In a recent episode of the “Smartless” podcast, Mark Ruffalo disclosed a personal revelation from over two decades ago when he learned about having a brain tumor while his wife was pregnant with their first child. The 56-year-old actor shared that this discovery came after the success of the film “You Can Count on Me” and during the shooting of “The Last Castle.”
Ruffalo described a surreal experience of waking up from a dream with an intuitive knowledge of the brain tumor just before his early morning set call. Despite experiencing only an ear infection, he decided to consult the cast doctor, who initially dismissed his concerns. However, a subsequent CAT scan revealed a golf ball-sized mass behind his left ear.
Choosing not to burden his wife, Sunrise, who was focused on her birthing plans, Ruffalo kept the diagnosis to himself. A week after their child’s birth, he had to make decisions about treatment and eventually informed his wife. Fortunately, the brain tumor turned out to be benign, but it left him with deafness in one ear and paralysis on the left side of his face.
Reflecting on this challenging time, Ruffalo shared that he conversed with a higher power, expressing a willingness to trade his hearing to preserve his face and continue being a father to his three children: Keen (22), Bella (18), and Odette (16). Despite the hurdles, Ruffalo triumphed over the health scare, demonstrating resilience in both his personal and professional life.
