Jess Mariano
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (born July 8, 1977) is an American actor. Making his screen acting debut on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995, he portrayed the lead role on the short-lived series Opposite Sex in 2000 before landing his breakthrough role in Gilmore Girls (2001–2007). Ventimiglia starred as Peter Petrelli in the superhero series Heroes (2006–2010).
Jess Mariano

Toglenn · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Birth Name
- Milo Anthony Ventimiglia
- Born
- 8 July 1977
- Birthplace
- Anaheim, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor
- Education
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- acting
- Languages
- English
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Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (born July 8, 1977) is an American actor. Making his screen acting debut on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995, he portrayed the lead role on the short-lived series Opposite Sex in 2000 before landing his breakthrough role in Gilmore Girls (2001–2007). Ventimiglia starred as Peter Petrelli in the superhero series Heroes (2006–2010).
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In this article
Biography
Biography
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).

a href=" http: kristin.eonline.com/ " kristin.eonline.com a - "Heroes" Season Three Premiere Party, Edison L.A., Downtown Los Angeles - September 7, 2008
Kristin Dos Santos · originally posted to Flickr as Milo Ventimiglia

Actor Milo Ventimiglia at Heroes for Autism event, Hollywood, California.
Kristin Dos Santos · Milo Ventimiglia
Key facts
Key facts
• 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
Early life and education
Early life and education
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.
Early roles and breakthrough
Early roles and breakthrough
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.
DiVide Pictures
DiVide Pictures
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.
Personal life
Personal life
• 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.
Television
Television
• 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
Podcasts
Podcasts
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 2021 — Strawberry Spring — Kevin Hartigan — 8 episodes
Music videos
Music videos
• Year — Title — Artist — Role • 2007 — "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)" — Fergie — Love interest • 2014 — "I Can't Make You Love Me" — Priyanka Chopra
Video games
Video games
• 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
As director
As director
• 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"
As producer
As producer
• 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
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1977
Jess Mariano born at Anaheim.
Writer
• Year — Title — Notes • 2010 — Ultradome — Co-creator
Heroes; film and production work
Heroes; film and production work
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.
Film and television; This Is Us
Film and television; This Is Us
• 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.
Film
Film
• 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
Awards and nominations
* Year — Ceremony — Category — Nominated work — Result
* | 2004 — Bravo Otto — Best Male TV Star — Gilmore Girls
* Teen Choice Awards — Choice Drama TV Actor of the Year
* Scream Awards — Best TV Superhero
* Teen Choice Awards — Choice Action or Adventure TV Actor of the Year
* Monte-Carlo Television Festival — Golden Nymph Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series
* | 2009 — Saturn Awards — Best Television Supporting Actor
* | 2014 — International Academy of Web Television Awards — Best Male Performance in a Drama Television Series — Chosen
* Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
* Online Film & Television Association Awards — Best Television Drama Series Actor
* People's Choice Awards — Favorite Actor In A New TV Series
* Teen Choice Awards — Choice Drama TV Actor of the Year
* Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
* TV Drama Series Actor of the Year
* TV Ensemble of the Year
* Online Film & Television Association Awards — Best Television Drama Series Actor
* Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Television Drama Series
* Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
* Critics' Choice Awards — Best Television Drama Series Actor
* People's Choice Awards — Favorite Male TV Star of the Year
* Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Television Drama Series
* Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals Awards — Man of the Year — Honored
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Keck, William. Yo! Ventimiglia gets into the tough-guy act. USA Today. December 18, 2006.
- 2.TV Guide. 20. September 8–14, 2008.
- 3.Dawn, Randee. Try not to cry as Milo Ventimiglia reveals inspiration behind 'This is Us' character. Today. March 20, 2017.
- 4.The Biography Channel. Milo Ventimiglia. Biography.com.
- 5.Milo Ventimiglia Fan. April 21, 2002.
- 6.UCLA School of Theater, Film and television. Notable Alumni Actors.
- 7.Huisman, Mark J. Short and sweet. The Advocate. 65. April 29, 1997 open access.
- 8.Scheetz, Cameron. Years before he was king of the 3-inch inseam, Milo Ventimiglia played a gay teen in this '90s short film. Queerty. February 27, 2024.
- 9.Voss, Brandon. Our hero. The Advocate. 64. 2008.
- 10.What Would Jess' Show Have Been Like?. Alloy. December 16, 2008.
- 11.Bierly, Mandy. Milo Ventimiglia checks in. Entertainment Weekly. December 17, 2007.
- 12.Milo Ventimiglia's schedule for CONtv Live Presents: Wizard World Comic Con Chicago. contvlivepresentswizardworl2015.sched.com.
- 13.Carroll, Larry. 'Heroes' Star Sheds 'Dirty' Past to Become Rocky Balboa's Son. MTV. December 19, 2008.
- 14.Howard, Theresa. American Eagle Outfitters plans Web comedy. USA Today. May 9, 2007.
- 15.Pathology (2008). American Film Institute.
- 16.Milo Ventimiglia & Russ Cundiff's DiVide Pictures Renews 20th Television Deal, Ups Deanna Harris. August 22, 2022.
- 17.Jen Yamato. Milo Ventimiglia Gets Dark in Pathology, Talks Role In Neveldine & Taylor's Game. Rotten Tomatoes. April 17, 2008.
- 18.Bloody-disgusting.com. Xavier Gens' Apocalypse 'The Divide' Encompasses Genre Cast. May 12, 2010.
- 19.Anime News Network. Marvel Television Announces Adrian Pasdar & Milo Ventimiglia For Iron Man & Wolverine Anime Series To Air On G4 July 2011. April 3, 2011.
- 20.Deadline. 'Heroes' Alum Milo Ventimiglia To Star In Frank Darabont's TNT Pilot 'L.A. Noir'. February 21, 2012.
- 21.Milo Ventimiglia won't return as Jess if Netflix revisits 'Gilmore Girls'. USAtoday.
- 22.Milo Ventimiglia Is in Good Company. Television Academy.
- 23.Poniewozik, Jamie. 'This Is Us' Ends a Tear-Jerking Season With a Beginning. The New York Times. March 14, 2017.
- 24.Birnbaum, Debra. 'This Is Us' Star Milo Ventimiglia on Jack: 'I Don't Think He's Perfect at All'. Variety. February 2, 2017.
- 25.Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Schull to Star in Thriller 'Devil's Gate'. The Hollywood Reporter. April 15, 2015.
- 26.Emmys 2017: Full List of Nominations. Variety. July 13, 2017.
- 27.The Art of Racing in the Rain.
- 28.Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel, Boyfriend Split. People.
- 29.BBC. Trevor and Zena meet Milo Ventimiglia. April 22, 2008.
- 30.Hayden Panettiere & Milo Ventimiglia Split. People. February 17, 2009.
- 31.Pashman, Heidi. The 25 Sexiest Vegan and Vegetarian Celebrities. Shape.
- 32.Kim, Albert. Milo Ventimiglia. Men's Fitness.
- 33.Koch, Wendy. "Sexiest Vegetarian? PETA's Contest Goes Beefcake" , USAToday.com, March 3, 2010.
- 34.Jo Whiley. BBC Radio 1. August 31, 2007.
- 35.The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Milo Ventimiglia Geeks Out Over Morrissey, Rides Shotgun in Ubers. May 14, 2019.
- 36.Milo Ventimiglia's USO tour
- 37.Milo Ventimiglia Is Married! 'This Is Us' Actor Secretly Ties the Knot with Model Jarah Mariano.
- 38.Milo Ventimiglia and wife Jarah Mariano welcome baby after losing house in Los Angeles fires. February 2025.
- 39.Milo Ventimiglia and Wife Jarah Mariano Welcome Baby No. 2 and Reveal the Newborn’s Unique Name. people.com. July 6, 2026.
- 40.Milo Ventimiglia Chokes Up After Losing House In Malibu Fire: "Your Heart Just Breaks". The Hollywood Reporter. January 9, 2025.
- 41."This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia loses home to Los Angeles fires in eerie reflection of on-screen tragedy. CBS News. January 9, 2025.
- 42.Slatter, Sean. Will Eubank's Land of Bad heads to Queensland, Luke Hemsworth joins cast. IF Magazine. 2022-09-08.
- 43.IMDb. A Twist of Memory, A Turn of Mind.
- 44.IMDb. Day Walker and Mutant (Claws and Blades).
- 45.Cavanaugh, Patrick. Check out these Guest Voices from Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors. marvel.com. Marvel.com. September 5, 2014.
- 46.Behind The Voice Actors. Milo Ventimiglia (visual voices guide).
- 47.Ausiello, Michael. Milo Ventimiglia Joins Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4, Reuniting with Gilmore Boss Amy Sherman-Palladino. TVLine. 2021-06-10.
- 48.Ehrlich, Brenna. Stephen King Gets into the Podcast Game With a Series Based on 'Night Shift'. Rolling Stone. July 20, 2021.
- 49.Maas, Jennifer. 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7' to Star Milo Ventimiglia, Kiernan Shipka and Michael Rooker; New Game Follows David Mason in Year 2035 (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. 2025-06-08.
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Formation and teaching. Mariano studied at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles, El Modena High School and American Conservatory Theater. Recorded as having studied at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles and El Modena High School.
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