Donnie Wahlberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donnie Wahlberg
Wahlberg in 2010
Born	Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr. (1969-08-17) August 17, 1969 (age 56) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter actor producer
Years active	1984–present
Spouse(s)	Kim Fey ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2008)​ Jenny McCarthy ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	2
Relatives	Mark Wahlberg (brother) Rhea Durham (sister-in-law) Robert Wahlberg (brother) Jim Wahlberg (brother) Paul Wahlberg (brother) Jeff Wahlberg (nephew)
Musical career
Genres	Pop hip hop blue-eyed soul
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Columbia Interscope

Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr. (born August 17, 1969), known as Donnie Wahlberg, is an American singer, actor, and producer. He is famous for being a founding member of the popular boy band New Kids on the Block.

Besides music, Wahlberg is a well-known actor. He stars as Detective Danny Reagan in the TV drama series Blue Bloods. He has also appeared in many movies, including The Sixth Sense, Ransom, and the Saw films. He played the role of Carwood Lipton in the World War II series Band of Brothers.

Wahlberg has also produced and starred in several reality TV shows. These include Wahlburgers, a show about his family's restaurant, which earned him two Emmy Award nominations. He is the older brother of actor Mark Wahlberg.

Early Life and Family

Donnie Wahlberg was born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He is the eighth of nine children. His younger brother is the famous actor Mark Wahlberg. His older brothers include Robert, an actor, and Paul, a chef.

His mother, Alma, was a bank clerk and nurse's aide, and his father, Donald Sr., was a delivery driver. His parents divorced in 1982. Wahlberg has said his family has an Irish-Catholic background.

Music and Acting Career

New Kids on the Block

Wahlberg in 1990

Wahlberg's career in entertainment began when he was 15 years old. He became the first member of the boy band New Kids on the Block (also known as NKOTB). His brother Mark was also in the group for a short time but left. The band, which included Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, and Danny Wood, became a huge success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The group broke up in 1994 but got back together in 2008. They released a new album called The Block, which was very successful. NKOTB continues to record music and tour, and Wahlberg is still an active member.

Film and Television Roles

Wahlberg's first movie role was in the 1996 film Bullet. That same year, he played a kidnapper in the movie Ransom with Mel Gibson. He gained more attention for his small but powerful role in the 1999 hit movie The Sixth Sense.

Major TV Roles

In 2001, Wahlberg played Second Lieutenant Carwood Lipton in the famous TV miniseries Band of Brothers. This series told the story of a group of soldiers in World War II. From 2002 to 2003, he starred in the police drama Boomtown.

Since 2010, Wahlberg has starred as Detective Danny Reagan in the popular CBS show Blue Bloods. The show is about a family of police officers in New York City. Wahlberg has said he loves playing this character.

Notable Movie Appearances

Wahlberg has acted in many different kinds of movies. In 2003, he was in the science-fiction thriller Dreamcatcher. In 2005, he played Detective Eric Matthews in Saw II, and he returned for other films in the Saw series. He also appeared in the 2011 comedy Zookeeper.

Reality TV and Producing

Wahlberg has also been successful behind the camera. He was a producer for the reality show Boston's Finest, which followed police officers in his hometown.

From 2014 to 2019, he starred in and produced the reality series Wahlburgers. The show was about the burger restaurant chain he owns with his brothers Paul and Mark. He also appeared in other reality shows like Donnie Loves Jenny with his wife.

In 2021, Wahlberg was a secret celebrity on the TV show The Masked Singer. He performed as "Cluedle-Doo," a rooster who gave clues to the audience.

Personal Life

Wahlberg performing in 2011

Wahlberg married Kimberly Fey in 1999, and they have two sons together. They divorced in 2008.

In 2014, he married actress and TV host Jenny McCarthy. They live in St. Charles, Illinois.

Wahlberg is a huge fan of the Boston Celtics basketball team and often attends their games. He has even narrated documentaries about the team. Along with his brothers Mark and Paul, he co-owns the Wahlburgers restaurant chain.

He is known for being very friendly and engaging with his fans, both in person and on social media.

Discography

with New Kids on the Block

• New Kids on the Block (1986)
• Hangin' Tough (1988)
• Step by Step (1990)
• Face the Music (1994)
• The Block (2008)
• 10 (2013)

Solo

• "The Right Combination" – a duet with Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda (1990)

Selected Filmography

The cast of the TV series Blue Bloods in 2010

Film

• Ransom (1996) - as Cubby Barnes
• The Sixth Sense (1999) - as Vincent Grey
• Dreamcatcher (2003) - as Douglas 'Duddits' Cavell
• Saw II (2005) - as Detective Eric Matthews
• Annapolis (2006) - as Commander Burton
• Righteous Kill (2008) - as Detective Teddy Riley
• Zookeeper (2011) - as Shane

Television

• Band of Brothers (2001) - as Carwood Lipton
• Boomtown (2002–2003) - as Detective Joel Stevens
• Runaway (2006) - as Paul Rader
• The Kill Point (2007) - as Detective Horst Cali
• Blue Bloods (2010–2024) - as Detective Danny Reagan
• Wahlburgers (2014–2019) - as Himself
• The Masked Singer (2021) - as Himself/Cluedle-Doo

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Donnie Wahlberg para niños