Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Ventimiglia | |
---|---|
![]() Ventimiglia at the premiere of The Art of Racing in the Rain in 2019 | |
Born | Milo Anthony Ventimiglia July 8, 1977 Anaheim, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1995–present |
Spouse |
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (/ˌvɛntɪˈmiːljə/ VEN-tim-EEL-yə; born July 8, 1977) is an American actor. Making his screen acting debut on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995, he portrayed the lead role on the short-lived series Opposite Sex in 2000 before landing his breakthrough role the following year as Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls (2001–2007).
Thereafter, he appeared as Chris Pierce on American Dreams (2004–2005) and Richard Thorne on The Bedford Diaries (2006) before starring as Peter Petrelli on Heroes (2006–2010), for which he received nominations for Teen Choice, Saturn and People's Choice Awards. After appearing in main roles on the series Mob City (2013), Chosen (2013), and The Whispers (2015), Ventimiglia starred as Jack Pearson on This Is Us (2016–2022), for which he has received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He also starred in the drama series The Company You Keep (2023).
In film, Ventimiglia made his breakthrough as Rocky Balboa's son in the sixth installment of the Rocky film series, Rocky Balboa (2006), going on to reprise the role in the eighth installment Creed II (2018). He has also appeared in Pathology (2008), That's My Boy (2012), Kiss of the Damned (2013), Grace of Monaco (2014), Devil's Gate (2017), and The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019).
Ventimiglia also has a notable career in animation as a voice actor, starring in several animated television programs like Marvel Anime, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Robot Chicken.
Early life
[edit]Ventimiglia was born on July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California,[1] the youngest child of Carol and Peter Ventimiglia,[2] a Vietnam War veteran.[3] He has two sisters.[4] His father is of Sicilian descent and his mother has English and Scottish ancestry.[1] Ventimiglia has a self-described "crooked mouth," having been born with damaged facial nerves causing the left side of his mouth to remain immobile – much like actor Sylvester Stallone, with whom he worked in Rocky Balboa.[2]
Ventimiglia attended El Modena High School in Orange, California. During high school, Ventimiglia wrestled, acted in drama productions and served as student government president, graduating in 1995. At eighteen, Ventimiglia studied at the American Conservatory Theater for their summer program,[5] subsequently attending the University of California, Los Angeles as a theatre major.[6]
Career
[edit]![]() | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (June 2023) |
Early roles and breakthrough
[edit]At eighteen, Ventimiglia pursued an acting career, first starring as a gay teenager in Must Be the Music, a short film released as part of Strand Releasing's Boys Life 2.[7][8] He enrolled at UCLA before landing a role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, guest starring on television series including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Boston Public. He played Jed Perry, in the short-lived Fox TV series, Opposite Sex, which originally aired in 2000.[9]
![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Milo_Ventimiglia.jpg/170px-Milo_Ventimiglia.jpg)
From 2001 to 2006, Ventimiglia played brooding teen Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls; he was introduced in the second season as a leading cast member. He signed on for a spin-off of Gilmore Girls called Windward Circle which was to be focused on the relationship between Jess and his estranged father (played by Rob Estes), but the proposed series never made it to air.[10] Afterward, he dropped down to a guest star/recurring cast member, and he came back for four episodes in season four and two episodes in season six. In the third and final season of American Dreams, Ventimiglia played Chris Pierce, the rebellious boyfriend of Meg Pryor (Brittany Snow);[11] Pierce and his single mother, Shelly (Daphne Zuniga), a Playboy bunny, moved into the house next to the Pryors. In 2005, he starred in the mid-season replacement series The Bedford Diaries. The producers had only Ventimiglia in mind, but the show lasted only eight episodes and was one of several shows not picked up by the newly formed network The CW.
Heroes; film and production work
[edit]In between television work, Ventimiglia had supporting roles in the horror films Cursed (2005), directed by Wes Craven, and Stay Alive (2006), as well as starring roles in the short film Intelligence and the full-length feature Dirty Deeds (2005). The same year, he was cast as Robert "Rocky Jr." Balboa, the son of Rocky Balboa, in the sixth Rocky installment Rocky Balboa which was released in December 2006.[12]
He starred as Peter Petrelli in the NBC series Heroes, a show about "ordinary" people discovering they have superpowers, and portrayed the character until the series' conclusion in 2010. Ventimiglia also produced and developed a mini web-series called It's a Mall World as part of a marketing campaign for American Eagle Outfitters in 2007.[13] In mid-2007, he starred as the love interest of pop/R&B singer Fergie in the music video for "Big Girls Don't Cry". In 2008, he starred as a medical student in the horror film Pathology. The film co-starred Charmed actress Alyssa Milano and was directed by Marc Schölermann for MGM.[14]
In 2005, Divide Pictures created the DSC, or Divide Social Club, an online and global social network for like-minded people[15] co-founded by Ventimiglia with his best friends Russ Cundiff and Dino DeMilio, a radio producer for The Tom Leykis Show. Ventimiglia, Cundiff, and Divide Pictures partnered with Top Cow to produce the comic series REST which will be a monthly limited series. The comic is about John Barrett, a white-collar New Yorker whose life changes when he becomes addicted to a drug that prevents him from falling asleep. Divide also has a comic book called Berserker written by Rick Loverd.[16]
Film and television; This Is Us
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Milo_Ventimiglia%2C_David_Mazouz_-_HVFFLondon2017Gotham-ALS-17.jpg/220px-Milo_Ventimiglia%2C_David_Mazouz_-_HVFFLondon2017Gotham-ALS-17.jpg)
After working with writers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor on Pathology, Ventimiglia appeared in the pair's next film, Gamer.[17] Ventimiglia also starred in the Xavier Gens apocalypse thriller film, The Divide.[18]
Ventimiglia was the voice of Wolverine in the English dub of the Marvel Anime: Wolverine anime series and reprised his role in an episode of the Marvel Anime: Iron Man and an episode of Marvel Anime: Blade. He did not return to voice Wolverine in Marvel Anime: X-Men, due to that series portraying an older Wolverine, instead Wolverine was voiced by Steven Blum.[19] He played Ned Stax, a former marine, in Frank Darabont's short-lived neo-noir crime drama Mob City for TNT.[20] He also reprised his role as Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in November 2016. After this, he reportedly told USA Today that, "I hear rumors that they're bringing back everything that I've ever been a part of... I think it's exciting. At times, though, I think it's too much. There are more stories to tell with a lot of these characters, but at the same time some of these characters for some of us actors are more than a decade in the past. It was exciting going back to Gilmore Girls for the four Netflix movies, but I'm satisfied with it. I think the stories were told. I think it was great for the audience and fans to get just one small taste of that world again. But, at the same time, I think people should not get so greedy."[21]
Beginning in the fall of 2016, Ventimiglia starred opposite Mandy Moore in the critically acclaimed[22] NBC period drama series This Is Us playing Jack Pearson, the patriarch of a middle-class family in late 1980s/early 1990s America.[23] In 2017 Ventimiglia starred in the suspense thriller Devil's Gate alongside Amanda Schull.[24] For his role as Jack Pearson, Ventimiglia received his first Emmy nomination in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.[25]
In 2019, Ventimiglia starred opposite Amanda Seyfried in the film adaptation of The Art of Racing in the Rain, based on the novel by Garth Stein.[26]
Personal life
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Hayden_Panettiere_Milo_Ventimiglia.jpg/220px-Hayden_Panettiere_Milo_Ventimiglia.jpg)
Ventimiglia and fellow former Gilmore Girls co-star Alexis Bledel were in a relationship from 2002 to July 2006.[27] Ventimiglia also dated his Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere from December 2007 to February 2009.[28][29]
Ventimiglia and his sisters were raised as lacto-vegetarians, and he has maintained the diet as an adult.[30] He was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Sexiest Vegetarian in 2009.[31][32] He also does not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol.[31] He is a fan of The Clash[33] as well as The Smiths and Morrissey.[34]
Ventimiglia took a United Service Organization tour in July 2008, in support of American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. [35]
In 2023, Ventimiglia married model Jarah Mariano.[36]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Boys Life 2 | Jason | Segment: "Must Be the Music" |
1999 | She's All That | Soccer Player | |
Speedway Junky | Travis | ||
2000 | Massholes | Doc | |
2001 | Nice Guys Finish Last | Josh | Short film |
2003 | Winter Break | Matt Raymand | |
2005 | Cursed | Bo | |
Dirty Deeds | Zach Harper | ||
2006 | Intelligence | Colin Mathers | Short film |
Stay Alive | Loomis Crowley | ||
Rocky Balboa | Rocky Balboa Jr. | ||
2008 | Pathology | Dr. Ted Grey | |
2009 | Gamer | Rick Rape | |
Armored | Officer Jake Eckehart | ||
2010 | Order of Chaos | Rick | |
2011 | The Divide | Josh | |
2012 | That's My Boy | Chad Martin | |
Static | Jonathan Dade | Also executive producer | |
2013 | Kiss of the Damned | Paulo | |
Grown Ups 2 | Frat Boy Milo | ||
Breaking at the Edge | Ian Wood | ||
Killing Season | Chris Ford | ||
2014 | Grace of Monaco | Rupert Allan | |
Tell | Ethan Tell | Also producer | |
2015 | Walter | Vince | |
Wild Card | Danny DeMarco | ||
2016 | Madtown | Denny Briggs | |
2017 | Sandy Wexler | Barry Bubatzi | |
Devil's Gate | Jackson Pritchard | ||
2018 | Creed II | Rocky Balboa Jr. | |
Second Act | Trey | ||
2019 | The Art of Racing in the Rain | Denny Swift | |
2024 | Land of Bad | Captain Sugar |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Party Guest No. 1 | Episode: "Bourgie Sings the Blues" |
1996 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Letterman | Episode: "Terrible Things" |
Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Greg | Episode: "Hospital Blues" | |
1997 | EZ Streets | Young Cameron Quinn | Episode: "A Terrible Beauty" |
1998 | Brooklyn South | Johnny Mancuso | Episode: "Hospital Blues" |
Kelly Kelly | Steve Spencer | Episode: "Bye Bye Baby" | |
One World | Eric | Episode: "Community Service" | |
1999 | Promised Land | Tony Brackett | Episode: "In the Money" |
2000 | Opposite Sex | Jed Perry | Main role; 8 episodes |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Bobby Taylor | Episode: "Friends & Lovers" | |
2001–2006 | Gilmore Girls | Jess Mariano | 37 episodes |
2003 | Boston Public | Jake Provesserio | 3 episodes |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Lee Healy | Episode: "Escape" | |
2004–2005 | American Dreams | Chris Pierce | 12 episodes |
2006 | The Bedford Diaries | Richard Thorne III | Main role; 8 episodes |
2006–2010 | Heroes | Peter Petrelli | Main role; 70 episodes |
2008 | Robot Chicken | Green Arrow | Voice, episode: "They Took My Thumbs" |
2010 | The Webventures of Justin and Alden | Himself | Episode: "The Last Episode" |
Iron Man | Wolverine / Logan | Voice, episode "A Twist of Memory, A Turn of Mind" [37] | |
2011 | Suite 7 | Milo | Episode: "That Guy" |
The Temp Life | Cook | 2 episodes | |
Wolverine | Wolverine / Logan | Voice, 12 episodes | |
2012 | Blade | Wolverine / Logan | Voice, episode "Day Walker and Mutant (Claws and Blades)"[38] |
2013 | Mob City | Ned Stax | Main role; 6 episodes |
Chosen | Ian Mitchell | Main role; 11 episodes | |
2015 | Gotham | Jason Lennon / The Ogre | 3 episodes |
The PET Squad Files | Cash Buggiardo | 4 episodes | |
The Whispers | Sean Bennigan | Main role; 13 episodes | |
The League | Agent Baker | Episode: "The Block" | |
2015–2016 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Spider-Man Noir[39] | Voice, 4 episodes |
2016 | Relationship Status | Jack | Web series; 3 episodes |
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Jess Mariano | 2 episodes | |
2016–2022 | This Is Us | Jack Pearson | Main role |
2022–2023 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Sylvio / "Handsome man" | 2 episodes |
2023 | The Company You Keep | Charlie Nicoletti | Main role, also executive producer |
Podcasts
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Strawberry Spring | Kevin Hartigan | 8 episodes | [40] |
Music videos
[edit]Year | Title | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)" | Fergie | Love interest |
2014 | "I Can't Make You Love Me" | Priyanka Chopra |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | X-Men: Destiny | Grant Alexander | Voice role |
As director
[edit]Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2007 | It's a Mall World | Miniseries; 13 episodes |
2009 | Dave Knoll Finds His Soul | |
2010 | Ultradome | Episode: Han Solo vs. Indiana Jones |
2011 | Suite 7 | Episode: "That Guy" |
2019 | This Is Us | Episode #59: "Storybook Love" |
2021 | Episode #87: "Jerry 2.0" | |
2022 | Episode #96: "The Guitar Man" |
As producer
[edit]Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2007 | It's a Mall World | Producer; 13 episodes |
Winter Tales | Producer | |
2009 | Dave Knoll Finds His Soul | Executive producer |
2010 | Ultradome | Executive producer; 3 episodes |
2011 | Suite 7 | Producer; episode: "That Guy" |
2012 | Static | Executive producer |
2013 | The PET Squad Files | Executive producer; 6 episodes |
Chosen | Executive producer; 18 episodes | |
2014 | Tell | Producer |
2023 | The Company You Keep | Executive producer |
Writer
[edit]Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2010 | Ultradome | Co-creator |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Bravo Otto | Best Male TV Star | Gilmore Girls | Nominated |
2007 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Drama TV Actor of the Year | Heroes | Nominated |
Scream Awards | Best TV Superhero | Nominated | ||
2008 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Action or Adventure TV Actor of the Year | Won | |
Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Golden Nymph Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2009 | Saturn Awards | Best Television Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
2014 | International Academy of Web Television Awards | Best Male Performance in a Drama Television Series | Chosen | Won |
2017 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | This Is Us | Nominated |
Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Television Drama Series Actor | Nominated | ||
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actor In A New TV Series | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Drama TV Actor of the Year | Nominated | ||
2018 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
Gold Derby Awards | TV Drama Series Actor of the Year | Nominated | ||
TV Ensemble of the Year | Nominated | |||
Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Television Drama Series Actor | Nominated | ||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Television Drama Series | Won | ||
2019 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
Critics' Choice Awards | Best Television Drama Series Actor | Nominated | ||
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Male TV Star of the Year | Nominated | ||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Television Drama Series | Won | ||
Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals Awards | Man of the Year | — | Honored |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Milo Ventimiglia". Biography.com. The Biography Channel. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
- ^ a b Keck, William (December 18, 2006). "Yo! Ventimiglia gets into the tough-guy act". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
- ^ TV Guide. September 8–14, 2008. p. 20.
- ^ Dawn, Randee (March 20, 2017). "Try not to cry as Milo Ventimiglia reveals inspiration behind 'This is Us' character". Today. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia Fan". April 21, 2002. Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
- ^ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and television. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ^ Huisman, Mark J. (April 29, 1997). "Short and sweet". The Advocate: 65.
- ^ Scheetz, Cameron (February 27, 2024). "Years before he was king of the 3-inch inseam, Milo Ventimiglia played a gay teen in this '90s short film". Queerty. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Voss, Brandon (2008). "Our hero". The Advocate: 64.
- ^ "What Would Jess' Show Have Been Like?". Alloy. December 16, 2008. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ Bierly, Mandy (December 17, 2007). "Milo Ventimiglia checks in". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- ^ Carroll, Larry (December 19, 2008). "'Heroes' Star Sheds 'Dirty' Past to Become Rocky Balboa's Son". MTV. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ Howard, Theresa (May 9, 2007). "American Eagle Outfitters plans Web comedy". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009.
- ^ "Pathology (2008)". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- ^ "The Dsc – Divide Social Club". Dividesocialclub.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ^ Woman, The (January 29, 2010). "Top Cow Preview: Berserker #4". Dread Central. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ^ Jen Yamato (April 17, 2008). "Milo Ventimiglia Gets Dark in Pathology, Talks Role In Neveldine & Taylor's Game". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ "Xavier Gens' Apocalypse 'The Divide' Encompasses Genre Cast". Bloody-disgusting.com. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ^ "Marvel Television Announces Adrian Pasdar & Milo Ventimiglia For Iron Man & Wolverine Anime Series To Air On G4 July 2011" (Press Release). Anime News Network. April 3, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011.
- ^ "'Heroes' Alum Milo Ventimiglia To Star In Frank Darabont's TNT Pilot 'L.A. Noir'". Deadline. February 21, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia won't return as Jess if Netflix revisits 'Gilmore Girls'". USAtoday.
- ^ Poniewozik, Jamie (March 14, 2017). "'This Is Us' Ends a Tear-Jerking Season With a Beginning". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ Birnbaum, Debra (February 2, 2017). "'This Is Us' Star Milo Ventimiglia on Jack: 'I Don't Think He's Perfect at All'". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Schull to Star in Thriller 'Devil's Gate'". The Hollywood Reporter. April 15, 2015. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015.
- ^ "Emmys 2017: Full List of Nominations". Variety. July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ The Art of Racing in the Rain, retrieved July 8, 2021
- ^ "Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel, Boyfriend Split". People. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007.
- ^ "Trevor and Zena meet Milo Ventimiglia". BBC. April 22, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
- ^ "Hayden Panettiere & Milo Ventimiglia Split". People. February 17, 2009. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ Pashman, Heidi. "The 25 Sexiest Vegan and Vegetarian Celebrities". Shape. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Kim, Albert. "Milo Ventimiglia". Men's Fitness. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Koch, Wendy. "Sexiest Vegetarian? PETA's Contest Goes Beefcake" Archived November 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, USAToday.com, March 3, 2010.
- ^ Milo Ventimiglia (August 31, 2007). "Jo Whiley". BBC Radio 1 (Interview). Interviewed by Jo Whiley.
- ^ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (May 14, 2019), Milo Ventimiglia Geeks Out Over Morrissey, Rides Shotgun in Ubers, retrieved June 4, 2019
- ^ Milo Ventimiglia's USO tour Archived September 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia Is Married! 'This Is Us' Actor Secretly Ties the Knot with Model Jarah Mariano". Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "A Twist of Memory, A Turn of Mind". IMDb. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Alt URL
- ^ "Day Walker and Mutant (Claws and Blades)". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011. Alt URL
- ^ Cavanaugh, Patrick. "Check out these Guest Voices from Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors". marvel.com. Marvel.com. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
- ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (July 20, 2021). "Stephen King Gets into the Podcast Game With a Series Based on 'Night Shift'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Milo Ventimiglia at AllMovie
- Milo Ventimiglia at the American Film Institute catalog
- Milo Ventimiglia at IMDb
- 1977 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- People of Sicilian descent
- American people of English descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American people of Italian descent
- Living people
- Male actors from Anaheim, California
- UCLA Film School alumni
- People from Orange, California
- El Modena High School alumni