which was determined to be benign, led to a. While he was still in school, friends would talk about their future goals and parents would ask Mark about his plans following graduation. "There were all kinds of rumours about what had happened to me," he said. [49][50], After completing work on the film The Last Castle, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma, a type of brain tumor also known as an acoustic neuroma. This infuriated Penn's grieving loved ones, some of whom decided to confront the snapper. He began acting in the early 1990s and first gained recognition for his work in Kenneth Lonergan 's play This Is Our Youth (1998) and drama film You Can Count on Me (2000). "It wasn't until theWashington Times finally nailed the story that it went away." Ruffalo graduated from First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, where he acted for the Patriot Playhouse. Mark Ruffalo has dealt with depression since he was a child. "I was praying and bargaining with God I said, 'please, don't take my face and don't take my life because without my face I can't really support my family, and with my life I definitely can't support my family." Mark Ruffalo's brother, Scott, was shot dead in Beverley Hills in 2008. Mark Ruffalo - Movies, Family & Facts - Biography In 2001, Mark Ruffalo grabbed the attention of the on-set doctor for a film he was working on. Scofield and Adham (who died of a suspected overdose in 2012) were later released and the coroner's report overruled. Whether you know Mark Ruffalo as the king of rom coms, the Hulk in the Marvel movie franchise, or as an Oscar-courting dramatic actor, one thing's for sure: there's no denying his talent or versatility. However, he did permanently lose his ability to hear in his left ear. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=c3d09bf3-c7f4-4d9e-b840-f9ca05ece3ca&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=6558139838960232115'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Mark Ruffalo's Tragic Real-Life Story - NickiSwift.com [1] In 2007, Ruffalo played divorced lawyer Dwight Arno, who accidentally kills a child and speeds away, in Terry George's film Reservation Road, based on the novel by John Burnham Schwartz. As a result of the tumour, he briefly suffered a period of partial facial paralysis. In 'I Know This Much Is True,' Mark Ruffalo Fights (and Comforts Prior to 9/11, he moved to upstate New York to get away from the spotlight and focus on recuperating. "I'd had surgery in the past and had a really bad reaction to the anesthesia anyway I was honestly afraid to die was my biggest fear," he said. Around 2000, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma. "My father told me that my heart had stopped briefly on the operating table," he explained. Mark Ruffalo - IMDb When she's not writing, she's probably immersed in reading or keeping up with the latest films on Mubi. He won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a TV Movie for playing a gay writer and activist in the television drama film The Normal Heart (2015), and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his dual role as identical twins in the miniseries I Know This Much Is True (2020). He directed a number of plays during his time at the Orpheus Theatre Company, and made his feature film directorial debut with 2010 indie film Sympathy for Delicious,[29] which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { So it wasn't too hard to revisit those places. "[44] In 2021, he said it was "inflammatory" and "disrespectful" to suggest Israel is committing genocide. And I thought, 'yep.'