These days Mark Ruffalo is known for his work in smart independent films or for hulking around as Marvel’s greenest superhero, but back in the 80s Ruffalo struggled to get roles. His first big break, or at least big at the time, was a Clearasil commercial.
Now said Clearasil commercial has been unearthed for everyone’s enjoyment. Trust us when we say it doesn’t get any better than watching a 22-year-old Mark Ruffalo hamming it up.
The commercial features a vest wearing Ruffalo with a cheshire cat grin in an effort to sell the “zap zap zap” of one powerful skin-care product. In the Clearasil commercial you can see Ruffalo running away from the horrors of pimples, and in another shot the Academy Award nominated actor is smiling as he applies the medicated pad on his face.
That said, the actor knows a thing or two about horrible acne. During an interview with Jessica Chastain, Ruffalo described his pain in high school. “I had terrible cystic acne in high school. [It] is a huge irony because people say, ‘Your skin is so great.’”
The Hulk star has always been open about his years struggling as an actor. He spent 12 years struggling in the industry before he landed his big role in 2000 indie darling You Can Count on Me , and then 13 Going on 30 .
Of his years struggling to make ends meet, Ruffalo told Details magazine , “It was brutal. The years are stripping away, but when you talk to anyone from home, you’re saying something like ‘Well, I’m just working on my craft right now,’ when the truth is that I can’t get a f***ing job because no one will hire me. It was humiliating.”
As for his zapperific Clearasil gig? The actor took in $30,000 and spent all of it. “I thought I had made it … That was it. The IRS was after me. It was a disaster.”
Despite making it big later on in his career, the star was ready to quit after the death of his brother back in 2008. The actor thought he had made his last film with The Kids Are Alright , and wound up getting his first Oscar nomination for the film. Although he still disassociates himself from the toxic L.A. life, he’s very much working full-time in the industry. In fact, his latest project, Foxcatcher , might earn him his second nomination.
What do you think of Mark Ruffalo’s humble beginnings?
[Image via Sony Pictures Classics]
