Mark Ruffalo Wins SAG Award For His Performance In The Normal Heart

Mark Ruffalo (L) with Matt Bomer (R)

Although he missed out on Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for his work on The Normal Heart, tonight Mark Ruffalo was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for passionate performance in the HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer's play of the same name.

From Gay Star News:

Ruffalo played writer and AIDS activist Ned Weeks in the film based on the play by Larry Kramer. The character of Weeks is a fictionalized version of Kramer.

The award was accepted on Ruffalo's behalf by presenters Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o since the actor did not attend the ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Julia Roberts, Ruffalo's co-star and fellow producer on the film, later took the stage to present another award and dispensed with her prepared remarks to praise Ruffalo's acting abilities and to say 'I am so absolutely tickled to my toes that he won tonight.'

Ha ha ha! Sunny and my kids just woke me up to tell me I won a SAG award. Have to be at work in 4 hours. Thank you! @SAGawards

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

Thank you @ryanmurphy24 for giving me the incredible part! Thank you Larry Kramer teaching is all a little more about love.

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

Thanks @MattBomer my dear friend and partner in #TheNormalHeart you were an inspiration and friend every day.

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

To all the people who lived through the AIDS crisis and lost the ones you loved. This award is yours. @SAGawards You are heros.

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

Upon waking and hearing from my wife and kids that I won a @sagawards for #TheNormalHeart Love wins tonight!

A photo posted by Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo) on Jan 25, 2015 at 6:45pm PST

HBO's "The Normal Heart" wins Outstanding TV/Movie at 2014 Emmys

The cast of the HBO film "The Normal Heart"

HBO’s “The Normal Heart” won the 2014 Emmy Award for best made-for-television movie.

The critically acclaimed film depicts the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group.

“The Normal Heart” was directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, based on his 1985 play of same name.

Fans and activists on the internet expressed worry that the ground-breaking movie would be shut out of the awards tonight.  Fortunately, not true.

Mark Ruffalo (L) and Matt Bomer (R) in "The Normal Heart"

Larry Kramer (scarf) stand to accept 2014 Emmy Award with "The Normal Heart" team

(via LGBTQ Nation)

President Obama calls "The Normal Heart" director Ryan Murphy after viewing film

Deadline reports that after viewing HBO's The Normal Heart, President Obama called director Ryan Murphy on Monday to share how much he enjoyed the film and "found it incredibly moving."

Murphy confirmed getting the call to Deadline, adding: “The whole movie is about Larry trying to get the attention of Washington and 30 years later, to get a call from the President is a full-circle moment.”

New York Times: Larry Kramer talks "The Normal Heart" journey

It took more than 30 years for Larry Kramer's play "The Normal Heart," about gay New Yorkers struggling with AIDS to be turned into a movie.

The New York Times interviewed Kramer about the journey from stage to screen.

"The Normal Heart" debuts this Sunday, May 25th on HBO.

The cast of HBO's "The Normal Heart" on Michael Sam's "draft kiss"

The cast of HBO's "The Normal Heart" stopped by HuffPost Live to talk about the upcoming debut of the film on May 25th.

During the chat, the question came up regarding how far the LGBT community has come in 30 years, including the NFL draft of Michael Sam and his televised celebratory kiss with his boyfriend Vito. Check out their comments in the video above.

The full interview is posted below the short clip.

Julia Roberts talks to Ellen about making THE NORMAL HEART

Julia Roberts talks to Ellen about the emotional journey of HBO's The Normal Heart during the early years of the AIDS epidemic.

The groundbreaking film debuts May 25th on HBO.

HBO's The Normal Heart covers Entertainment Weekly

This week's cover of Entertainment Weekly focuses on the developmental journey of The Normal Heart, from Broadway to HBO feature film.

Despite involvement from names like Barbra Streisand, who owned the rights for 10 years, The Normal Heart appeared to be destined for only theater until Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy acquired the rights in 2009 with his own money.

“I really believed in it,” explains Murphy, who first read the play in college and directed the film version. “Larry set a very high price. I gulped and said, ‘Okay,’ and bought it. I think he wanted to see, ‘Is this kid serious?’ And I was.”

Kramer, who’s HIV-positive and currently recovering from unrelated medical complications, was unable to speak to EW but emailed that Heart made it to the screen “because of Ryan Murphy caring passionately about getting it made, abetted by [exec producer] Dante Di Loreto."

The Normal Heart starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Julia Roberts and Jim Parsons debuts on HBO on May 25th. Watch the trailer below:

Matt Bomer reveals he married his partner 3 years ago

Matt Bomer reveals in an interview with Details Magazine (May 2014 issue) that he married his partner Simon Halls way back in 2011.

Talk of their marriage arose while he was discussing his role in the upcoming HBO movie directed by Ryan Murphy, "The Normal Heart," about a gay man dying of AIDS.

"I wouldn't have a lot of the rights I have today if it wasn't for people like Larry," he said, referring to the play's original writer, Larry Kramer. "I just wanted to be involved with the project in some capacity. I didn't care what my part was."

"It's rare that you get to play a great role that has an arc," he added. "It's rare that you get to be a part of something that, hopefully, has some significance socially or historically. And then to have a role that changes you? I think that's the best you could hope for in this profession, and that was certainly the case here. I don't think I'll ever be the same as I was when I started the job."

Bomer and Halls have three children together, 6-year-old twins and an 8-year-old.

The interview goes in depth about Bomer's preparation and work on the upcoming HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart."  Read the full interview at Details.com

The film premieres on HBO May 25 at 9 p.m. EST.

Watch a behind the scenes video from the photo shoot for the magazine below:

Mark Ruffalo talks to HuffPost Live about "The Normal Heart"

Mark Ruffalo talks to HuffPost Live about what drew him to his role in the HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart":

“I have a lot of compassion for the struggle of people and I was growing up during the AIDS epidemic and I saw how cruel and insensitive people were to these people suffering.

"And it sort of has been forgotten, what happened in our culture during those times...and the small group of people who instituted vast change and brought us to the point today where gay marriage is almost as common as [traditional] marriage right now.

"That was an important story that needed to be told.”

"The Normal Heart" debuts on HBO on May 25th.

"The Normal Heart" - Full Trailer

The HBO original film, The Normal Heart, premieres Sunday, May 25th at 9PM/8C, only on HBO.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer and Taylor Kitsch.

The cast of "The Normal Heart" talks to The Hollywood Reporter

During the photo shoot for the cover of The Hollywood Reporter, the cast of the upcoming HBO film "The Normal Heart" - Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Taylor Kitsch - talked on the impact of AIDS on the LGBT community and the exploration of humanity in the film.

New trailer for HBO's "The Normal Heart"

HBO has released a new trailer for the upcoming screen adaptation of Larry Kramer's award-winning play "The Normal Heart."

"The Normal Heart," directed by Ryan Murphy, chronicles the rise of AIDS in the 1980s during the earliest years of the epidemic.

The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Jonathan Groff.

Debuts on HBO on May 25.

Trailer: HBO's "The Normal Heart"

The HBO original film, The Normal Heart, premieres Sunday, May 25th at 9PM/8C, on HBO.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts.

HBO's "The Normal Heart" to debut on May 25th

HBO Films has announced that "The Normal Heart" will  see it's world debut at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) May 25th on HBO.

The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts.  Also featured in the production are Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock and BD Wong.

Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name, "The Normal Heart" tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

Ruffalo portrays Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand a mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Matt Bomer plays Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. Taylor Kitsch plays Bruce Niles, a closeted investment banker who becomes a prominent AIDS activist. Jim Parsons plays gay activist Tommy Boatwright, reprising his role from the 2011 Broadway revival. Roberts plays physician Dr. Emma Brookner, a survivor of childhood polio who treats several of the earliest victims of HIV-AIDS.

Kramer’s play debuted at New York’s Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London, and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress.

(source)

HBO "End of Year Promo" includes first view of footage from THE NORMAL HEART

Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

This past weekend HBO released it's "End of the Year" promo which included the first footage the public has had a chance to glimpse of the upcoming THE NORMAL HEART.

One of the most anticipated gay media moments of 2014 is the film adaptation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, which features a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch, Matt Bomer, and Julia Roberts.

Julia Roberts in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

Jim Parsons in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

(via Towleroad)

Jonathan Groff on the "distant past" of the AIDS crisis

I think this is an important perspective to keep in terms of the AIDS epidemic. Sometimes gets lost in the day to day.

From Jonathan Groff:

"There’s a lot of gay men from my generation that only know of AIDS as a thing of the distant past. I was born in 1985 in the thick of it, but didn’t live through it.

"We did a scene last week on the beach on Fire Island where we’re at a party, and lots of actors my age are thinking how surreal it is. If we had been there 25 years ago, most of us would be dead…

"(Author) Larry Kramer actually got emotional and left because he was so moved by all the young people celebrating.”

–Actor Jonathan Groff on his role in the upcoming film adaptation of Kramer’s play The Normal Heart, which documents the early years of the AIDS epidemic

Jeremy Jordan & Jonathan Groff - "Let Me Be Your Star"

A bit of Saturday silly fun from hunky Jeremy Jordan (SMASH) and Jonathan Groff (GLEE). I've liked the song "Let Me Be Your Star" since I first heard it in the pilot of SMASH.

In related news, Glee‘s Jonathan Groff has been cast in The Normal Heart, HBO‘s original movie adaptation of the Tony-winning Larry Kramer play, which is being written by Kramer and directed by Ryan Murphy.

He joins Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Taylor Kitsch in the pic, which tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s. Production is slated to begin later this year in New York for a 2014 debut.

HBO green lights The Normal Heart movie adaptation

Mark Ruffalo (left) and Matt Bomer (right)

The movie-adaptation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart seem to have finally been worked out. HBO announced today that they greenlit the movie to be directed by Ryan Murphy, according to Deadline.

As announced earlier, Julia Roberts will play Emma Brookner, the paraplegic physician who treats several of the earliest victims of the disease (played by Ellen Barkin in the recent Broadway production and currently stars in Murphy's The New Normal).

Word is Mark Ruffalo will still play Ned Weeks (the Kramer stand-in) and Matt Bomer (the only out actor currently part of the movie) will play Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover.

Kramer is adapting the play for the screen himself, and the film should begin filming this fall in New York City and air in 2014.

The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor for John Benjamin Hickey as Turner and Best Featured Actress for Ellen Barkin as the doctor.

(source)

Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" on tour

Larry Kramer’s searing, Tony Award-winning play about the early years of the AIDS epidemic in New York begins a U.S. tour with actors Patrick Breen, Luke Macfarlane (pictured), and Patricia Wettig.

First stop is D.C.’s Keeger Theatre through July 19.

For more information go here.

Brad Pitt Will Produce 'The Normal Heart' movie

The long-gestating film adaptation of 'The Normal Heart,' Larry Kramer’s blistering autobiographical play about the early years of the AIDS epidemic, is now closer to becoming a reality with superstar producer Brad Pitt on board, reports Variety. 

Pitt’s Plan B production company will coproduce the film with Ryan Murphy, who will also direct.

The film is expected to star Mark Ruffalo as Ned Weeks, the character author Larry Kramer based on himself, and Julia Roberts as Dr. Emma Brookner. No start date has been announced.