5 things you probably didn’t know about Avengers star Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo, who has been nominated for multiple Academy, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG awards in his illustrious career spanning three decades, has several iconic roles/films to his credit that it would be a disservice to mention just a few. His latest is The Adam Project, a science fiction film that also stars Ryan Reynolds and reunited him with 13 going on 30 co-star Jennifer Garner. But there is so much more to this actor, who has lived an exciting and interesting life before achieving fame. Here’s a look at some facts you might not have known about the actor.

His first role was a 1989 Clearasil commercial

Mark started out as a young actor with small dreams. He got a job in a TVC for skincare brand Clearasil, which earned him $30,000. The actor, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, was elated by his 15 minutes of fame and spent all his earnings on celebrating with friends. He then had to return to doing odd jobs like bartending, moving, gardening, etc. Little did he know that his career was about to take off shortly after!

He once had a brain tumour

In the year 2002, Mark secretly underwent brain surgery at the NYU Medical Centre. He was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a benign tumour that needed to be surgically removed. He dealt with a partially paralysed face for over a year, with his facial and auditory nerves particularly at risk. He described the entire experience as ‘terrifying’ to New York Magazine.

He suffered from dyslexia and ADHD as a child

The Begin Again actor had a tough time in school because he was diagnosed with the two common learning disorders. Dyslexia impacts the brain’s ability to process language, while ADHD impairs one’s capacity to focus on organised tasks. Mark admitted to feeling out of place as a child because of this, but he would urge himself to get help and learn how to manage it. He has been an advocate for mental health ever since.

Co-founded a theatre company

You might know Mark from the big screen, but the actor has his roots in the theatre world. He started out in the early 1990s, first gaining recognition from his performance in Kenneth Lonergan’s play This is Our Youth. He then went on to be a co-founder of the Orpheus Theatre Company, where he wrote, directed and starred in several plays. The actor has also dabbled in television acting as well.

Took over the role of Hulk from Edward Norton, who is his friend in real life

Mark took over the iconic role of Bruce Banner from actor Edward Norton, who was removed from the franchise due to certain problems. The two actors are friends in real life, which means that this situation could have had been awkward for them. When asked about the incident, Mark said he chose to see it like friend Edward bequeathing the part to him, almost like a Hamlet for the new generation.

Go ahead and check out Mark Ruffalo’s latest release The Adam Project.