Early Life and Ambition
Born on July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California, Milo Ventimiglia knew early on that he wanted to be an actor. At just 8 years old, he boldly told his parents that he would win an Academy Award within 20 years—a declaration that showcased his confidence and passion for the craft.
Ventimiglia comes from a diverse background, with Sicilian roots on his father’s side and English and Scottish ancestry from his mother. That strong Italian heritage would later help him land one of his most memorable roles—playing Rocky Balboa Jr., the son of Sylvester Stallone’s Italian Stallion.
During high school, Ventimiglia fully committed to acting, knowing it was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He studied at UCLA and trained at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater, honing his skills and preparing for Hollywood.
Breaking into Hollywood: From Sitcoms to Crime Dramas
Ventimiglia’s first Hollywood break came in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, with guest appearances in some of the biggest TV shows of the era:
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch
- Boston Public
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
He showcased his versatility by playing everything from a hormonal teenager in Opposite Sex (2000) to a cold-blooded killer in CSI (2001).
Ventimiglia also built a strong commercial presence, landing high-profile campaigns for brands like Mountain Dew, Apple, Estee Lauder, T-Mobile, and Chrysler.
But despite this steady work, his biggest break was still ahead.
Milo Ventimiglia as Rocky Balboa Jr.: Carrying on the Italian Stallion’s Legacy
In 2006, Ventimiglia landed the coveted role of Robert “Rocky” Balboa Jr., the son of Sylvester Stallone’s underdog boxer, in Rocky Balboa.
The character had previously been played by Sage Stallone in Rocky V, but for the sixth installment, Stallone wanted a fresh take. Ventimiglia brought depth and emotion to the role, portraying a son struggling to step out of his famous father’s shadow.
His real-life Italian heritage made him a natural fit for the role. With Sicilian ancestry through his father, Ventimiglia shared an authentic connection to Rocky Balboa’s Italian-American roots. This added another layer of realism to his performance, making him feel even more like the true son of the Italian Stallion.
Ventimiglia has often cited The Godfather and The Godfather Part II as two of his favorite films—an unexpected connection to Talia Shire, who played Adrian Balboa in the Rocky series.
His performance in Rocky Balboa resonated with fans, and it didn’t hurt that he brought along a massive female fan base, thanks to his growing TV career.
The Story Behind Milo Ventimiglia’s Crooked Smile
One of Ventimiglia’s most recognizable features is his crooked smile, a trait he shares with Sylvester Stallone. Both actors have facial asymmetries caused by nerve issues—Ventimiglia was born with dead nerves in his lower lip, while Stallone’s lower left side of his face is partially paralyzed due to a nerve being severed during birth, giving him his signature slurred speech and sneering look.
“I also get comments on my crooked mouth and my smile. The nerves are dead in my lower lip. I call it a birth defect. My mother would call it me. I guess it’s my signature,” Ventimiglia explained.
As a child, he noticed it after seeing himself on TV and spent hours practicing in the mirror, trying to adjust the way he spoke.
“Every time I’d catch myself getting this slanted, really pronounced mouth, I would figure out a way to straighten the word out,” he recalled. “Now, it only pops out if I’m running and yelling in a scene.”
Milo Ventimiglia and Sylvester Stallone: Reconnecting on This Is Us
Ventimiglia’s career exploded in 2016 when he took on the role of Jack Pearson in NBC’s This Is Us. The show became one of the biggest hits on television, earning him three Emmy nominations and solidifying him as a household name.
Ironically, it was during his time on This Is Us that Ventimiglia reunited with Stallone—this time, in a completely different setting.
Stallone made a guest appearance on the show in 2017, playing an actor who works alongside Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) on a film set.
Reprising His Role in Creed II
For over a decade, Rocky Balboa’s son, Robert “Rocky” Balboa Jr., had been absent from the franchise. Creed (2015) made only the briefest mention of him, leaving fans to wonder what happened to the father-son relationship from Rocky Balboa.
Then, in 2018’s Creed II, hardcore Rocky fans were in for a massive surprise—Milo Ventimiglia reprised his role at the very end of the movie, marking a long-awaited and emotional reunion.
In the film’s closing moments, Rocky finally travels to Canada to visit his estranged son. Robert, now a father himself, introduces Rocky to his grandson, Logan Balboa, a touching moment that signifies a fresh start for their relationship. Logan, bearing the Balboa name and Adrian’s looks, represents the next generation, proving that the Italian Stallion’s legacy will live on—not just in the ring with Adonis Creed but in his own family.
For Rocky purists, this scene was more than just a cameo—it was the emotional resolution of a storyline decades in the making. Ventimiglia’s return in Creed II gave longtime fans the closure they didn’t know they needed, bringing Rocky’s journey full circle.
Milo Ventimiglia’s Career After Creed II: A Star Still on the Rise
Since his surprise return as Rocky Balboa Jr. in Creed II, Milo Ventimiglia has continued to make his mark in Hollywood. His Emmy-nominated role as Jack Pearson in This Is Us cemented him as one of television’s most beloved actors, and he has expanded his career with major roles in films like The Art of Racing in the Rain and the ABC drama The Company You Keep. Beyond acting, Ventimiglia has also stepped behind the camera, directing episodes of This Is Us and building his own production company, further proving his range as a storyteller.
In early 2025, Ventimiglia’s personal life took a bittersweet turn. He and his wife, model Jarah Mariano, welcomed their first child together in February, just after losing their Los Angeles home to the California wildfires. The tragedy carried an eerie parallel to Jack Pearson’s storyline in This Is Us, where his character famously lost his home in a fire.
Despite the loss, Ventimiglia has continued to push forward, embracing this new chapter in both his personal and professional life. Whether or not he returns to the Rocky franchise again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—his journey is far from over.
