Behind the huge successes and happy-go-lucky persona, Mark Ruffalo has had a history marred by tragedy, and it just keeps getting worse.
It turns out that Mark Ruffalo has been living with a lot of tragedy…
And fans have been left utterly heartbroken for the lovable actor after his most recent update.
We all know Mark Ruffalo…
Born in 1967, he’s enjoyed working as an actor and a producer in Hollywood for many years.
He’s a master of all genres.
Including comedy, romance, thriller, drama, and action. Is there anything he can’t do?!
He first gained recognition in romantic comedies such as 13 Going On 30 in 2004…
But he went on to land some super serious roles in movies such as Shutter Island (2010) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame (2012-2019).
He’s been acknowledged for his acting…
And he’s even been nominated for 3 Oscars and has won numerous Emmys and SAG awards. Not too shabby!
And has a wholesome home life.
He married Sunrise Coigney in 2000 and they have 3 children, son Keen (b. 2001), and daughters Bella Noche (b. 2005) and Odette (b. 2007).
And as well as being a family man, the actor is also very humble and generous.
His political activism on humanitarian, environmental, and mental health issues is hugely admirable.
His popularity has never been in question.
And he’s perhaps one of the most loved figures in Hollywood!
But there’s a bit more than meets the eye.
And it’s true when they say — you never know what happens behind closed doors.
It turns out that the actor experienced a very dark childhood.
He’s detailed his struggles with major depressive episodes throughout his adolescence. when speaking to Anthony Mason for CBS back in 2014.
It affected him a lot.
And Ruffalo was actually embarrassed about his desire to act, which resulted in him keeping it hidden from those close to him.
And he’s opened up about it.
Ruffalo described spending his youth smoking, surfing, and aimlessly wandering through life.
The heartbreak doesn’t end there.
Ruffalo lost a best friend named Michael while the pair were studying together at the Stella Adler Conservatory.
He suffered greatly in the aftermath.
“When he died, it rocked me out of a dark depression,” he recalled. “The moment he left, I realized that death wasn’t an escape, that suicide wasn’t an answer.”
He went through a lot…
In 2001, he had a dream about being diagnosed with a brain tumor and went to his doctor to check what was going on. Shortly afterward, he was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma. The tumor was benign, but the removal process left Ruffalo paralyzed in one side of his face and deaf in one ear.
And sadly, things got even worse…
In 2008, Ruffalo’s brother Scott Ruffalo was shot in the head in his own home.
It was a true family tragedy.
And although there have been arrests in the case, no one has been charged and the case remains unsolved.
The mystery is tough for the actor.
“It’ll always be the great mystery of my life,” Ruffalo said about not knowing who killed his brother. “I make peace with every mystery in my life, you just live alongside it.”
It’s truly remarkable how he’s got through it all.
And the fact he has made peace with his tragedies rather than refusing to accept them is truly admirable.
