Milo Ventimiglia | |
|---|---|
 Ventimiglia in 2019 | |
| Born | Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (1977-07-08)July 8, 1977 (age 48) Anaheim, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (/ˌvɛntɪˈmiːljə/VEN-tih-MEEL-yə; born July 8, 1977)[1] is an American actor. Making his screen acting debut onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995, he portrayed the lead role on the short-lived seriesOpposite Sex in 2000 before landing his breakthrough role inGilmore Girls (2001–2007).
Ventimiglia starred asPeter Petrelli in the superhero seriesHeroes (2006–2010). After appearing in main roles in the seriesMob City (2013),Chosen (2013), andThe Whispers (2015), he starred asJack Pearson onThis Is Us (2016–2022), for which he has received three nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He also starred in the drama seriesThe Company You Keep (2023).
In film, Ventimiglia made his breakthrough asRocky Balboa's son in the sixth installment of theRocky series,Rocky Balboa (2006), and reprised his role in the eighth installmentCreed II (2018). He has also appeared inPathology (2008),That's My Boy (2012),Kiss of the Damned (2013),Grace of Monaco (2014),Devil's Gate (2017), andThe Art of Racing in the Rain (2019).
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia was born on July 8, 1977, inAnaheim, California,[2] the youngest child of Carol and Peter Ventimiglia,[3] the latter being aVietnam War veteran.[4] He has two sisters.[5] Ventimiglia is ofSicilian descent through his father, and ofEnglish andScottish descent through his mother.[2] He 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 actorSylvester Stallone, with whom he worked inRocky Balboa.[3]
Ventimiglia attendedEl Modena High School inOrange, California, where he competed inwrestling, acted in drama productions and served as student government president. He graduated in 1995. At eighteen, Ventimiglia studied at theAmerican Conservatory Theater for their summer program,[6] subsequently attending theUniversity of California, Los Angeles as a theatre major.[7]
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At eighteen, Ventimiglia pursued an acting career, first starring as a gay teenager inMust Be the Music, a short film released as part of Strand Releasing'sBoys Life 2.[8][9] He enrolled at UCLA before landing a role onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, guest starring on television series includingCSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit andBoston Public. He played Jed Perry, in the short-lived Fox TV series,Opposite Sex, which originally aired in 2000.[10]
From 2001 to 2006, Ventimiglia played brooding teenJess Mariano onGilmore Girls; he was introduced in the second season as a leading cast member. He signed on for a spin-off ofGilmore Girls calledWindward Circle which was to be focused on the relationship between Jess and his estranged father (played byRob Estes), but the proposed series never made it to air.[11] 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 ofAmerican Dreams, Ventimiglia played Chris Pierce, the rebellious boyfriend ofMeg Pryor (Brittany Snow).[12] He starred in the mid-season replacement seriesThe 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 networkThe CW.[13]
In between television work, Ventimiglia had supporting roles in the horror filmsCursed (2005), directed byWes Craven, andStay Alive (2006), as well as starring roles in the short filmIntelligence and the full-length featureDirty Deeds (2005). The same year, he was cast as Robert "Rocky Jr." Balboa, the son of Rocky Balboa, in the sixthRocky installmentRocky Balboa which was released in December 2006.[14]
He starred asPeter Petrelli in the NBC seriesHeroes, 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 calledIt's a Mall World as part of a marketing campaign forAmerican Eagle Outfitters in 2007.[15] In mid-2007, he starred as the love interest of pop/R&B singerFergie in the music video for "Big Girls Don't Cry". In 2008, he starred as a medical student in the horror filmPathology. The film co-starredCharmed actressAlyssa Milano and was directed by Marc Schölermann forMGM.[16]
In 2004, Milo Ventimiglia co-founded DiVide Pictures with producer Russ Cundiff. The American production company develops scripted and unscripted content across film, television, and digital platforms. As of 2024, the company has been involved in the development of over 30 projects for various networks and studios. DiVide Pictures is under an exclusive television development deal with 20th Television, a division of Disney Television Studios. In 2023, it producedThe Company You Keep for ABC, in which Ventimiglia starred and served as an executive producer. The company’s film credits includeTell andStatic. DiVide has also produced branded content in collaboration with companies such as eBay, Cadillac, and GQ.[17]
After working with writers Mark Neveldine andBrian Taylor onPathology, Ventimiglia appeared in the pair's next film,Gamer.[18] Ventimiglia also starred in theXavier Gens apocalypse thriller film,The Divide.[19]
Ventimiglia was the voice ofWolverine in the English dub of theMarvel Anime: Wolverine anime series and reprised his role in an episode of theMarvel Anime: Iron Man and an episode ofMarvel Anime: Blade. He did not return to voice Wolverine inMarvel Anime: X-Men, due to that series portraying an older Wolverine, instead Wolverine was voiced bySteven Blum.[20] He played Ned Stax, a former marine, inFrank Darabont's short-lived neo-noir crime dramaMob City forTNT.[21] He also reprised his role asJess Mariano inGilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in November 2016. After this, he reportedly toldUSA 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 toGilmore Girls for the fourNetflix 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."[22][23]
Beginning in the fall of 2016, Ventimiglia starred oppositeMandy Moore in the critically acclaimed[24] NBC period drama seriesThis Is Us playing Jack Pearson, the patriarch of a middle-class family in late 1980s/early 1990s America.[25] In 2017 Ventimiglia starred in the suspense thrillerDevil's Gate alongsideAmanda Schull.[26] For his role as Jack Pearson, Ventimiglia received his firstEmmy nomination in the categoryOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.[27]
In 2019, Ventimiglia starred oppositeAmanda Seyfried in the film adaptation ofThe Art of Racing in the Rain, based on the novel by Garth Stein.[28]
Ventimiglia and fellow formerGilmore Girls co-starAlexis Bledel were in a relationship from 2002 to July 2006.[29] Ventimiglia also dated hisHeroes co-starHayden Panettiere from December 2007 to February 2009.[30][31]
Ventimiglia and his sisters were raised aslacto-vegetarians, and he has maintained the diet as an adult.[32] He was namedPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Sexiest Vegetarian in 2009.[33][34] He also does not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol.[33]
Ventimiglia is a fan of rock bandsThe Clash[35] andThe Smiths, as well as the latter band's long-time vocalist,Morrissey.[36]
In July 2008, Ventimiglia completed aUnited Service Organization tour in support of American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.[37]
In September 2023, Ventimiglia married modelJarah Mariano.[38] On September 29, 2024, Mariano announced that she was pregnant with their first child.[39] They welcomed their first child, a daughter, on January 23, 2025.[40]
In January 2025, his home inMalibu burned down due to theCalifornia wildfires.[41][42]
| 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 | [43] |
| 2026 | I Can Only Imagine 2 | Tim Timmons | Post-production |
| 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"[44] | |
| 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)"[45] |
| 2013 | Mob City | Ned Stax | Main role; 6 episodes |
| Chosen | Ian Mitchell | Main role; 11 episodes | |
| 2015 | Gotham | Jason Lennon / 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 | Voice, 4 episodes[46][47] |
| 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; occasional director |
| 2022–2023 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Sylvio / "Handsome man" | 2 episodes[48] |
| 2023 | The Company You Keep | Charlie Nicoletti | Main role, also executive producer |
| 2025 | Countdown | Robert Darden | Episode: “Teeth in the Bone” |
| TBA | I Will Find You | Hayden | Upcoming series |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Strawberry Spring | Kevin Hartigan | 8 episodes | [49] |
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)" | Fergie | Love interest |
| 2014 | "I Can't Make You Love Me" | Priyanka Chopra |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | X-Men: Destiny | Grant Alexander | Voice role[47] |
| 2025 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 | David “Section” Mason | Voice and motion capture[50] |
| 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" |
| 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 |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Ultradome | Co-creator |
| 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 | N/a | Honored |
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