Brain Tumor Is Not Avenger Mark Ruffalo's Endgame

Mark Ruffalo may be the incredible Hulk on screen. But in real life, he proves himself just as remarkable with the many obstacles he overcame. In the past, he has battled with depression, ADHD and suffered a brain tumour which left him deaf in one ear. Despite all that, he still hulks through and continues to find success as an established actor.

- Hannah May-Lee Wong

Just like Bruce Banner aka the incredible Hulk, Mark Ruffalo is a multi-faceted character, wearing many hats in his personal and professional life. On Twitter, he describes himself as a husband, father, actor, director and climate change activist. That’s not all, due to his experience growing up with learning disability, he is also an advocate for dyslexia and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) awareness.

A Diamond in the Ruff(alo)

Mark Alan Ruffalo, was born on November 22nd, 1967 to parents Marie Rose and Frank Lawrence Ruffalo Jr. He grew up attending a Catholic school but struggled with academics due to undiagnosed dyslexia, ADHD and depression. On growing up, he shares with the Child Mind Institute: “(I was) feeling strange and unique and freakish—feeling I didn’t fit in anywhere. I would say to my younger self that there’s help and there are ways to deal with it and to manage it—to overcome it.”

According to Mark, the best way to deal with the disability is to embrace it. He says in an interview with Vanity Fair, “All three of my kids are dyslexic and two of them have ADHD … but where they’re going to school now, and the way we’re dealing with it, is to be upfront about it, accepting, and without shame. And those kids are prospering in that environment.”

Playing the Romantic