Milo Ventimiglia: The Guy Who Made Us Cry, Laugh, and Wish We Had a Dad Like Jack Pearson

Milo Ventimiglia: The Guy Who Made Us Cry, Laugh, and Wish We Had a Dad Like Jack Pearson If you’ve ever sat in front of the TV and found yourself tearing up over a scene in This Is Us, chances are you were staring at Milo Ventimiglia, the actor who plays the lovable Jack Pearson. But hold on—Milo is more than just a tear-jerking dad. He’s a man with many sides, from the heartthrob we all swooned over in Gilmore Girls to the guy you’d totally want to grab a beer with after a long day. So, who exactly is this guy, and why does he have the ability to make us feel so many emotions? The Early Days: From "Gilmore Girls" to "This Is Us" Milo Ventimiglia was born on July 8, 1977, in Anaheim, California, which is basically where Disney magic happens (we assume some of that magic rubbed off on him). Growing up, Milo was a bit of a sports guy—playing soccer and basketball—before he discovered his true love: acting. And no, it wasn’t just for the fame and fortune (though those are nice perks). It was the art of bringing characters to life that drew him in. In the early 2000s, Milo landed the role of Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls, and let’s face it, we were all a little in love with him. He was the bad boy with a heart of gold who made us rethink the whole “rebel without a cause” thing. Sure, he may have been a little grumpy and had some serious issues with authority, but there was something about that messy hair and sarcastic smile that made him irresistible.