Mark Ruffalo

Mark Alan Ruffalo is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for his roles as Fanning opposite Tom Cruise in the 2004 film The Shooter's Night and as detective Dave Toschi in the 2007 film Zodiac. Ruffalo appeared in minor roles in films such as The Dentist (1996) and Safe Men (1998). After meeting writer Kenneth Lonergan, he began working with him and appeared in many of his plays. One of these plays was This Is Our Youth (1998). His role in that play led to Ruffalo being cast in the lead role opposite Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me, where he portrayed Terry, Linney's confused, troubled brother. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress. Ruffalo received praise for his performance in the film and was compared to young Marlon Brando. Additionally, he was honored by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Montreal World Film Festival. Following You Can Count on Me, the actor began taking significant roles in major films. In 2002, he appeared in XX/XY; in 2003, he starred in My Life Without Me with Sarah Polley and in In the Cut with Meg Ryan.

In 2004, he appeared in Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and in We Don't Live Here Anymore, based on two short stories by Andre Dubus. Also in 2004, he starred alongside Tom Cruise in Collateral. Additionally, he played leading roles in romantic comedies such as View from the Top (2002), 13 Going 30 (2004), Just Like Heaven (2005), and Rumor Has It (2005). In 2006, he appeared in Awake and Sing!, a play by Clifford Odets that was nominated for Tony Awards and performed at the Belasco Theater in New York. In 2007, he played detective Dave Toschi in Zodiac. Also in 2007, he portrayed Dwight Arno, a divorcing attorney who accidentally kills a child, in Terry George's film Reservation Road, adapted from John Burnham Schwartz's novel of the same name. Finally, in 2012, he played Bruce Banner/Hulk in The Avengers.