Mark Ruffalo, best known for playing Dr. Bruce Banner, the human alter ego of the incredible Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, born November 22, 1967 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is 57 years old today.

Dr. Banner may be his most famous role, but it was far from the award-winning actor’s first one—nor was it his first sci-fi/fantasy performance.

Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction Roles

• Christian, Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance (1994)
• Joey, Mirror. Mirror III: The Voyeur (1995)
• Steve Landers, The Dentist (1996)
• Stan Fink, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
• Matty Flamhaff, Thirteen Going on Thirty (2004)
• David Abbott, Just Like Heaven (2005)
• Adrian, Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
• Louis Reed, The Adam Project (2022)
• Duncan Wedderburn, Poor Things (2023)
• Hieronymus Marshall, Mickey 17(2025)
• Bruce Banner/the Hulk, The Avengers (2012)
• Bruce Banner/the Hulk, Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Bruce Banner/the Hulk, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Bruce Banner/the Hulk, Thor: Ragnarök (2017)
• Dr. Banner/The Hulk, Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Captain Marvel (2019)
• Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Bruce Banner, Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• Bruce Banner/The Hulk, What If
• Bruce Banner/The Hulk, She-Hulk, Attorney at Law

Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance was Ruffalo’s feature film debut. He appeared in The Destiny of Marty Fine (1996), which he co-wrote with director Michael Hacker.

One of Mark Ruffalo’s most important early roles was as Brent Benedict in the critically acclaimed The Last Big Thing (1996). Ruffalo appeared in We Don’t live Here Anymore (2004), as Jack Linden, and was also the film’s executive producer.

Sympathy Delicious (2010) was Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut. In addition to directing and producing, he acted in the film, playing the character of Joe.

Awards and honors

Mark Ruffalo is one of those actors whose work keeps attracting the attention important awards. He has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which is a record. These include nominations for an Oscar for his roles in The Kids Are All Right (2010), Foxcatcher (2014), Spotlight (2015), and Poor Things (2023). Mark Ruffalo won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for The Normal Heart (2015). He won a Prime Time Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in the 2020 mini-series I Know This Much Is True. On stage, Ruffalo was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for playing Moe Axelrod in the Broadway revival of the Clifford Odets play Awake and Sing! (2006). He was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording for narrating the Bernie Sanders political book Our Revolution: A Future to Believe (2018).

Personal Data

Mark Ruffalo, celebrated for his iconic roles on screen, is equally recognized for his passionate political activism. He is an ardent environmental advocate, vocally opposing fracking and promoting renewable energy initiatives. In 2013, Ruffalo co-founded The Solutions Project to help transition the U.S. to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and his 2019 film “Dark Waters” highlighted the dangers of corporate environmental negligence. Politically, Ruffalo has endorsed progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn and supported the Green Party of British Columbia. His activism extends beyond environmental issues to include civil rights, as he is a strong proponent of women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Internationally, Ruffalo has criticized U.S. foreign policy and spoken out on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including recent calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. By leveraging his fame, Ruffalo champions social justice, sustainability, and human rights, demonstrating a commitment to meaningful change that goes far beyond the Hollywood spotlight.

Mark Ruffalo is a family man as well. He married actress Sunshine Coigney in June 2000, which means next summer will be their 25th anniversary, their silver anniversary. They have three children together, son Keen, and daughters Bella and Odette.

In the MCU, the two characters Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner are sweet on each other, but the actors who play them have a special connection in real life. Friday, November 22, 2024 is actress Scarlett Johansson’s 40th birthday, as well as Mark Ruffalo’s 57th birthday. Johansson has a twin brother named Hunter, so today is his 40th birthday as well

Happy Birthday to the three of you. You are gifts to the world, and we are glad you are a part of ours.