MILO VENTIMIGLIA
The star of This Is Us talks about his character and his career.
“There are lessons and mistakes, but if you can be a good person, that’s the best” — Milo Ventimiglia
When millions across the world collectively steel themselves to mourn the death of Jack Pearson on This Is Us, Milo Ventimiglia, the star who plays him on the television series, will grieve right along with them. “I understand the emotion,” says the actor. “I’m truly heartbroken when I think about how Jack’s passing impacts his family. It weighs on me.” Fans of the show have long been prepared for his untimely death, teased in the first season, seen in the US after the Super Bowl and coming to Australia on Ten soon, but it was a tough blow nonetheless. Yet Ventimiglia says the feverishly anticipated episode provided a sense of relief. “There’s an idea of acceptance,” he says. “Let’s now focus on how the man lived rather than how he died. That’s a very Jack thing to say, isn’t it?” It’s understandable that Ventimiglia, 40, might find it hard to shake off certain Jack attributes—it’s admittedly the role of a lifetime both personally and professionally for the actor raised in Anaheim, California, who struggled throughout his career despite earning critical acclaim in buzz-worthy roles on Gilmore Girls in 2001 and Heroes in 2006.
“I never naturally had the ability to tap into a character,” Ventimiglia told WHO last year. “I always had to work harder, and that’s been my life. So for me, it was a disciplined life … It was: don’t be out late, don’t get into trouble, keep yourself fit.” That discipline ultimately led him to make a surprising choice while still a young actor on the Hollywood scene: He hasn’t had a drink in nearly 20 years. “I didn’t have a lot of time [for alcohol],” said Ventimiglia. “I’m focused on the work; I’m focused on the people I care about.”
Of course, given that Jack Pearson famously struggled with alcoholism on This Is Us, Ventimiglia’s avoidance of alcohol would seem to be just one of the easily drawn parallels between the actor and his smallscreen counterpart. “I’m a lot like Jack, and Jack’s a lot like me,” Ventimiglia says. “This feels the most natural fit of any character I’ve ever played, especially where I am right now just as a man.” Personal connections abound: Ventimiglia’s father served in the Vietnam War, as did Jack. And much like Jack’s bond with his wife, Rebecca (played by Mandy Moore), Ventimiglia’s own parents have shared an enduring love. “My parents are the reason I am the way I am,” the actor has explained of his father, Peter, and his mother, Carol, who have been wed for more than 45 years. “They showed us kindness and compassion but at the same time made sure we learned our lessons and led with grace and intelligence.” And being raised with two older sisters meant “I could see my sisters’ plights,” Ventimiglia explained. “Guys have an instinct to be cavemen. My sisters definitely gave me everything from sensitivity to confidence.”
But Ventimiglia wants to be clear that unlike Jack, “I’m not perfect,” and he is grateful for the relative clarity that moving through his 30s has brought him. “Jack is not an emotional man and that’s by design,” Ventimiglia has said. “I’m emotional when it calls for it—things definitely grab at my heart.” And as he settles into his
40s, “I’m definitely more aware as a person,” Ventimiglia says now. “When I was a younger man I chased the idea of glory, acclaim and trophies. The older I’ve gotten, the closer I’ve come to my roots.”
The role has also moved Ventimiglia to reflect on his own life and relationships. Fiercely protective of his personal life, he does reveal he isn’t likely to fret about having kids sooner rather than later. “I’ve never been one to look too far into the future,” he says. “You have to give life time and know that the universe is going to give you what you need when you’re supposed to have it.”
When the time does come, Ventimiglia’s inspiration will come not from Jack Pearson, but from a man far closer to his heart. “My dad gave me everything I need to be a good man,” he said. “He gave me strength and direction but also the knowledge that there is something much bigger working in the world.”
Now, with many personal milestones still ahead for him as a man and one big milestone—portraying Jack’s death—behind him as an actor, Ventimiglia is content to continue living in the moment. “I think Jack represents the best in a lot of us,” he says. “Even in his flaws, he is good, and I really appreciate that. There are lessons to be learned from this man.” And with the show’s flashback structure ensuring that Jack Pearson will continue to be a presence on
This Is Us, the star offers a final reassurance for Jack fans—and Milo Ventimiglia fans too. “There’s still a lot to know about Jack Pearson,” Ventimiglia says. “He’s not going anywhere. And I’m not either!”
‘I’ve never been one to look too far into the future. You have to give life time’