Biography
Date of Birth
8 December 1977, Anaheim, California, USA
Birth Name
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia
Nickname
Mi
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Mini Biography
Milo Ventimiglia is an American actor, director and producer.
Milo currently stars on the critically acclaimed drama series "This is Us." He has been nominated twice for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2017 & 2018) and a Critic's Choice Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (2019) for his portrayal of the family patriarch, Jack Pearson. The show won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and the People's Choice Award for Best New Drama. In 2016 he reprised his role of Jess in the continuation of critically acclaimed television drama "Gilmore Girls,' which returned with four 90-minute episodes on Netflix. His other television credits include a memorable recurring role as 'The Ogre' in the FOX drama "Gotham," the Frank Darabont helmed TNT drama "Lost Angels," NBC's "Heroes," the critically acclaimed drama "American Dreams" and David. E. Kelley's drama "Boston Public."
Milo's passion for the art of acting keeps him drawn to both studio and independent features. Milo is wrapped production on the Fox 2000 feature film "The Art of Racing in the Rain," an adaptation of the international best-selling novel by Garth Stein. The book focuses on a family dog named Enzo who evaluates his life through the lessons learned by his human owner, a professional race-car driver named Denny Swift, played by Milo. The film will be released in September 2018. Ventimiglia recently starred alongside Jennifer Lopez in the romantic comedy "Second Act" and had a memorable cameo in "Creed II." He starred alongside Sylvester Stallone as his son in sixth installment of the Rocky series "Rocky Balboa, in Adam Sandler's "That's My Boy," and "Grown Ups 2" and alongside Nicole Kidman in "Grace of Monaco." His other film credits include Xan Cassavetes' "Kiss of the Damned," a remake of the 1986 Burt Reynolds drama "Heat" alongside Jason Statham" and the "Killing Season" with Robert DeNiro.
Behind the camera Ventimiglia and his partner at Divide Pictures Russ Cundiff are involved in traditional content having sold TV shows to NBC, SyFy and FX, and producing the independent feature TELL which Ventimiglia co-starred along side of Jason Lee and Katee Sackoff as well as STATIC, which Ventimiglia co-starred with Sarah Shahi and Sara Paxton. Ventimiglia also produced the web-series Chosen, now in it's second season for Sony's Crackle as well as directed other digital projects for American Eagle Outfitters, Cadillac, GQ and Liberty Mutual. Divide Pictures' latest web-series "The P.E.T. Squad" Files for CW's Seed, is about a group of amateur ghost hunters who chase fame without having seen an actual apparition. The show launches summer 2013 from San Diego Comicon. Ventimiglia's passion for comic books led him to produce two titles for Top Cow / Image Comics "Rest" and "Berserker."
Ventimiglia spends his free time working with vets through the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America as well as taking USO tours to troops abroad.
Trivia
Directed the 2003 and 2004 WB Image Campaigns for popular shows such as Gilmore Girls (2000), One Tree Hill (2003), 7th Heaven (1996), etc... Some of the WB stars he directed included David Boreanaz, Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Jamie Kennedy, James Marsters, Rose McGowan, Allison Mack, Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Beverley Mitchell and Reba McEntire.
The role of Chris Pierce on American Dreams (2002) was written specifically for him after he met with the show's creators.
Attended and graduated from El Modena High School in Orange, California (1995).
Made his debut in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Bourgie Sings the Blues (1995).
Boyfriend of Gilmore Girls (2000) co-star Alexis Bledel from 2002 to July 2006.
His father is of Italian (Sicilian) descent. His mother is of English and Scottish ancestry; half of her family is most recently from the American South, while the other half is composed of recent immigrants from England and Scotland (by way of Canada).
Milo and Heroes (2006) co-star Adrian Pasdar auditioned for roles in the proposed Gilmore Girls spin-off where Milo was to be the son of Pasdar's character. As there is only 12 years difference between them, the casting director said they would be better off playing brothers. Eight years later, they were playing brothers Peter (Milo) and Nathan (Pasdar) Petrelli in Heroes (2006).
Boyfriend of Heroes (2006) co-star Hayden Panettiere from December 2007 to February 2009; the press dubbed them "Haylo".
Similar to his fellow Gilmore Girls (2000) cast, also donates to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, one of his favorite charities.
His favorite book is the horror novel "The Long Walk" (Stephen King, firmed with the pseudonym of Richard Bachman).
Began an entertainment production company named Divide Pictures (2003).
His favorite bands are The Clash, The Smiths, The Strokes, Deftones, A Tribe Called Quest and The Hives.
Starred in a season three episode of Gilmore Girls (2000), which was the backdoor pilot for a California-set spin-off titled "Windward Circle", that was to have starred Ventimiglia, Sherilyn Fenn and Rob Estes. The network dropped the project citing cost issues due to filming on location in Venice, California.
Ventimiglia took a United Service Organization (USO) tour from July 6 to 12, 2008 in support of American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Close friends with Adrian Pasdar and Sophia Bush.
Has two older sisters, Leslie and Laurel, born circa 1973 and 1975.
His self-described 'crooked mouth' is a result of dead nerves, which cause the left side of his mouth to remain immobile.
Nominated for the 2018 Emmy Award in the Lead Actor in a Drama Series category for his role as Jack Pearson in This Is Us (2016), but lost to Matthew Rhys from The Americans (2013).
He landed his first movie audition at age 12, for the role of Mike in Radio Flyer (1992). Out of the 3,000 candidates, he was one of eight finalists for the role before Elijah Wood was cast.
He landed his second movie audition at age 16, during a cattle call for the role of Robin/Dick Grayson in Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997). The role went to Chris O'Donnell.
Is a staunch liberal Democrat who was financially active in the campaign and election of Barack Obama in 2008. Through his production company, Divide Pictures, he donated $6,900 to Obama for America and then $2,500 to the Obama Victory Fund.
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6562 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 10, 2022. His Walk of Fame star is located in front of The Hollywood Partnership.
Starred as Fergie's love interest in her music video "Big Girls Don't Cry". [June 2007]
Has a 1967 Chevelle Supersport named "Evelyn".
Trademarks:
His self-described "crooked" mouth.
Quotes
I'm tough on the outside and soft on the inside [...] I'm really a shy guy.
I'm a homebody, I'd rather be in the kitchen cooking than hanging out in a bar.
It's [high school] an interesting time in your life because you're trying to act older and mature but you really have no idea what you're doing. You're scared and it's okay to be scared. It's okay to not know completely what you want or what you should be doing and to stumble a little bit.
Every job built my career in some way or made me grow as a person or I got to meet someone great. I had one line on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but I met Will Smith and he took 20 minutes out of his day to talk to the kid with one line. To this day, I think that guy is amazing because of that.
On the WB holding deal: ... They said, 'Here's a lot of money and don't work for anybody else. We don't have anything for you, so you're going to be sitting for a while.' That was an interesting thing.
My favorite episode is 'Teach Me Tonight,' the one with the car accident [Jess trashed the car Dean had remodeled for Rory.] Alexis and I were both so tired and laughing and goofing off and having fun, so it was funny for me to watch.
The Godfather 1 and 2, Goodfellas, The Matrix -- those are movies I can sit down and watch over and over again,
I just try not to subscribe to the ways of celebrity. I'm not a celebrity, I'm a working actor. A lot of the events -- the parties and the premieres that people go to to get noticed -- I'm just not into. I'll hang out with my friends, go see punk shows, read at home. At the same time, I have a production company, which is a lot of work.
Oh my God. Nothing against the [teen] magazines because they definitely have their purposes, but I don't want to answer questions like "Do you have a girlfriend?" and "What is your favorite color?" Answering more adult questions is more intriguing and that's the vibe I'd like to give off.
I'm just a person and I'm not larger than life.
I like to read, too. It's good because Jess carries a book all the time. If it's one I haven't read, I'll sit down and read between takes
I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do anything ... but I bowled like a crazy mouther.
I don't seek attention. If anything I'd rather blend in, remain anonymous.
The kid I play, Jess, moves to town. he's a troublemaker - he steals, drinks beer, smokes. He's seventeen - he shouldn't be doing any of this stuff.
I drive the thing like a granny. I've only gotten one ticket in that car, and it was for an illegal left-hand turn.
I'm sure I'll find something to do. Some kind of trouble to get into.
