Milo Ventimiglia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milo Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia at the premiere of The Art of Racing in the Rain in 2019
Born	Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (1977-07-08) July 8, 1977 (age 47) Anaheim, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Jarah Mariano ​ (m. 2023)​

Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (born July 8, 1977) is an American actor. He started acting on TV in 1995 with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He got his first main role in the show Opposite Sex in 2000.

Milo became very well known for his role as Jess Mariano in the comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls (2001–2007). Later, he starred as Peter Petrelli in the superhero show Heroes (2006–2010). He also played Jack Pearson in the popular series This Is Us (2016–2022). For this role, he was nominated three times for a top acting award called the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. In 2023, he starred in The Company You Keep.

In movies, Milo played Rocky Balboa's son in Rocky Balboa (2006) and again in Creed II (2018). He has also appeared in films like Pathology (2008), That's My Boy (2012), and The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019).

Early Life and School

Milo Ventimiglia was born on July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California. He is the youngest of three children, with two older sisters. His father was a Vietnam War veteran. Milo's family background is Italian and Sicilian from his father's side, and English and Scottish from his mother's side.

Milo was born with a "crooked mouth" because of damaged facial nerves. This makes the left side of his mouth not move, similar to actor Sylvester Stallone, whom he later worked with in the Rocky movies.

He went to El Modena High School in Orange, California. While in high school, Milo was very active. He wrestled, acted in school plays, and was even the student government president. He graduated in 1995. After high school, he studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater and then at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied theater.

Acting Career

Starting Out and First Big Roles

Milo started his acting career at 18. His first role was in a short film called Must Be the Music. He then had a small part on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He also appeared in other TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2000, he got a main role as Jed Perry in the TV series Opposite Sex.

Ventimiglia at the season three premiere of Heroes, 2008

From 2001 to 2006, Milo played Jess Mariano in the popular show Gilmore Girls. His character was a rebellious teenager who became a main part of the show. He was supposed to get his own spin-off show called Windward Circle, but it was never made. He later returned to Gilmore Girls for a few episodes in later seasons. In 2005, he also starred in The Bedford Diaries, but that show only lasted for eight episodes.

Heroes and Movie Roles

Between his TV roles, Milo also acted in movies. He had parts in horror films like Cursed (2005) and Stay Alive (2006). In 2006, he got a big movie role as Robert "Rocky Jr." Balboa, the son of the famous boxer Rocky Balboa, in Rocky Balboa.

Milo became even more famous for playing Peter Petrelli in the NBC series Heroes. This show was about everyday people who discover they have superpowers. He played this character until the show ended in 2010. Milo also helped create a web series called It's a Mall World in 2007. He even appeared in the music video for "Big Girls Don't Cry" by singer Fergie. In 2008, he starred in the horror film Pathology as a medical student.

Milo also co-founded a company called Divide Pictures. They worked on comic book series like REST and Berserker.

Later TV and This Is Us

Ventimiglia with David Mazouz promoting Gotham, London, 2017

Milo continued to act in movies like Gamer (2009) and The Divide (2011). He also lent his voice to the character Wolverine in the English versions of the Marvel Anime: Wolverine series and other Marvel anime shows.

In 2016, Milo returned to his role as Jess Mariano in the Netflix revival series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. He later said that while it was fun to go back, he felt the stories for those characters were mostly told.

In the fall of 2016, Milo began starring in the highly praised NBC drama series This Is Us. He played Jack Pearson, a father in a middle-class family during the 1980s and 1990s. This role earned him his first Emmy nomination in 2017. In 2019, Milo starred in the movie The Art of Racing in the Rain, based on a popular book.

Personal Life

Milo Ventimiglia dated his Gilmore Girls co-star Alexis Bledel from 2002 to 2006. He also dated his Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere from 2007 to 2009.

Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere at San Diego Comic-Con in 2007

Milo and his sisters grew up as vegetarians, and he still follows a vegetarian diet today. He is a big fan of the music bands The Clash and The Smiths.

In 2008, Milo went on a tour with the United Service Organization (USO) to support American troops in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In September 2023, Milo married model Jarah Mariano. In September 2024, Jarah announced that they were expecting their first child. In January 2025, his home in Malibu was unfortunately destroyed by a wildfire.

Filmography

Film

Television

Podcasts

Music videos

Video games

As director

As producer

Writer

Awards and Nominations

Milo Ventimiglia has received several awards and nominations for his acting.

See also

In Spanish: Milo Ventimiglia para niños