From crippling poverty and illness to several brushes with death, this is the tragic real-life story of Mark Ruffalo. The Ruffalo family lived here for a number of years before Soda Butler also went out of business. 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. 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. When paramedics arrived at the 39-year-old. Ruffalo had a condition called an acoustic neuroma, a tumor situated behind his ear. In 2010, he co-starred in the Martin Scorsese thriller Shutter Island as U.S. I felt like I didn't belong.". With perhaps the exception of detectiveDavid Toschi,Ruffalo has had more experience with death than the characters he's portrayed. [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. Friendships usually form based on common beliefs, interests, or experiences, and Mark and Michael were no different. Just saying, 'Hey, this is who I am.'" Her work on TheThings reflects her sociological interest in the reality behind hit movies & TV shows, celebrity lifestyle, and reality TV drama. that he started to bring his anger home with him. "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.". "When he finally did, I was like, 'Oh my God, how could you bear all that?'" "Be careful what bargains you make," Ruffalo quipped while speaking to the ANA. However, he did permanently lose his ability to hear in his left ear. "I was working on a movie when I had a dream that I had a brain tumor, and it was like no other dream that I'd ever had. [36], In March 2016, Ruffalo narrated and produced Dear President Obama: The Clean Energy Revolution Is Now, a documentary by director Jon Bowermaster which looks at President Barack Obama's environmental tenure and legacy concerning the massive expansion of oil and natural gas drilling. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Later in life, Ruffalo discovered that some contributing factors to his childhood alienation may have been undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia. [38][39] The same month, Ruffalo endorsed Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election. His EGOT recognitions are: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. While Mark Ruffalo has been recognized for his professional and altruism, he's had a harder time getting to a position of being able to give back on a public scale than most people might assume. In fact, things went downhill pretty fast. Mark retreated to his home where he stayed in self-imposed exile, refusing visits from colleagues and friends alike. Mark Ruffalo. "Those are the ones you may be stuck to.". Thankfully, it started beating again, but despite the removal of the benign growth, his battle was just beginning. At least, that's what the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled. In fact, given everything he's been through, it's a wonder that he isn't a total jerk. "For a long time, I felt like someone had it in for me," Ruffalo told Parade. It appeared to fans as if Ruffalo simply disappeared into thin air. Self deprecation is the most lethal weapon in any ladykiller's arsenal. 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. "Drugs, alcoholism, AIDS." In all, I disappeared for a year." After filming the 2001 action drama The Last Castle starring Robert Redford, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma or acoustic neuroma. . Next: Mark Ruffalo Almost Passed On His Iconic '13 Going On 30' Role. In the ensuing scuffle, Ruffalo snatched the photographer's camera and confiscated the memory card. It's like a low-grade depression that just is running all the time in the background.". Beyond more adventures in Marvel-dom, Ruffalo says he hopes to keep producing passion projects like "I Know This Much Is True," and has ambitions to direct again, having previously helmed 2010 . sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. For his work on stage, Ruffalo has been once nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in a 2006 production of the dramatic play Awake and Sing!. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Unfortunately, Frank was only able to find temporary employment, and the family's financial situation spiraled into bankruptcy. More info, Mark Ruffalo, 52, is the epitome of the expression a 10 year overnight success. However, in the year 2000just as his career was taking offthe actor suffered a setback that could easily have thwarted the many achievements that lay ahead. He told her about the tumor a few weeks after their son Keen, who is now in his early twenties, was born. When she's not writing, she's probably immersed in reading or keeping up with the latest films on Mubi. According to Adham, she visited Scott to retrieve the keys to her car; she told the police that while she was with Scott, he mentioned something about Russian roulette, and she heard a gunshot shortly after. [36] The New York Times described the claim as "dubious" and stated that those "sounding the alarm", did not mention that the larvicide did not work through the central nervous system and that it has been approved by the World Health Organization. Terrorist Advisory List. [22] He has been noted for spoiling the endings of Avengers: Infinity War a year ahead of theatrical release,[20][21] as well as Avengers: Endgame a few weeks ahead of release. Marshal Chuck Aule, the partner of Leonardo DiCaprio's character Teddy Daniels. It catapulted his career. in 2006. The future star's neighbor was stabbed 12 times on Ruffalo's front porch after attempting to stop some local kids from stealing a car, and the violence even followed him to work. Here's a look back at Mark Ruffalo's tragic real-life story. The two other people present at Scott's home that night (26-year-old Shaha Adham, the daughter of a wealthy Saudi businessman, and Brian Scofield, her 29-year-old boyfriend) were arrested but told authorities that Scott inflicted the wound on himself. "You should have seen me in my 20s, man," he told the New York Daily News. MARK RUFFALO has starred in some of the highest grossing films including multiple within the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he plays Hulk. In 2011, he got his first Oscar nod for his performance in The Kids Are Alright. His efforts on behalf of the film caught the attention of the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security, which resulted in reports saying the actor had earneda spot on the U.S. With every new adversity, I protested almost to God 'How much more of this do I have to take?'". The actor was terrified that facial paralysis could cost him his career. 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. Joaquin Phoenix took on the part instead. According to the New York Post, the suicide of his longtime bestie Michael taught Ruffalo "the value of life" and made him all the more determined to make it as an actor. As a result of Ruffalo's paralysis, the actor remained outside the public eye for about a year to focus on his recovery. Years later, she called Ruffalo and said she wrote a script and had him in mind for the part. He has long since healed from his surgery, and while he still suffers from depression it really is a lifelong battle he seems to be managing his illness better than before. Ruffalo said: I was praying and sort of bargaining with God I was like hey man, please um you know don't take my face and don't take my life because without my face I can't really support my family and without my life definitely can't support my family.. He grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, alongside his brother and two sisters. While Ruffalo may never "cure" his depression, he is finding ways to make the most of his life as best he can. [45], In November 2021, Ruffalo criticized the not guilty ruling in the case of Kyle Rittenhouse in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin and said the people shot by Rittenhouse were murdered. Mark Ruffalo ( Full name: Mark Alan Ruffalo ) is a 55-year-old American actor and producer. 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. I had never seen a human being change that much." In an interview with New York Magazine, Ruffalo detailed his struggles after graduating high school. Ruffalos tumour had grown on his facial nerve responsible for controlling the muscles in the face. He has broad clinical experience in the psychoanalytic treatment of mood . After doing his own investigation, New York magazine wrote, he became "anti-fracking's first famous face. "[31] On October 4, 2010, Ruffalo appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show to discuss hydraulic fracturing and the FRAC Act of 2009. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The unfortunate diagnosis didn't only correspond with the birth of his son Ruffalo was also reaching new heights in his career. Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get His three siblings ( Scott Ruffalo, Tania, and Nicole) are all hairdressers. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. en.m.wikipedia.org comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment The 'Crazy' Way Mark Ruffalo Discovered He Had a Brain Tumor 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: Spotlight. Now at 53, his popularity has increased even more due to his role as Bruce Banner aka Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So it wasn't too hard to revisit those places. [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. As he told the Telegraph, Ruffalo took the role as an homage to his brother. [1] He appeared opposite Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise as a narcotics detective in Michael Mann's crime thriller Collateral (2004). While Mark Ruffalo was living in Los Angeles and taking classes at the Stella Adler Conservatory, he had a best friend named Michael. Because no one knows how to properly say Cara Delevingne. "My brother passing away was the final thing that kicked me over,"he recalled. When he grew up and had his own family, Mark eventually moved from their upstate New York home back to New York City sohis children could go to a school with a good program for dyslexic studentsbecause he didn't want his children to go through the same struggles he experienced. "You always wonder, 'What could I have done differently?'" He was all set to begin working on M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002) when he had the premonition, and he went to the production's doctor for advice. In an interview with Men's Journal, Mark Ruffalo described his childhood and experiences as a young man. Large tumours may lead to a complication called hydrocephalus. Ruffalo did in fact lose his hearing soon after surgery. Police arrested Adham but eventually released her, and no charges were filed. Ruffalo also kept the diagnosis secret from his wife, Sunrise Coginey who was pregnant with their first child at that time. xhr.send(payload); Ruffalo retreated to his home where he stayed in self-imposed exile, refusing colleagues and friends alike. And she said, 'you are crazy, but you shouldn't have to live with that fear, so I'll order you an MRIor CAT scantomorrow.'". At the time, Mark had just graduated from high school; in several interviews, he's recalled that the family was living in a neighborhood where drugs like meth were commonly sold. As a result of the tumour, he briefly suffered a period of partial facial paralysis. He told the doctor he had recently dreamt about having a brain tumour and wanted to get checked. However, Mark never gave up on his dream even when it felt like he was destined to fail. [1][2] He has two sisters, Tania and Nicole, and a brother, Scott (died 2008). While filming what would become a breakout role in his career, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumor, which he says was "the size of a golf ball" when it was found. After he did just that, Ruffalo made a lot of friends in the business, one of whom was Chris Penn. "I was so unbelievably miserable, and what was worse was people's reactions to seeing me. Grade school was always difficult for him in an interview with Parade, Ruffalo said, "I was miserable. Having recovered from partial facial paralysis caused by a benign brain tumor in 2002, and still affected by the death of his brother, Scott, in a shooting in late 2008, Mr. Ruffalo is more. Though he wanted to return to acting, his doctors strongly advised him against it. "I was certain I was going to die," he revealed. "It was so startlingthe impression from the dream was that it had to be dealt with immediately," he said. 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. Though Ruffalo continued working on his film, he remained retired from acting until he read the script for The Kids Are All Right. Also in 2014, Ruffalo received his second Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of wrestler Dave Schultz in the biographical drama Foxcatcher. Make it count. "I see it as kind of a gift in a weird way," the actor told W Magazine in 2011. dealt with depression since he was a child, After having a dream that he had developed a brain tumor, an interview with the Acoustic Neuroma Association, a spot on the U.S. For example, he had dyslexia, which makes it a challenge for people to read text in spite of being of normal intelligence in other respects. "Somehow this story came out about my being on this terrorist list," he told the newspaper. [70], In April 2022, Ruffalo urged voters to check voter ID requirements in their states through posts to his social media. One evening, a gang member entered and pulled a gun, though, luckily for Ruffalo and his colleagues, the guy working the door at the time was an off-duty police officer. Actor Mark Ruffalo, known for his role as Bruce Banner / Hulk, had a brain tumor in 2001. At least, that's what the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled. Your IP: The way the world looked to me changed." Ruffalo gained nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing a sperm-donor in the comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right (2010), Dave Schultz in the biopic Foxcatcher (2014), and Michael Rezendes in the drama Spotlight (2015). 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. After burning through his Clearasil money, he started tending at a local dive bar. [16][30], In 2008, Ruffalo expressed concern that gas companies were eyeing his family's land in Callicoon, New York. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Ruffalo has described himself as having been a "happy kid",[6] although he struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD as a child and a young adult. He's said he spent most of his time smoking, surfing, and wandering around aimlessly instead, a period when he was "just about ready to jump off a bridge. 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. An hour after the scan, while waiting in the neurologist's hospital room with his doctor, the nurse came in and asked Ruffalos doctor to have a chat outside the room with them. Coping with the paralysis proved difficult enough, but the road to recovery posed new challenges. ". He also continues to be a strong advocate for environmentalism, and he is never afraid to speak his mind when it comes to issues he is passionate about. "It wasn't until theWashington Times finally nailed the story that it went away." 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. 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. Around 2000, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma. Even after the tumour was removed, the resulting paralysis of the left side of Marks face caused complications for the actor. Mark Alan Ruffalo was born on November 22nd of 1967 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 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 ); As he told New York Magazine,he contacted director M. Night Shyamalan in an attempt to keep his acting gig in the upcoming film Signs. Understandably, his death affected Mark deeply. When hate rises, it calls all of us to rise . He moved with his family to San Diego, California and later to Los Angeles, where he took classes at the Stella Adler Conservatory and co-founded the Orpheus Theatre Company. Through a chance meeting with writer Kenneth Lonergan, Ruffalo began collaborating with him and appeared in several of his plays, including the original cast of This is Our Youth (1996), which led to Ruffalo's role as Laura Linney's character's brother in Lonergan's Academy Award-nominated 2000 film You Can Count on Me. Overcoming anger is essentially what playing the Hulk is all about, and, because of that, Mark Ruffalo wouldn't appear to be a natural fit for the part. Rated 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the project drew attention to the actor despite working opposite other established actors like Matthew Broderick and Laura Linney. [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." My relationship to acting became very clear. He received a Tony Award nomination for his supporting role in the Broadway revival of Awake and Sing! And then I found out I had my brain tumor.". "Like, 'Okay, he had a motorcycle accident and he's paralyzed on the left side of his face.'" Ruffalo was an avid supporter of Sundance Special Jury Prize-winning fracking documentary Gasland, helping to organize screenings of the film in an effort to raise awareness of its potentially disastrous effects on the environment and those living near the drill sites. During his break from acting, some speculated about the reasons for his sudden disappearance. } [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. [emailprotected]. Ruffalo did in fact lose his hearing soon after surgery. Not for the first time in his career, losing a role because of a tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as when Ruffalo returned to the fold he gained Academy recognition and a part in what would become the highest-grossing Hollywood franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all within the space of a few years. In the '90s, The Avengers star made notable appearances in playwright Kenneth Lonergan's plays. 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. The tragic event brought the actor out of his dark phase and gave him a newfound value for his own life. Mark Alan Ruffalo (/rflo/; born November 22, 1967) is an American actor and producer. Speaking about a difficult time in his life, Mark told Parade: "For a long time, I felt like someone had it in for me. Its symptoms include hearing loss affecting only one ear, hearing loss from inside the body, known as tinnitus, and vertigo, according to the NHS. Following brain surgery, he has fully recovered after suffering from a partial facial paralysis. Ruffalo made his acting debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse. He had been the angriest man in the world, and he had such a calm demeanor. While Ruffalo's tumor operation was a success, the effect of the tumor still left its mark on him. 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 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. 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. [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. [60], Ruffalo was interviewed by "We Are Change" at an anti-war rally in 2007. He was cast as the male lead for Lonergan's directorial debut in 2000, You Can Count on Me. "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. } ); Before surgery he was told he had an 80 percent chance of losing the hearing in his left ear and 20 percent chance of losing his facial nerve. 2008 also saw Ruffalo in Brian Goodman's What Doesn't Kill You with Ethan Hawke and Amanda Peet, which was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival. 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). From here on out, do the best you can to make it count.". Nick Fury actor Samuel Jackson called him a "cuddly little bear" and revealed that "everyone loves hugging on Mark" on the set of the Marvel movies, but, believe it or not, he was once a very angry young man. After a year, the paralysis receded, but Ruffalo's left ear remains deaf. Within an hour of the test, his doctor returned to share the results of the imaging. Small tumours may also be treated by stereotactic radiosurgery, which involves a precise beam of radiation targeting the tumour to prevent it growing bigger. [1] With the theater company, he wrote, directed, and starred in a number of plays. For more health news sent directly to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. It became tough not only for Ruffalo's career but his marriage as well. 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. "I didn't want any visitors," he later recalled. Ruffalo's big break came at the turn of the millennium when he was cast in the critically acclaimed drama You Can Count on Me, the success of which led to a role alongside the legendary Robert Redford in 2001's The Last Castle. Despite the harrowing nature of his health scare, Ruffalo still manages to find the silver lining. 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