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Donnie Wahlberg facts for kids

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Donnie Wahlberg
Donnie Wahlberg 2010.jpg
Wahlberg in 2010
Born
Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr.

(1969-08-17) August 17, 1969 (age 55)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
  • producer
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s)
Kim Fey
(m. 1999; div. 2008)
(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
Instruments Vocals
Labels

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.

Outside of music, Donnie has starred in many movies and TV shows. Some of his well-known roles include the Saw films, Zookeeper (2011), Dreamcatcher (2003), and The Sixth Sense (1999). He also played Carwood Lipton in the World War II miniseries Band of Brothers.

From 2010 to 2024, he starred as Danny Reagan in the drama series Blue Bloods. He has also produced and starred in reality TV shows like Wahlburgers, which earned him nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards. He is the older brother of actor Mark Wahlberg and chef Paul Wahlberg.

Early life

Donnie Wahlberg was born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. He is one of nine children. His older siblings include Arthur, Jim, Paul, Robert, Tracey, Michelle, and Debbie. His younger brother is Mark.

His mother, Alma Elaine, was a bank clerk and nurse's aide. His father, Donald Edmond Wahlberg Sr., was a delivery driver. His family has roots from Sweden, Ireland, England, and French-Canada.

Career

New Kids on the Block

Donnie Wahlberg at the 1990 Grammys
Wahlberg in 1990

Donnie Wahlberg is best known as an original member of the boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB). A boy band is a group of young male singers, usually performing pop music.

The band was created by Maurice Starr and Mary Alford. They were looking for a group similar to New Edition. Donnie, at age 15, became the first member after they heard his rapping skills. His brother Mark was briefly in the group too. With the additions of Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Danny Wood, and Joey McIntyre, they became New Kids on the Block.

The band became very popular but broke up in 1994. In 2008, Donnie confirmed that NKOTB would reunite. Their first album after reuniting, The Block, was released in September 2008. It became a top album in America. The group still tours, and Donnie remains a member.

Film and TV career

Donnie Wahlberg's first movie role was in the 1996 film Bullet. He also appeared as a kidnapper in Ransom in 1996. He gained attention for his role in the 1999 film The Sixth Sense. In this movie, he played a patient of Bruce Willis' character.

In 2001, Donnie co-starred as Second Lieutenant Carwood Lipton in the TV miniseries Band of Brothers. He also starred in the 2002–2003 NBC drama series Boomtown. He played Joel Stevens, a police detective in Los Angeles.

In 2003, Wahlberg starred in Dreamcatcher. He played Duddits, a character with special abilities. In 2005, he played Detective Eric Matthews in Saw II. He continued this role in Saw III (2006) and Saw IV (2007).

In 2006, Donnie played Lieutenant Commander Burton in the movie Annapolis. He also had the lead role in the TV drama Runaway. In 2007, he starred in the TV film Kings of South Beach and the TV series The Kill Point.

In 2008, Wahlberg appeared in Righteous Kill and What Doesn't Kill You.

Donnie Wahlberg stars as 1st Grade Detective Danny Reagan on CBS's Blue Bloods. This is a police drama set in New York City. He has said he sees himself as a "character actor" rather than a "movie star" like his brother.

He hosted an internet radio show called "DDUB's R&B Back Rub". He also appeared in the 2011 comedy Zookeeper. Wahlberg is the current host of HLN's "Very Scary People".

In 2021, Wahlberg was on The Masked Singer as the rooster "Cluedle-Doo". He gave clues to the viewers. He was unmasked in the semi-finals.

In 2022, he sold two TV police drama projects as an executive producer to CBS Studios. These projects are called Harbor Blue and Samaritan.

Personal life

Donnie Wahlberg married Kimberly Fey in 1999. They have two sons together. They divorced in 2008. In 2013, he started dating actress Jenny McCarthy. They got engaged in 2014 and married on August 31, 2014.

Wahlberg is a big fan of the Boston Celtics basketball team. He has narrated documentaries about the team, including The Association: Boston Celtics and Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies. He also co-owns a chain of restaurants called Wahlburgers with his brothers Paul and Mark.

Discography

Donnie Wahlberg (6018918041)
Wahlberg performing in 2011

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

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Bullet Big Balls
Ransom Cubby Barnes
1997 Black Circle Boys Greggo
1998 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Mr. Grey TV movie
Butter Rick Damon
Body Count Booker
Southie Danny Quinn
1999 Purgatory Deputy Glen/Billy 'The Kid' TV movie
The Sixth Sense Vincent Grey
2000 Bullfighter Chollo
Diamond Men Bobby Walker
2002 Triggermen Terry Mulloy, Hitman
2003 Dreamcatcher Douglas 'Duddits' Cavell
2005 Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Randall Ipswitch
Saw II Detective Eric Matthews
2006 Annapolis Commander Burton
Saw III Detective Eric Matthews
2007 Kings of South Beach Detective Andy TV movie
Dead Silence Detective Jim Lipton
Saw IV Detective Eric Matthews
2008 Righteous Kill Detective Teddy Riley
What Doesn't Kill You]] Detective Moran
2011 Zookeeper Shane

Television

Blue Bloods cast TCA 2010
Cast of TV series Blue Bloods at the 2010 Summer Session of the Television Critics Association
Year Title Role Notes
1989 House of Style Himself Episode: "Fall '89"
2000 Where Are They Now? Himself Episode: "Bad Boys of Rock"
The Practice Patrick Rooney Episode: "Settling"
2001 Big Apple Chris Scott Main Cast
Band of Brothers Carwood Lipton Main Cast
UC: Undercover Bobby Episode: "City on Fire"
2002–2003 Boomtown Detective Joel Stevens Main Cast
2006 The Path to 9/11 Detective Kirk Episode: "Part I & II"
Runaway Paul Rader Main Cast
2007 HypaSpace Himself Episode: "Episode #6.54"
The Kill Point Detective Horst Cali Main Cast
2008 Intervention Himself/Narrator (voice) Episode: "Intervention In-Depth: ... Hits Home"
2010 In Plain Sight Jimmy McCabe/Jimmy Porter Episode: "Father Goes West"
Rizzoli & Isles Lieutenant Joey Grant Recurring Cast: Season 1
2010–2024 Blue Bloods Daniel Fitzgerald "Danny" Reagan Main Cast
2013 Boston's Finest Himself/Narrator (voice) Main Narrator: Season 1
Massholes Himself Episode: "Boston's Finest"
2014 The View Himself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Guest Co-Hosts Donnie Wahlberg & Rick Fox/Noah Wyle"
2014–2019 Wahlburgers Himself Recurring Cast
2015–2016 Donnie Loves Jenny Himself Main Cast
Rock This Boat: New Kids On The Block Himself Main Cast
2016 Fuller House Himself Episode: "New Kids in the House"
2017 30 for 30 Himself/Narrator (voice) Episode: "Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies, Part 1-3"
Return of the Mac Himself Main Cast
2019 Entertainment Tonight Himself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Blue Bloods Exclusive!"
2019–2025 Very Scary People Himself/Host Main Host
2021 The Masked Singer Himself/Cluedle-Doo Contestant: Season 5

Music videos

Year Title Role
1991 MC Hammer "2 Legit 2 Quit"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Turok Shepherd (voice)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2006 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Scream Saw II Nominated
2014 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program Wahlburgers Nominated
2015 Nominated
2017 People's Choice Award Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor Blue Bloods Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Donnie Wahlberg para niños

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