# Milo Ventimiglia

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 in Gilmore Girls (2001–2007).
Ventimiglia starred as Peter Petrelli in the superhero series Heroes (2006–2010). After appearing in main roles in the series Mob City (2013), Chosen (2013), and The Whispers (2015), he starred as Jack Pearson on This Is Us (2016–2022), for which he has received 3 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).

## Early life

Ventimiglia was born on July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California, the youngest child of Carol and Peter Ventimiglia, a Vietnam War veteran. He has two sisters. His father is of Sicilian descent and his mother has English and Scottish ancestry. 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.
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, subsequently attending the University of California, Los Angeles as a theatre major.

## Career
### Early roles and breakthrough

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. 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.
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. 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). 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.
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. 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.
In 2005, Divide Pictures created the DSC, or Divide Social Club, an online and global social network for like-minded people 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.

### 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. Ventimiglia also starred in the Xavier Gens apocalypse thriller film, The Divide.
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. He played Ned Stax, a former marine, in Frank Darabont's short-lived neo-noir crime drama Mob City for TNT. 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."
Beginning in the fall of 2016, Ventimiglia starred opposite Mandy Moore in the critically acclaimed NBC period drama series This Is Us playing Jack Pearson, the patriarch of a middle-class family in late 1980s/early 1990s America. In 2017 Ventimiglia starred in the suspense thriller Devil's Gate alongside Amanda Schull. For his role as Jack Pearson, Ventimiglia received his first Emmy nomination in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
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.

## Personal life

Ventimiglia and fellow former Gilmore Girls co-star Alexis Bledel were in a relationship from 2002 to July 2006. Ventimiglia also dated his Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere from December 2007 to February 2009.
Ventimiglia and his sisters were raised as lacto-vegetarians, and he has maintained the diet as an adult. He was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Sexiest Vegetarian in 2009. He also does not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. He is a fan of The Clash as well as The Smiths and Morrissey.
Ventimiglia completed a United Service Organization tour in July 2008, in support of American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In September 2023, Ventimiglia married model Jarah Mariano. On September 29, 2024, Mariano announced that she was pregnant with their first child. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, on January 23, 2025.
In January 2025, his home in Malibu burned down due to a wildfire.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Boys Life 2 | Jason | Segment: "Must Be the Music" |
| 1999 | She's All That | Soccer Player | |
| 1999 | Speedway Junky | Travis | |
| 2000 | Massholes | Doc | |
| 2001 | Nice Guys Finish Last | Josh | Short film |
| 2003 | Winter Break | Matt Raymand | |
| 2005 | Cursed | Bo | |
| 2005 | Dirty Deeds | Zach Harper | |
| 2006 | Intelligence | Colin Mathers | Short film |
| 2006 | Stay Alive | Loomis Crowley | |
| 2006 | Rocky Balboa | Rocky Balboa Jr. | |
| 2008 | Pathology | Dr. Ted Grey | |
| 2009 | Gamer | Rick Rape | |
| 2009 | Armored | Officer Jake Eckehart | |
| 2010 | Order of Chaos | Rick | |
| 2011 | The Divide | Josh | |
| 2012 | That's My Boy | Chad Martin | |
| 2012 | Static | Jonathan Dade | Also executive producer |
| 2013 | Kiss of the Damned | Paulo | |
| 2013 | Grown Ups 2 | Frat Boy Milo | |
| 2013 | Breaking at the Edge | Ian Wood | |
| 2013 | Killing Season | Chris Ford | |
| 2014 | Grace of Monaco | Rupert Allan | |
| 2014 | Tell | Ethan Tell | Also producer |
| 2015 | Walter | Vince | |
| 2015 | Wild Card | Danny DeMarco | |
| 2016 | Madtown | Denny Briggs | |
| 2017 | Sandy Wexler | Barry Bubatzi | |
| 2017 | Devil's Gate | Jackson Pritchard | |
| 2018 | Creed II | Rocky Balboa Jr. | |
| 2018 | Second Act | Trey | |
| 2019 | The Art of Racing in the Rain | Denny Swift | |
| 2024 | Land of Bad | Captain Sugar | |

### Television

| 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" |
| 1996 | 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" |
| 1998 | Kelly Kelly | Steve Spencer | Episode: "Bye Bye Baby" |
| 1998 | One World | Eric | Episode: "Community Service" |
| 1999 | Promised Land | Tony Brackett | Episode: "In the Money" |
| 2000 | Opposite Sex | Jed Perry | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Bobby Taylor | Episode: "Friends & Lovers" |
| 2001–2006 | Gilmore Girls | Jess Mariano | 37 episodes |
| 2003 | Boston Public | Jake Provesserio | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | 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" |
| 2010 | Iron Man | Wolverine / Logan | Voice, episode "A Twist of Memory, A Turn of Mind" |
| 2011 | Suite 7 | Milo | Episode: "That Guy" |
| 2011 | The Temp Life | Cook | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Wolverine | Wolverine / Logan | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 2012 | Blade | Wolverine / Logan | Voice, episode "Day Walker and Mutant (Claws and Blades)" |
| 2013 | Mob City | Ned Stax | Main role; 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Chosen | Ian Mitchell | Main role; 11 episodes |
| 2015 | Gotham | Jason Lennon / Ogre | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The PET Squad Files | Cash Buggiardo | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Sean Bennigan | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2015 | The League | Agent Baker | Episode: "The Block" |
| 2015–2016 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Spider-Man Noir | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Relationship Status | Jack | Web series; 3 episodes |
| 2016 | 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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2021 | Strawberry Spring | Kevin Hartigan | 8 episodes | |

### 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 | Love interest |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | X-Men: Destiny | Grant Alexander | Voice role |

### As 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" |
| 2019 | This Is Us | Episode #59: "Storybook Love" |
| 2021 | This Is Us | Episode #87: "Jerry 2.0" |
| 2022 | This Is Us | Episode #96: "The Guitar Man" |

### As producer

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2007 | It's a Mall World | Producer; 13 episodes |
| 2007 | 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 |
| 2013 | Chosen | Executive producer; 18 episodes |
| 2014 | Tell | Producer |
| 2023 | The Company You Keep | Executive producer |

### Writer

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2010 | Ultradome | Co-creator |

## Awards and nominations

| 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 |
| 2007 | Scream Awards | Best TV Superhero | Heroes | Nominated |
| 2008 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Action or Adventure TV Actor of the Year | Heroes | Won |
| 2008 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Golden Nymph Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series | Heroes | Nominated |
| 2009 | Saturn Awards | Best Television Supporting Actor | Heroes | 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 |
| 2017 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Television Drama Series Actor | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2017 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actor In A New TV Series | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2017 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Drama TV Actor of the Year | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2018 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2018 | Gold Derby Awards | TV Drama Series Actor of the Year | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2018 | Gold Derby Awards | TV Ensemble of the Year | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2018 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Television Drama Series Actor | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2018 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Television Drama Series | This Is Us | Won |
| 2019 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2019 | Critics' Choice Awards | Best Television Drama Series Actor | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2019 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Male TV Star of the Year | This Is Us | Nominated |
| 2019 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Television Drama Series | This Is Us | Won |
| 2019 | Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals Awards | Man of the Year | — | Honored |