Mark Ruffalo – the Hollywood A-lister most widely known for playing Hulk in the Avengers movie franchise – has been in showbiz since the late 80s, but it hasn’t always been his acting prowess that has dominated the headlines. Ruffalo has got people hot under the collar, being dubbed a “stealth sex symbol” and “objectively hot by Western standards”, leading fans of Wisconsin-born actor to ask – is Mark Ruffalo married?
Mark Ruffalo is married. In fact, Ruffalo, who has been nominated for three Oscars, has been happily married to former actress, Sunrise Coigney, ever since 2000.
With Hollywood celebs famed for their relationship turmoils and dramas, Ruffalo and Coigney’s bond is both refreshing and joyful, with the couple raising three children. Also, with the couple’s story of how they met as romantic and tear-jerking as it is, it’s actually a surprise that a film hasn’t been made of it!
How Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney First Met
Before making it into the big-time, Ruffalo spent over a decade lingering on the peripheries of the world of showbiz. Early in his career, the star spoke to The Guardian and said that he spent his formative years in California “surfing and smoking dope” before moving to Los Angeles where he would attend the Stella Adler drama school and be eclipsed by the talents of Benicio Del Toro.
But, Ruffalo’s early years were not always destined to be so downbeat. In 1998, he met Coigney – or, Sunny, as he calls her – on the street.
Talking about their first encounter, Ruffalo said: “I was living in a dump and didn’t even have a driver’s license or a credit card. She thought I was a mess, but she believed in me and kept encouraging me”. In terms of whether he saw a future with the San Francisco-born actress, he said: “I saw her and was like, I’m going to marry that girl.”
Despite not feeling at home in LA during his younger years, saying, “I hate it. I lived in New York and loved it”, Ruffalo built a life with Coigney and, after turning down his first proposal, she agreed to marry him on the second time of asking.
Not long after the couple got married, they welcomed their first child into the world. And, despite not gelling with LA himself, Ruffalo knew Coigney wanted to live there and so he said: “whatever you want to do, we’ll do it”.
Sunrise Coigney’s Farewell to Acting
The story of how Ruffalo and Coigney got together is a tale of strength, support, endurance, and devotion, and there’s yet more to regale.
After making a series of appearances in a number of TV shows and movies such as ‘Campfire Stories’ (2001) and ‘In the Cut’ (2003), Coigney decided to ditch her acting career and focus on raising the couples’ children.
Yet, Coigney wouldn’t stop working forever. In 2017, she harnessed her entrepreneurial energies and opened a boutique called Sunny’s Callicoon Pop. Flogging high-end, artisan items, the business allows Coigney to express herself creatively in an industry outside of acting.
Talking about her business, Coigney said: “I always knew I’d sort of find my way to retail – it’s where I find my joy: being surrounded by beautiful things”.
