Mark Ruffalo, 55, known for films like Now You See Me and Shutter Island, is not just an actor but also an activist. Despite his success, he’s faced deep struggles, including mental health challenges. In an interview with The Observer, he revealed his lifelong battle with mental illness, describing it as a “low-grade depression” always in the background.

His journey wasn’t easy; during childhood, he felt out of place with his dreams of acting. He told the Child Mind Institute he felt “strange, unique, and freakish” in school. Moreover, he battled suicidal thoughts, with a friend’s suicide serving as a wake-up call.

In 2001, Ruffalo faced another blow when diagnosed with a brain tumor. Although the tumor was benign, the surgery left him deaf in one ear and partially paralyzed on one side of his face. He withdrew from public life, coping with weight gain and balance issues from medication.

To manage, he turned to meditation, which he credits with changing his perspective and luck. However, tragedy struck again in 2008 when his brother, Scott, was fatally shot. The case remains unsolved.

Ruffalo’s resilience in the face of these challenges is truly inspirational.