Milo Ventimiglia (born July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California) is an American actor who first gained attention as the brooding Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls (2001–2007) after his screen debut on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995. He became a household name starring as Peter Petrelli in the superhero series Heroes (2006–2010) and later earned three Primetime Emmy nominations for his acclaimed role as Jack Pearson on the hit drama This Is Us (2016–2022). On the big screen, he played Rocky Balboa's son in Rocky Balboa (2006) and reprised the role in Creed II (2018), alongside appearances in films like Pathology and The Art of Racing in the Rain. Notably, Ventimiglia was born with damaged facial nerves that leave the left side of his mouth immobile, giving him a distinctive "crooked mouth" similar to Sylvester Stallone, his on-screen father. Of Sicilian, English, and Scottish descent, he studied at UCLA and the American Conservatory Theater before landing roles in series such as Mob City, The Whispers, and the 2023 drama The Company You Keep.