Mark Ruffalo hasdealt with depression since he was a child. Read on to learn the stranger-than-fiction way he learned of his condition, and why he now views the experience as a gift. "You always wonder, 'What could I have done differently?'" I was struggling as a young actor, suffering through imagined or real slights from other people's hands. Scofield and Adham (who died of a suspected overdose in 2012) were later released and the coroner's report overruled. James Powers, the Director of Pennsylvania's Office of Homeland Security, resigned after controversy surrounding the unlawful monitoring of activist groups began to surface. In fact, according to Ruffalo, some outlets picked up the story and paired it with news of Scott Ruffalo's unsolved murder to create a more compelling story. In 2003, Ruffalo scored leading roles alongside two popular female stars, playing a police detective opposite Meg Ryan in In the Cut (2003) and the love interest of Gwyneth Paltrow in the comedy View from the Top (2003). In December 2008, Ruffalo's younger brother and former roommate Scott was murdered. The way the world looked to me changed." The brain tumor Mark was diagnosed with was found to be benign. I had never seen a human being change that much." kWhen that ringing faded, Ruffalo realized that he'd lost all hearing in his left ear. Ruffalo and his family call the . 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. After he did just that, Ruffalo made a lot of friends in the business, one of whom was Chris Penn. In an interview with New York Magazine, Ruffalo detailed his struggles after graduating high school. "The best of times, the worst of times.". Its symptoms include hearing loss affecting only one ear, hearing loss from inside the body, known as tinnitus, and vertigo, according to the NHS. "We'd go to the park in the morning and there would be bodies strewn out in the grass. 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. [1], In the mid-2000s, Ruffalo appeared as a romantic lead in View From the Top (2002), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Just Like Heaven (2005) and Rumor Has It (2005). Bonus: You'll also be a much, much healthier man. Born in Wisconsin to a hairdresser mother and painter father, a Hollywood life was far from what he was used to. "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.". Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Her personal work revolves around philosophy and eroticism. Net Worth Eventually, word got out about Ruffalo's diagnosis and subsequent surgery, putting those rumors to rest. Following brain surgery, he has fully recovered after suffering from a partial facial paralysis. My relationship to acting became very clear. With every new adversity, I protested almost to God 'How much more of this do I have to take?'". It's not accurate, it's inflammatory, disrespectful & is being used to justify antisemitism here & abroad. However, he did permanently lose his ability to hear in his left ear. 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. 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. Her work on TheThings reflects her sociological interest in the reality behind hit movies & TV shows, celebrity lifestyle, and reality TV drama. [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. Mark Ruffalo. 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. "Somehow this story came out about my being on this terrorist list," he told the newspaper. I had become friendly with the set doctor on that movie who was on the board of the local hospital," the Spotlight star told the Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA) in 2013. What is it? In 2001, Mark Ruffalo grabbed the attention of the on-set doctor for a film he was working on. [56], Ruffalo and his family live in Sullivan County, New York, describing the Catskill Mountains as his "home". "[44] In 2021, he said it was "inflammatory" and "disrespectful" to suggest Israel is committing genocide. It was a rough journey with prescribed steroids slowing down his recovery. Father was a construction painter and mother a hairstylist. Ruffalo fired his agent and publicist, left his apartment in L.A., and moved to a secluded home in upstate New York with his wife and three children. With perhaps the exception of detectiveDavid Toschi,Ruffalo has had more experience with death than the characters he's portrayed. All of the reasons why stars are definitely not like us. "I've been struggling with that my whole life. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can unsubscribe at any time. He also would walk for miles each day. During his ramp-up to wider success, Ruffalo suffered a setback in 2002 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His three siblings ( Scott Ruffalo, Tania, and Nicole) are all hairdressers. } ); MBC A retelling of his life in He failed several times in the audition and went through tremendous suffering such as being judged for a brain tumor, facial paralysis, and deafness. Mark was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001 and was left with partial facial paralysis after undergoing surgery to remove it. "I went to her that morning and I said, 'listen, I had a really scary dream last night and you're probably going to think I'm crazy, but I think I have a brain tumor and I'd really like to get it checked out.' 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. } 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. 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. "[31] On October 4, 2010, Ruffalo appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show to discuss hydraulic fracturing and the FRAC Act of 2009. The tragic event brought the actor out of his dark phase and gave him a newfound value for his own life. At least, that's what the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled. Mark L. Ruffalo, M.S.W., D.Psa., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Tampa, Florida, and serves as Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Adjunct Instructor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. [38][39] The same month, Ruffalo endorsed Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election. 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. Ruffalo did in fact lose his hearing soon after surgery. "It's pretty much a daily practice that quiets your brain and oddly enough, actually slows down time, so you're not so much trapped in your immediate reactions to things," he explained. 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. "Within six months, we went from normal to bankrupt and eliminated as a family," the actor said. For his talents, Mark has received numerous nominations and awards including a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In fact, he made his directorial debut withSympathy for Delicious, a film about a paralyzed DJ who enters into faith-healing. Young women, totally strung out, sores all over their face, would knock on our door asking for money or food. 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. Mark Ruffalo has dealt with depression since he was a child. Click to reveal The actor says that while he experienced no notable symptoms after being diagnosed, he was advised to get surgery quickly as the tumor was resting on a facial nerve. This can put pressure on the brain which can result in intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities". Its a long-running, low-grade depression all the time. Ruffalo stated in an interview that he approached Cholodenko after watching High Art and said he would love to work with her. According to a toxicology report obtained by Access Hollywood (via People), the 40-year-old had Valium, morphine, codeine and marijuana in his system when he passed, but the actual cause of death was complications arising from an enlarged heart, the coroner confirmed. Updated on April 21, 2022: These days, Mark Ruffalo is doing much better. There, he attended the Stella Adler Conservatory while working as a bartender a job that he did for almost a whole decade. In that time, Ruffalo kept quiet about why he'd dropped off the map, but that didn't stop people from guessing. that he started to bring his anger home with him. From here on out, do the best you can to make it count.". Coping with the paralysis proved difficult enough, but the road to recovery posed new challenges. More info. In the ensuing scuffle, Ruffalo snatched the photographer's camera and confiscated the memory card. Not that he wouldn't change things if he could. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Now is the time to avoid hyperbole", "Mark Ruffalo and Viola Davis lead reactions as Kyle Rittenhouse found not guilty", "We come together to mourn the lives lost to the same racist system that devalues Black lives and devalued the lives of Anthony and JoJo", "Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict: Hollywood Reacts To Acquittal With Outrage But Not Surprise", "Mark Ruffalo Jokes That His Kids Do Not Respect the Hulk: See His Family on the Red Carpet", "Mark Ruffalo Shares His Kids Shot a Scene for 'Thor: Ragnarok': 'They Had a Great Day' (Exclusive)", "Crazy Dream That Led To The Discovery of Mark Ruffalo Brain Tumor", "Mark Ruffalo's Brother Shot in the Head", "Mark Ruffalo Opens Up About the Murder of His Younger Brother Scott", "Mark Ruffalo's stepfather to speak at screening", "Mark Ruffalo and HBO Sued Over 2019 Fire on Set of I Know This Much Is True", "Kylie Jenner Isn't the Only Celebrity Who Believes in Chemtrails", "9 Stars Who Have Been 9/11 Conspiracy Truthers (Photos)", "Mark Ruffalo's pro-choice stance on abortion rights sets a powerful example", "Mark Ruffalo says capitalism is 'killing us'; millionaire actor calls for 'economic revolution', "Mark Ruffalo Reveals The Message Of "The Normal Heart" And The Personal Reason LGBT Equality Is Important To Him", "Mark Ruffalo Defends Matt Bomer Amid Transgender Casting Criticism", "Celebrities split over Ellen DeGeneres's remarks about George W. Bush", "Is Socialism Here To Stay In 2016, Or Is Bernie Sanders Just Another Howard Dean? Unfortunately, Frank was only able to find temporary employment, and the family's financial situation spiraled into bankruptcy. I didn't know how to live in the world, how to cope. 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. In school, he often felt like the odd one out. 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). It was successfully removed with surgery, but Ruffalo suffered from partial paralysis of his face for a . Even then, it remained a secret between them, his close friend, and his doctor. Scott Ruffalo's murder remains unsolved. This sounds sappy, but I was always aware of the frailty of human beings, the sorrow in the nature of things. Terrorist Advisory List. 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). Ruffalo feared that the surgery had ruined his acting ability, but, fortunately, the best was yet to come. [8], He made his screen debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse (1989),[9] followed by minor film roles, and was part of the original cast of This Is Our Youth (1996). Police questioned Shaha Mishaal Adham and her boyfriend Brian Scofield after they willingly came forward. In an interview with Men's Journal, Mark Ruffalo described his childhood and experiences as a young man. After graduation, his family uprooted and moved to what the men's mag described as a "seedy beach community" in San Diego, though things didn't exactly work out the way his parents (a house decorator and a hair stylist) had planned. Mark also explained that he underwent various therapies to help alleviate the paralysis, including acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage, and other forms of alternative medicine in conjunction with his prescribed regimen. And, technically, he did. "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." In 2014, Ruffalo starred as Ned Weeks in a television adaptation of Larry Kramer's AIDS-era play, The Normal Heart; his performance earned him an Emmy nomination. Brain tumour signs, Marie Fredriksson health: Roxette singer passed away from cancer, Neil Peart dead: Rush drummer dies age 67 after cancer battle. This wasn't the last time that Mark Ruffalo would find himself under investigation by the authorities, according to some severely misinformed news outlets, at least. 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. The side effects of the operation, however, have left Mark with many side effects. "When I woke up I was so sickand I was not dead, so that was goodbut I was so sick I almost wished I was." 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. 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!. 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. In May of 2017, heteamed up with the Child Mind Institute to participate in their #MyYoungerSelf initiative, through which celebrities talked about what they would have told their younger selves as they lived with a mental health or learning disorder. Loss of hearing in his left ear and one side of his face becoming completely paralysed still affects him today. Though the tumor was benign, the resulting surgery led to a period of partial facial paralysis, from which he fully recovered. In the '90s, The Avengers star made notable appearances in playwright Kenneth Lonergan's plays. But anaesthesia wasnt the only thing Ruffalo was worried about. 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. Ruffalo is one of the few performers to receive all four EGOT nominations. The surgery to remove the tumor, which was determined to be benign, led to a. "My father told me that my heart had stopped briefly on the operating table, so that was scary to me," the star revealed. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. "My father told me that my heart had stopped briefly on the operating table," he explained. "[67], In the 2016 election, Ruffalo supported Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. [1] With the theater company, he wrote, directed, and starred in a number of plays. These non-routine tests have the potential to save your life. It led to speculations that he was battling alcoholism, drug addiction, or AIDS. "Its Dysthymia. But take these tragic things and turn them into something meaningful and worthy of the loss. [69], Ruffalo signed a letter supporting Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him for in the 2019 UK general election. [1][2] He has two sisters, Tania and Nicole, and a brother, Scott (died 2008). [42], Also in 2019, Ruffalo starred in and co-produced Dark Waters, which spotlighted another one of his environmental concerns with its true-life depiction of a corporate lawyer's relentless pursuit of justice to expose poisonous pollution by chemical behemoth DuPont. 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. [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. Fortunately, he recovered fully after a brief spell of illness. According to theLos Angeles Times, on Dec. 8, 2008, Mark's brother, Scott, died a week after he was shot in the head in his own home. Mark had a CAT scan after which he received the devastating diagnosis of that he had acoustic neuroma, a form of brain cancer. He finally got the break he needed and was cast in a variety of films that made him become a recognised face. Prior to 9/11, he moved to upstate New York to get away from the spotlight and focus on recuperating. Its like a low-grade depression that just is running all the time in the background.". Luckily, they were able to remove the tumor successfully. He had been the angriest man in the world, and he had such a calm demeanor. [34], In 2015, Ruffalo supported "Education Is Not a Crime" campaign among a lot of artists and intellectuals including Nazanin Boniadi, Abbas Milani, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Azar Nafisi, Omid Djalili, Eva LaRue, Mohammad Maleki (former president of the University of Tehran), and Nobel Peace laureates such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Tawakkol Karman, Jody Williams, and Mairead Maguire, to draw attention to the Iranian government's systematic denial of university education to young Baha'is.