Milo Ventimiglia reflects on fatherhood as he awaits baby no. 2
Actor confesses becoming a father has deepened his emotions as he prepares to welcome a second child with wife Jarah Mariano
Milo Ventimiglia embraced a new chapter of family life as he prepares to welcome his second child with wife Jarah Mariano.
The actor, best known for his role as Jack Pearson on This Is Us, opened up about fatherhood, family and his latest acting projects in a new interview with PEOPLE.
Ventimiglia, 48, and Mariano, 42, welcomed daughter Ke’ala in January 2025 and are now expecting another baby.
“At this point I’m completely outnumbered in the babies to wife to husband ratio,” Ventimiglia joked, referring to his wife, daughter and the family’s dog, Duke, whom he called their “100-pound firstborn.”
Despite the busy household, the actor said he is excited about what comes next.
“I’m most excited for my daughter to have a sibling, someone to grow up with,” he said.
Milo Ventimiglia Says Fatherhood Changed His Perspective
Ventimiglia said becoming a father has reshaped both his personal life and professional outlook.
“Life is just different,” he said. “Being a father has deepened the well of emotions that I experience.”
The actor believes those experiences have also influenced his work on screen.
“We deal in emotions, so being able to tap into that well is more impactful for the work,” he explained. “It also makes the work more important, because I’m not just doing this for me, for my crew, for my cast. I’m doing this for my family.”
The actor added that parenthood has made him more selective about the projects he chooses.
“I think about my kids, and I’m like, ‘What am I putting out into the world that years down the line, my kids are going to pick up and be like, “Oh, let’s go watch Dad’s TV show?”’”
Actor Opens Up About New Netflix Thriller
Ventimiglia currently stars in Netflix’s new Harlan Coben adaptation I Will Find You, where he plays the mysterious Hayden Payne.
The role marks a departure from the wholesome father figure audiences came to know on This Is Us.
“There is a period in my life where Jack Pearson fit,” Ventimiglia said. “And now I get to bounce around and be a bit mysterious.”
When he learned more about the character, he immediately saw the appeal.
“I thought, ‘Well, this is going to be fun,’” he said.
Family Moves Forward After Wildfire Loss
Beyond preparing for a new baby, Ventimiglia and Mariano are also rebuilding after losing their Malibu home in the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
The couple are currently settling into a new home while continuing to deal with insurance matters.
“Some people face tough moments in their lives, and they stop. I’m always propelling forward,” Ventimiglia said. “How can I correct this for my family? How can I take a tragic event and a great event, like fires and my daughter, and turn that into my art?”
After three decades in Hollywood, Ventimiglia said his priorities have shifted.
“When I was younger, I wanted to win an Academy Award. I wanted to be impressive,” he said. “Now I no longer feel like I’m acting for myself. I feel like I’m there acting for and serving others. And I’m good with that.”
