Claim: Hulk is a character.

Mark Alan Ruffalo -LRB- -LSB- ˈrʌfəloʊ -RSB- , born November 22 , 1967 -RRB- is an American actor , humanitarian , social activist and film producer . He made his screen debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse -LRB- 1989 -RRB- , followed by minor film roles . He was part of the original cast of This Is Our Youth -LRB- 1996 -RRB- , for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award . Following were his roles in 13 Going on 30 -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , Zodiac -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , and What Does n't Kill You -LRB- 2008 -RRB- . In 2010 , he starred in the psychological thriller Shutter Island and the comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right . For the latter , he received nominations for the SAG Award , BAFTA Award , and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . He also co-starred in the mystery films Now You See Me and Now You See Me 2 as FBI Special Agent Dylan Rhodes .   Ruffalo gained international prominence by portraying the Marvel Comics character the Hulk in The Avengers -LRB- 2012 -RRB- and Avengers : Age of Ultron -LRB- 2015 -RRB- . He starred in and was the co-executive producer of the 2014 television drama film The Normal Heart , for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie and he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a TV Movie . The same year , he portrayed Dave Schultz in Foxcatcher , for which he was nominated for awards , including a Golden Globe , and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . In 2015 , he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Infinitely Polar Bear and also received BAFTA and Academy Award nominations for his role in the drama Spotlight .