It seems Mark Ruffalo‘s journey to stardom was on the brink of being cut short. The Marvel star recently revealed that he had once seriously considered hanging up his acting boots. It was a pivotal moment that swayed his decision, setting him on a path that led to global recognition and critical acclaim.
Mark Ruffalo opens up about his decision to retire from acting
Mark Ruffalo has opened up about his past struggles with the acting profession, sharing that he contemplated bidding farewell to the spotlight. However, a turning point rekindled his passion for acting and propelled him towards unprecedented success.
The Now You See Me actor has revealed that he almost quit acting before his Oscar nod for The Kids Are All Right. The film’s success and recognition made him reconsider his decision to leave the profession.
“I directed a movie…and I literally loved it so much that I quit,” he told Entertainment Weekly in a joint interview with his Crime 101 co-stars, Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth. “I fired my agent and manager and was like, ‘That’s it.'”
In The Kids Are All Right, Ruffalo brought to life Paul, a laid-back owner of an organic food outlet and biological father to Joni and Laser, played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson. His subtle performance not only earned him the Oscar nomination, but the film itself became a landmark for its thoughtful portrayal of a same-sex couple raising kids.
Two years later, Mark Ruffalo’s Marvel debut as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in The Avengers (2012) catapulted him to superstardom. He then went on to impress in critically acclaimed dramas like Foxcatcher, Spotlight, and Poor Things, earning him three more Oscar nominations.
Mark Ruffalo’s latest project, Crime 101, released in U.S. theaters on February 13, 2026, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. This R-rated thriller follows a determined detective (Ruffalo) on the hunt for a cunning jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth), with Halle Berry adding star power to the mix.
