Mark Wahlberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Wahlberg
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Wahlberg in 2021
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| Born |
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg
June 5, 1971 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
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Works
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Filmography |
| Spouse(s) |
Rhea Durham
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | Marky Mark |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1984–1997 |
| Labels | |
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), also known as Marky Mark, is an American actor, producer, and former rapper. He has starred in many movies, including comedies, dramas, and action films.
Mark Wahlberg has won several awards, like a BAFTA Award. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.
He was born in Boston. As a young person, he faced some challenges. He became famous in the 1990s as a member of the hip hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. With his group, he released popular albums like Music for the People (1991) and You Gotta Believe (1992).
Wahlberg started acting in movies in 1994 with Renaissance Man. His first main role was in the 1996 thriller Fear. He later earned praise for his role in Boogie Nights (1997).
In the early 2000s, Mark Wahlberg appeared in big action movies. These included The Perfect Storm (2000), Planet of the Apes (2001), and The Italian Job (2003). He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the crime drama The Departed (2006).
He also received a Golden Globe nomination for playing Micky Ward in the sports drama The Fighter (2010). As a producer for that film, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. In the 2010s, he had successful roles in comedies like The Other Guys (2010), Ted (2012), and Daddy's Home (2015). He also starred in the Transformers movies Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). In 2017, he was the world's highest-paid actor.
Mark Wahlberg has also been an executive producer for several HBO TV series. These include Entourage (2004–2011) and Ballers (2015–2019). He is also a co-owner of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain and appeared in the reality TV series about it. In 2010, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Early Life and Family Background
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg was born on June 5, 1971, in the Dorchester area of Boston, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of nine children. His brothers include actor Robert and singer/actor Donnie.
His mother, Alma Elaine (who passed away in 2021), worked as a bank clerk and a nurse's aide. His father, Donald Edmond Wahlberg Sr. (who passed away in 2008), was a U.S. Army veteran. After his parents divorced in 1982, Mark spent time with both of them.
Wahlberg's family has roots from Sweden, Ireland, England, and French-Canada. He is distantly related to the famous author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Mark Wahlberg was raised in the Catholic faith.
Mark Wahlberg's Career Journey
Music Career Highlights
Mark Wahlberg first became known as the younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg, who was in the popular boy band New Kids on the Block. Mark was actually one of the original members of New Kids on the Block when he was 13, but he left the group after a few months.
In 1990, Wahlberg started recording music with dancers and rappers as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. They had a big hit song called "Good Vibrations" from their first album, Music for the People. This song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their second single, "Wildside", also did well.
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch even had their own video game called Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch: Make My Video. Their second album, You Gotta Believe, was released later.
Wahlberg also worked with reggae singer Prince Ital Joe on the album Life in the Streets. This project mixed rap with dance music. Songs from this album, like "Happy People" and "United", were featured in the film Renaissance Man, which also starred Wahlberg.
In 1995, he released a solo song called "No Mercy". He continued to release solo tracks like "Hey DJ" in 1996 and "Feel the Vibe" and "Best of My Love" in 1997.
Film and Television Success
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In 1993, Mark Wahlberg started his acting career in a TV movie called The Substitute. After this, he stopped using the name "Marky Mark". His first big movie role was in 1994 in Renaissance Man.
He gained attention for his role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries (1995). He then had his first main role in the thriller Fear (1996).
Wahlberg received good reviews for his performances in films like Boogie Nights (1997), Three Kings (1999), and The Perfect Storm (2000). In the early 2000s, he appeared in remakes of older films, such as Planet of the Apes (2001) and The Italian Job (2003).
He was considered for roles in other major films, including Ocean's Eleven and Brokeback Mountain. He later worked with Matt Damon in The Departed.
In 2006, Wahlberg starred in the football drama Invincible, based on a true story. He was also an executive producer for the HBO series Entourage (2004–2011), which was inspired by his own experiences in Hollywood.
In 2006, he played a police officer in Martin Scorsese's thriller The Departed. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in Shooter (2007) and We Own the Night (2007).
In 2008, he starred in The Happening and played the main character in Max Payne, based on the video game. He also appeared in The Lovely Bones (2009).
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In 2010, Wahlberg was in the romantic comedy Date Night and the buddy cop film The Other Guys. He also starred with Christian Bale in the boxing drama The Fighter. In 2012, he starred in the action thriller Contraband and the comedy Ted, returning for its 2015 sequel.
Wahlberg played Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell in the war film Lone Survivor (2013). He also starred in Pain & Gain (2013) and 2 Guns (2013).
In 2014, Wahlberg starred in The Gambler. He also starred in two films from the Transformers series: Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). In 2015, he starred with Will Ferrell in the comedy Daddy's Home, and its 2017 sequel.
In 2016, he starred in two films directed by Peter Berg: Deepwater Horizon, about the 2010 oil spill, and Patriots Day, about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
In 2018, he starred in the family comedy-drama Instant Family. He also produced and starred in the espionage film Mile 22 (2018). More recently, he appeared in the Netflix film Spenser Confidential (2020) and voiced a character in the animated movie Scoob! (2020).
In 2022, Wahlberg starred as Victor Sullivan in the Uncharted movie. He has also appeared in The Family Plan (2023), Arthur the King (2024), and has upcoming action films like The Union (2024) and Flight Risk (2025).
Besides Entourage, Wahlberg has been an executive producer for other TV series. These include Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014), How to Make It in America (2010–2011), Ballers (2015–2019), and the documentary McMillions (2020).
Other Ventures and Business Interests
Mark Wahlberg first showed his athletic build in the "Good Vibrations" music video. He became well-known for his modeling work in a series of underwear ads for Calvin Klein in 1992. He also released a workout video.
In 2012, Wahlberg became a brand ambassador for Marked, a line of sports nutrition supplements. In 2017, AT&T announced that Wahlberg would become a spokesman for their mobile network.
Wahlberg is a co-owner of Wahlburgers, a restaurant chain, along with his brothers Donnie and Paul. He had the idea to expand Paul's restaurant into a larger chain, which was featured in a reality TV show.
In 2013, Wahlberg bought a share in the Barbados Tridents cricket team. He became a fan of cricket and wanted to be part of the Caribbean Premier League.
In 2015, Wahlberg, along with rapper Sean Combs and businessman Ronald Burkle, invested in Aquahydrate, a bottled water brand. Together, they own a majority of the company. Wahlberg also co-founded Performance Inspired, a sports nutrition company, in 2016. In 2019, Wahlberg bought a share in the F45 fitness franchise. In 2023, he became the Chief Brand Officer for F45 Training.
In 2018, Wahlberg and his business partner, Jay Feldman, bought a Chevrolet dealership in Columbus, Ohio, renaming it Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet. Due to its success, they have since acquired more dealerships in Ohio, including Buick-GMC and Airstream/RV dealerships.
In 2021, Wahlberg and his producing partner Stephen Levinson launched Ballers Report, an online platform with business, entertainment, and sports content. Also in 2021, he invested in the Tequila brand Flecha Azul.
Personal Life
Mark Wahlberg began dating Rhea Durham in 2001. They had three children before getting married on August 1, 2009, in Beverly Hills. They had another child in January 2010.
Wahlberg is a practicing Catholic and has said his religion is very important to him. He attends Mass regularly. He supports same-sex marriage, even though the Church has a different view. In 2015, he apologized to Pope Francis for some jokes he made in the film Ted.
In May 2001, Wahlberg started the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. This foundation helps raise money for programs that support and enrich young people's lives. He also works with The Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children.
In 2022, Mark Wahlberg and his family moved from Hollywood to Las Vegas.
Filmography
Discography
Solo singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIN |
GER |
SWI |
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| 1995 | "No Mercy" | — | 44 | 37 | Non-album singles |
| 1996 | "Hey DJ" | 17 | 58 | — | |
| 1997 | "Feel the Vibe" | — | — | — | |
| "Best of My Love" | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released | |||||
See also
In Spanish: Mark Wahlberg para niños
