Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Ventimiglia | |
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Born | Milo Anthony Ventimiglia July 8, 1977 Anaheim, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1995–present |
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (/vɛntɪˈmiːljə/, Italian: [ventiˈmiʎʎa]; born July 8, 1977) is an American actor, director and producer. After a series of roles in television series and parts in independent films, he gained international recognition for his roles as Jess Mariano on the television series Gilmore Girls from 2001 to 2006, and as Peter Petrelli on the NBC series Heroes from 2006 to 2010. He currently[when?] stars as Jack Pearson on the NBC drama This Is Us.
Ventimiglia made his debut as party guest #1 on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1995), eventually being cast in the short-lived Fox series Opposite Sex in 2000. His later roles include Richard Thorne on The WB's The Bedford Diaries, a recurring role as Meg Pryor's love interest on NBC's American Dreams, and Rocky Balboa's son (Rocky Jr.) in the sixth and eighth installments of the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa (2006) and Creed II (2018). He starred as Peter Petrelli on NBC's Heroes from 2006 to 2010, for which he received nominations for Teen Choice, Saturn and People's Choice Awards. He also had roles in the horror films Pathology (2008) and Kiss of the Damned (2013).
Ventimiglia later appeared in television as Ian Mitchell on the Crackle original series Chosen as well as Sean Bennigan on The Whispers in 2015. He reprised his role as Jess Mariano on Netflix's reunion miniseries, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016), and currently[when?] stars as Jack Pearson on NBC's This Is Us (2016–present). For his role as Jack Pearson, Ventimiglia has received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. As part of the This Is Us cast, he went on to win a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2019.
Early life
Ventimiglia was born July 8, 1977[1] in Anaheim, California, the youngest child of Carol (née Wilson) and Peter Ventimiglia,[2] a Vietnam War veteran.[3] He has two older sisters, Leslie and Laurel.[1][4] His father is of Italian-Sicilian descent and his mother is of English and Scottish ancestry.[5] Ventimiglia was born with a self-described "crooked mouth" that is the result of being born with damaged nerves on the left side, which cause that side 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, where he wrestled, acted in drama productions and held the office of president in student government. He graduated in 1995. At eighteen years of age, Ventimiglia studied at the American Conservatory Theater for their summer program.[6] He attended the University of California, Los Angeles as a theatre major.[7]
Career
Early roles and breakthrough
At eighteen, Ventimiglia began pursuing an acting career. His first starring role was as a gay teenager in Must Be the Music, a short film released as part of Strand Releasing's Boys Life 2.[8] After, he enrolled at UCLA before landing a role on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He has guest starred on such television series as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Boston Public. He had the part of the main character, Jed Perry, in the short-lived Fox TV series, Opposite Sex, which originally aired in 2000.[9]
From 2002 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, move 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
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 program 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 movie 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
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] Ventimiglia stars in the upcoming 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 2017, it was reported that he would star opposite with Amanda Seyfried in the upcoming adaptation film The Art of Racing in the Rain based on the novel set to release in mid-2019. [26]
Personal life
Ventimiglia and fellow former Gilmore Girls co-star Alexis Bledel were in a relationship from December 2002 to June 2006.[27] Ventimiglia also dated his Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere from December 2007 to February 2009.[28][29]
Ventimiglia has said in interviews that both he and his sisters were raised as lacto-vegetarians by his parents and that 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 from July 6 to 12, 2008 in support of American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.[35]
Filmography
Film
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 | ||
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 | ||
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 |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Party Guest #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" | |
2001–06 | Gilmore Girls | Jess Mariano | 37 episodes |
2003 | Windward Circle | Jess Mariano | Unsold pilot |
Boston Public | Jake Provesserio | 3 episodes | |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Lee Healy | Episode: "Escape" | |
2004–05 | American Dreams | Chris Pierce | 12 episodes |
2006 | The Bedford Diaries | Richard Thorne III | Main role; 8 episodes |
2006–10 | 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" |
2011 | Suite 7 | Milo | Episode: "That Guy" |
The Temp Life | Cook | 2 episodes | |
Wolverine | Wolverine / Logan (voice) | 12 episodes | |
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" | |
2015–16 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Spider-Man Noir (voice)[36] | 4 episodes |
2016 | Relationship Status | Jack | Web series; 3 episodes |
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Jess Mariano | 2 episodes | |
2016–present | This Is Us | Jack Pearson | Main role |
Music videos
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
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | X-Men: Destiny | Grant Alexander | Voice role |
Director
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" |
Producer
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 |
Writer
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2010 | Ultradome | Co-creator |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Drama | Heroes | Nominated |
2008 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actor on Television | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Action | Won | ||
2009 | Nominated | |||
2017 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actor in a New TV Series | This Is Us | Nominated |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
MTV Movie & TV Awards | Tearjerker | Won | ||
2018 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2019 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | |
Hasty Pudding Man of the Year | — | Himself | Won | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | This Is Us | Pending |
References
- ^ a b "Milo A. Ventimiglia, Born July 8, 1977 in Orange County, California". California Birth Index. California Office of Health Information and Research. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b Keck, William (18 December 2006). "Yo! Ventimiglia gets into the tough-guy act". USA Today. Archived from the original on 8 January 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ TV Guide. 8–14 September 2008. p. 20.
- ^ Dawn, Randee (20 March 2017). "Try not to cry as Milo Ventimiglia reveals inspiration behind 'This is Us' character". Today. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia". Biography.com. The Biography Channel. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia Fan". 21 April 2002. Archived from the original on 2007-05-16. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Huisman, Mark J. (April 29, 1997). "Short and sweet". The Advocate: 65.
- ^ Voss, Brandon (2008). "Our hero". The Advocate: 64.
- ^ "What Would Jess' Show Have Been Like?". Alloy. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Bierly, Mandy (17 December 2007). "Milo Ventimiglia checks in". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Carroll, Larry (19 December 2008). "'Heroes' Star Sheds 'Dirty' Past to Become Rocky Balboa's Son". MTV. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Howard, Theresa (9 May 2007). "American Eagle Outfitters plans Web comedy". USA Today. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Pathology (2008)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "The Dsc – Divide Social Club". Dividesocialclub.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Woman, The (29 January 2010). "Top Cow Preview: Berserker #4". Dread Central. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Jen Yamato (17 April 2008). "Milo Ventimiglia Gets Dark in Pathology, Talks Role In Neveldine & Taylor's Game". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Xavier Gens' Apocalypse 'The Divide' Encompasses Genre Cast". Bloody-disgusting.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Marvel Television Announces Adrian Pasdar & Milo Ventimiglia For Iron Man & Wolverine Anime Series To Air On G4 July 2011" (Press Release). Anime News Network. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "'Heroes' Alum Milo Ventimiglia To Star In Frank Darabont's TNT Pilot 'L.A. Noir'". Deadline. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Milo Ventimiglia won't return as Jess if Netflix revisits 'Gilmore Girls'". USAtoday.
- ^ Poniewozik, Jamie (14 March 2017). "'This Is Us' Ends a Tear-Jerking Season With a Beginning". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Birnbaum, Debra (2 February 2017). "'This Is Us' Star Milo Ventimiglia on Jack: 'I Don't Think He's Perfect at All'". Variety. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Schull to Star in Thriller 'Devil's Gate'". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Emmys 2017: Full List of Nominations". Variety. July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/how-the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain-is-making-milo-ventimiglia-disney-dreams-come-true-1203289377/
- ^ "Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel, Boyfriend Split". People. Archived from the original on 2007-10-05.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Trevor and Zena meet Milo Ventimiglia". BBC. 22 April 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "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. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ a b Kim, Albert. "Milo Ventimiglia". Men's Fitness. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Koch, Wendy. "Sexiest Vegetarian? PETA's Contest Goes Beefcake" Archived 28 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, USAToday.com, 3 March 2010.
- ^ Milo Ventimiglia (31 August 2007). "Jo Whiley". BBC Radio 1 (Interview). Interviewed by Jo Whiley.
- ^ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2019-05-14), Milo Ventimiglia Geeks Out Over Morrissey, Rides Shotgun in Ubers, retrieved 2019-06-04
- ^ Milo Ventimiglia's USO tour Archived 24 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cavanaugh, Patrick. "Check out these Guest Voices from Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors". marvel.com. Marvel.com. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
External links
- 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
- Living people
- Male actors from Anaheim, California
- American people of Sicilian descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American people of English descent
- UCLA Film School alumni