Jess Mariano

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 three 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 series, Rocky Balboa (2006), and reprised his 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).

• Birth Name — Milo Anthony Ventimiglia • Born — 8 July 1977 • Birthplace — Anaheim, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1995–present • Education — University of California, Los Angeles • Children — 2

Milo Anthony Ventimiglia was born on July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California, the youngest child of Carol and Peter Ventimiglia, the latter being a Vietnam War veteran. He has two sisters. Ventimiglia is of Sicilian descent through his father, and of English and Scottish descent through his mother. He 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, where he competed in wrestling, acted in drama productions and served as student government president. He graduated in 1995. At 18, Ventimiglia studied at the American Conservatory Theater for their summer program, subsequently attending the University of California, Los Angeles as a theatre major.

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. • Illustration — Ventimiglia at the season three premiere of Heroes, 2008 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.

In 2004, Milo Ventimiglia co-founded DiVide Pictures with producer Russ Cundiff. The American production company develops scripted and unscripted content across film, television, and digital platforms. As of 2024, the company has been involved in the development of over 30 projects for various networks and studios. DiVide Pictures is under an exclusive television development deal with 20th Television, a division of Disney Television Studios. In 2023, it produced The Company You Keep for ABC, in which Ventimiglia starred and served as an executive producer. The company’s film credits include Tell and Static. DiVide has also produced branded content in collaboration with companies such as eBay, Cadillac, and GQ.

• Illustration — Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere at San Diego Comic-Con in 2007 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. Ventimiglia is a fan of rock bands The Clash and The Smiths, as well as the latter band's long-time vocalist, Morrissey. In July 2008, Ventimiglia completed a United Service Organization tour in support of American troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. In September 2023, Ventimiglia married model Jarah Mariano. They have two children. His home in Malibu was consumed by the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1995 — The — Party Guest No. 1 — Episode: "Bourgie Sings the Blues" • 1996 — Sabrina, the Teenage Witch — Letterman — Episode: "Terrible Things" • 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" • Kelly Kelly — Steve Spencer — Episode: "Bye Bye Baby" • One World — Eric — Episode: "Community Service" • 1999 — Promised Land — Tony Brackett — Episode: "In the Money" • 2000 — Opposite Sex — Jed Perry — Main role; 8 episodes • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Bobby Taylor — Episode: "Friends & Lovers" • 2001–2006 — Gilmore Girls — Jess Mariano — 37 episodes • 2003 — Boston Public — Jake Provesserio — 3 episodes • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Lee Healy — Episode: "Escape" • 2004–2005 — American Dreams — Chris Pierce — 12 episodes • 2006 — The — 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" • Iron Man — Wolverine / Logan — Voice, episode "A Twist of Memory, A Turn of Mind" • 2011 — Suite 7 — Milo — Episode: "That Guy" • The Temp Life — Cook — 2 episodes • 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 • Chosen — Ian Mitchell — Main role; 11 episodes • 2015 — Gotham — Jason Lennon / Ogre — 3 episodes • The PET Squad Files — Cash Buggiardo — 4 episodes • The Whispers — Sean Bennigan — Main role; 13 episodes • 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 • Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life — Jess Mariano — 2 episodes • 2016–2022 — This Is Us — Jack Pearson — Main role; occasional director • 2022–2023 — The — Sylvio / "Handsome man" — 2 episodes • 2023 — The — Charlie Nicoletti — Main role, also executive producer • 2025 — Countdown — Robert Darden — Episode: “Teeth in the Bone” • 2026 — I Will Find You — Hayden Payne — 8 episodes

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 2021 — Strawberry Spring — Kevin Hartigan — 8 episodes

• Year — Title — Artist — Role • 2007 — "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)" — Fergie — Love interest • 2014 — "I Can't Make You Love Me" — Priyanka Chopra

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2011 — X-Men: Destiny — Grant Alexander — Voice role • 2025 — Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — David “Section” Mason — Voice and motion capture

• 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 — Episode #87: "Jerry 2.0" • 2022 — Episode #96: "The Guitar Man"

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

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.

• Illustration — Ventimiglia with David Mazouz promoting Gotham, London, 2017 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.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1997 — Boys Life 2 — Jason — Segment: "Must Be the Music" • 1999 — She's All That — Soccer Player • Speedway Junky — Travis • 2000 — Massholes — Doc • 2001 — Nice Guys Finish Last — Josh — Short film • 2003 — Winter Break — Matt Raymand • 2005 — Cursed — Bo • Dirty Deeds — Zach Harper • 2006 — Intelligence — Colin Mathers — Short film • Stay Alive — Loomis Crowley • Rocky Balboa — Rocky Balboa Jr. • 2008 — Pathology — Dr. Ted Grey • 2009 — Gamer — Rick Rape • Armored — Officer Jake Eckehart • 2010 — Order of Chaos — Rick • 2011 — The Divide — Josh • 2012 — That's My Boy — Chad Martin • Static — Jonathan Dade — Also executive producer • 2013 — Kiss of the Damned — Paulo • Grown Ups 2 — Frat Boy Milo • Breaking at the Edge — Ian Wood • Killing Season — Chris Ford • 2014 — Grace of Monaco — Rupert Allan • Tell — Ethan Tell — Also producer • 2015 — Walter — Vince • Wild Card — Danny DeMarco • 2016 — Madtown — Denny Briggs • 2017 — Sandy Wexler — Barry Bubatzi • Devil's Gate — Jackson Pritchard • 2018 — Creed II — Rocky Balboa Jr. • Second Act — Trey • 2019 — The Art of Racing in the Rain — Denny Swift • 2024 — Land of Bad — Captain Sugar • 2026 — I Can Only Imagine 2 — Tim Timmons