If you’ve spent any time watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you know Mark Ruffalo as the guy who plays the Hulk. He’s the scientist with a bit of a temper problem. But in real life, the guy is basically the poster child for a stable, long-term Hollywood marriage. Seriously. In an industry where "forever" usually lasts about three movie cycles and a press tour, people constantly ask, is mark ruffalo married?
The short answer is yes. He’s been married to Sunrise Coigney since June 2000.
That’s over a quarter of a century.
Honestly, that’s like 200 years in "actor time." They didn’t just meet at some fancy Oscar after-party, either. Their story is a lot more "struggling artist" than "A-list glam," and that's probably why they’re still together today in 2026.
The Street Corner Meeting That Changed Everything
Back in 1998, Mark wasn’t a household name. He wasn’t even a guy with a decent apartment. He was living in a converted garage in Los Angeles. He didn’t have a driver's license. He didn’t have a credit card. He was, by his own admission, a total mess.
Then he saw Sunrise Coigney.
✨ Don't miss: Shannon Tweed Net Worth: Why She is Much More Than a Rockstar Wife
He literally saw her walking down the street. It sounds like something out of a cheesy indie flick, but he told Men’s Journal that the second he saw her, he knew he was going to marry her. There was just one tiny problem: one of his close friends was also interested in her. Ruffalo didn't care. He leaned into his "decency, wit, and charm" because that was literally all he had to offer at the time.
Sunrise wasn't immediately sold. I mean, would you be? The guy was a struggling actor living in a dump. But she saw something in him. She encouraged him when he was ready to quit. She stayed through the garage-dwelling phase and the "I can't afford a car" phase.
Why Is Mark Ruffalo Married to Someone Who Isn't an Actor Anymore?
Sunrise used to act. You might have spotted her in projects like 100 Centre Street or the thriller Campfire Stories in the early 2000s. She even shared the screen with Mark in the 2003 film In the Cut. But she made a pretty big pivot.
She told WWD once that a woman told her, "You’ll always get a second chance at your career, but you’ll never get a second chance with your children." That stuck.
She stepped away from the spotlight to raise their three kids:
🔗 Read more: Kellyanne Conway Age: Why Her 59th Year Matters More Than Ever
- Keen, born in 2001 (just a year after they wed).
- Bella Noche, born in 2005.
- Odette, born in 2007.
While Mark was out smashing things as the Hulk or winning acclaim in Poor Things, Sunrise was building a life in upstate New York. She eventually opened a boutique called Sunny’s Pop in Narrowsburg. It’s filled with eclectic, beautiful things she’s found while traveling. She’s basically trading the red carpet for retail and interior design, and by all accounts, she's much happier there.
Facing the "Brain Tumor" Secret Together
One of the most intense parts of their marriage happened right at the beginning. In 2001, just as Mark was starting to get real recognition, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (a vestibular schwannoma).
Sunrise was pregnant with their first son, Keen.
Mark didn't tell her. He didn't want to stress her out while she was nearing her due date. He kept that terrifying secret for weeks, only telling her after the baby was born. Can you imagine the strength that took? Or the reaction she must have had?
The surgery left him with partial facial paralysis for a long time. He thought his career was over. He thought his life might be over. But they stayed. They moved to a farm in Callicoon, New York, to get away from the Hollywood noise and heal. That move wasn't a "celebrity retreat"; it was a survival tactic.
💡 You might also like: Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Is Mark Ruffalo Married? The 2026 Update
As of right now, they are still going strong. In June 2025, Mark posted a massive tribute for their 25th wedding anniversary. He called her his "diamond girl" and asked if she’d give him another 25 years.
It’s not all sunshine and roses, though. Ruffalo is pretty open about the fact that marriage is work. He’s admitted that being married to an actor is "distorting and difficult." He’s away for months at a time filming in places like London or Australia.
But they’ve managed to keep their kids mostly out of the "nepo baby" spotlight. Sure, the kids made tiny cameos in Thor: Ragnarok, but they aren't exactly fixtures at every Hollywood party. Bella lives in NYC now, and Keen has dipped his toes into acting, but they seem like surprisingly normal people for having a dad who is an Avenger.
What You Can Learn From the Ruffalo-Coigney Marriage
- Support the "Mess": Sunrise didn't wait for Mark to be famous. She liked him when he was broke. If someone only likes you when you're "up," they won't stay when you're "down."
- Pivot When Necessary: Sunrise left acting because it didn't fit her life goals anymore. It’s okay to change your career to protect your family or your sanity.
- Get Out of the Bubble: They moved to upstate New York to escape the industry's toxicity. Sometimes you have to change your environment to save your relationship.
- Honesty (Even the Hard Stuff): While keeping the tumor a secret was a choice Mark made out of love, they eventually had to face the recovery together. Dealing with health crises is the ultimate "for better or worse" test.
If you’re looking for a Hollywood couple to actually root for, these two are a safe bet. They’ve survived health scares, career shifts, and the general chaos of fame by keeping their feet in the dirt of their New York farm and their eyes on each other.
To see more of their life together, you can check out Mark's Instagram, where he regularly posts "shout-outs" to Sunrise, usually praising her for keeping their "shambling enterprise" on the rails. It's refreshing to see a guy who knows exactly who the real hero in his house is.
Next Steps for You: Check out Mark’s recent work in Poor Things or his social activism projects, as he often collaborates with Sunrise on environmental causes. If you're ever in Narrowsburg, New York, stop by Sunny's Pop to see the retail world Sunrise built away from the cameras.