Passion for sports, art, and more can start at a young age. Kids will participate in activities that they find enjoyable and represent them, and for Mark Ruffalo, that was wrestling. Ruffalo got his start in wrestling when he was a young boy in junior high, according to USA Today. Just like any kid who admires their parents, Ruffalo’s passion for wrestling may have been due to his father. Ruffalo’s father had also participated in wrestling when he was a young kid; the star’s father even went on to be a state wrestling champion, per USA Today.

Because Ruffalo started as a young boy he hadn’t built the body that many would think of when it comes to a wrestler. Ruffalo saw a drastic change in his weight from when he first started the sport. The actor told the outlet he went from weighing a mere 83 pounds to a strong 112 pounds. Strength only built when the “Avengers” star continued the sport throughout high school. Ruffalo was so good at the sport that he had the opportunity to continue in college, but he ended up finding another passion.

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As a senior in high school, Ruffalo decided to take up acting. He participated in a production of “West Side Story” at his school (via Britannica). After that performance, the actor never looked back and fully pursued acting.