Mark Alan Ruffalo, born on November 22, 1967, is an American actor, producer, director, and activist. He started acting in small theater roles in the late 1980s and first gained attention for his performances in Kenneth Lonergan’s play This Is Our Youth (1996) and the film You Can Count on Me (2000).
He later starred in romantic comedies such as 13 Going on 30 (2004) and Just Like Heaven (2005), as well as thrillers like In the Cut (2003), Zodiac (2007), and Shutter Island (2010). Ruffalo became internationally known for playing Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with The Avengers (2012). He has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in The Kids Are All Right (2010), Foxcatcher (2014), Spotlight (2015), and Poor Things (2023). He won a Screen Actors Guild Award for The Normal Heart (2015) and a Primetime Emmy Award for I Know This Much Is True (2020). As of February 2026, at 58 years old, Ruffalo is still active in acting, producing, and supporting environmental, civil rights, and historic preservation causes.
Biography Update
Mark Ruffalo was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Marie Rose (Hébert), a hairdresser and stylist, and Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr., a construction painter. His father’s family is Italian, from Girifalco, Calabria, while his mother has French Canadian and Italian heritage. Ruffalo has two sisters, Tanya Marie (who passed away in 2023) and Nicole, and a brother, Scott, who died in 2008. Growing up, his family practiced Christianity, Catholicism, and the Baháʼí faith, which gave him a broad perspective from a young age.
Ruffalo went to both Catholic and progressive schools. As a child and teenager, he struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD. He spent his teenage years in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he wrestled in junior high and high school. After graduating from First Colonial High School in 1986, he acted at the Patriot Playhouse. Later, his family moved to San Diego and then Los Angeles. There, he studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory and helped start the Orpheus Theatre Company. He wrote, directed, and acted in several plays while working as a bartender for almost ten years.
Ruffalo’s big break came with You Can Count on Me (2000), which earned him critical praise. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Awake and Sing! (2006) and became known worldwide as Bruce Banner, or the Hulk, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe starting with The Avengers (2012). He has received four Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor for The Kids Are All Right, Foxcatcher, Spotlight, and Poor Things. He also won an Emmy for I Know This Much Is True (2020) and a SAG Award for The Normal Heart (2015).
In 2001, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor called a vestibular schwannoma, also known as an acoustic neuroma. Surgery led to partial facial paralysis and left him deaf in his left ear, but the paralysis improved after a year. In 2008, his brother Scott was murdered in Beverly Hills, and the case is still unsolved. Ruffalo and his family live in Sullivan County, New York, in the Catskills, and also have apartments in New York City.
Ruffalo is well known for his activism. He supports environmental causes like anti-fracking and opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline, as well as civil rights, pro-choice policies, and historic preservation, such as the West Park Presbyterian Church campaign from 2023 to 2025. He endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020, Kamala Harris in 2024, and has supported ceasefire efforts in Gaza between 2023 and 2025. In 2026, he continues to speak out on political and social issues while balancing his acting career and family life.
Age
Mark Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967. He is 58 years old as of February 2026.
Wife
Mark Ruffalo married Sunrise Coigney in 2000 after meeting in Los Angeles. They have been together for more than 25 years. Sunrise mostly stays out of the spotlight but has supported Ruffalo throughout his career and during his health challenges, including his brain tumor surgery in 2001. They mainly live in Sullivan County, New York, but also spend time in New York City and Maine.
Height
Mark Ruffalo is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. His height has never stopped him from playing strong, emotional, and physically impressive characters on screen.
Movies and TV Shows
Mark Ruffalo has appeared in many films and TV shows. Here are some of his most notable works:
| 2000 | You Can Count on Me | Terry Prescott | Breakthrough role |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 | Matt Flamhaff | Romantic comedy |
| 2005 | Just like Heaven | David Abbott | Romantic fantasy |
| 2007 | Zodiac | Dave Toschi | David Fincher thriller |
| 2010 | Shutter Island | Chuck Aule | Martin Scorsese film |
| 2010 | The Kids Are All Right | Paul | Oscar nomination |
| 2012 | The Avengers | Bruce Banner / Hulk | Marvel Cinematic Universe debut |
| 2014 | Foxcatcher | Dave Schultz | Oscar nomination |
| 2015 | Spotlight | Michael Rezendes | Oscar nomination; Best Picture winner |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Bruce Banner / Hulk | MCU finale |
| 2020 | I Know This Much Is True | Dominick / Thomas Birdsey | Emmy win for Lead Actor |
| 2023 | Poor Things | Duncan Wedderburn | Oscar nomination |
| 2024 | Only Murders in the Building (S4) | Guest role | Hulu series |
Other notable films include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), The Normal Heart (2014), and Dark Waters (2019).
Net Worth
As of 2026, Mark Ruffalo’s net worth is estimated to be between $35 and $40 million. He earns his wealth from several sources:
- Acting salary (especially in Marvel films and high-profile dramas).
- Producing credits.
- Endorsements and appearances.
- Real estate investments (New York and Catskills properties).
- Royalties from streaming and syndication.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Mark Alan Ruffalo |
| Date of Birth | November 22, 1967 |
| Age (Feb 2026) | 58 |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Wife | Sunrise Coigney (married 2000–present) |
| Children | 3 (two daughters, one son) |
| Key Roles | Bruce Banner/Hulk (MCU), Spotlight, Foxcatcher, Poor Things, I Know This Much Is True |
| Major Awards | Emmy (I Know This Much Is True), SAG (The Normal Heart), 4 Oscar nominations |
| Recent Activity | Activism (environment, civil rights, historic preservation), ongoing acting and producing |
| Net Worth (2026) | $35–40 million |
