When Mark Ruffalo first appeared on the scene, the comparisons to Marlon Brando were plentiful. It was an easy parallel to make — he was bursting with talent, darkly handsome and excelled at playing brooding, troubled characters.
Ruffalo even studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, which continued the teachings of Brando’s famous acting teacher. “You belong here, darling,” his teacher Joanne Linville told him in their interview, as recounted by Ruffalo in a Variety story. “I never had anyone tell me I belong somewhere. I had never been so excited about learning in my entire life as I embarked on that journey.”
But Ruffalo soon proved to be his own actor, seamlessly slipping into light comedies and superhero status as effortlessly as he made his dramatic work look. He just received his fourth Academy Award nomination for his sharp turn in “Poor Things” and on Feb. 8, will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In celebration of that event, we looked at 10 of his most memorable performances over the years.
TIPSHEET
WHAT: Mark Ruffalo receives his star on the Walk of Fame
WHEN: 11 a.m., Feb. 8
WHERE: 6777 Hollywood Blvd.
WEB: walkoffame.com
Foxcatcher (2014)
Ruffalo earned his second Oscar nomination (after “The Kids Are All Right”) for playing wrestler Dave Schultz, an Olympic Gold medalist who was murdered by millionaire John du Pont. Ruffalo has the challenge of playing a decent family man opposite Steve Carell as du Pont and Channing Tatum as Dave’s younger brother Mark. It can be hard to make goodness interesting, but Ruffalo presents a dedicated family man and athlete — making it all the more tragic when his life is inexplicably
cut short.
— Variety