Mark Wahlberg biography, net worth, wife, height, young, brother, kids, age 2025

Mark Wahlberg's Biography

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, producer, musician, and model. He shot to fame with his roles in the biographical disaster drama "The Perfect Storm," the sci-fi remake "Planet of the Apes," and the crime thriller "The Departed." Throughout his career, he's earned numerous prestigious awards and nominations, including two Oscar nods and three Golden Globe nominations. Net worth: $350 million.

Mark Wahlberg, a Hollywood celebrity with some wild past

Childhood and youth

Mark Wahlberg was born on June 5, 1971, in the neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. His father, Donald E. Wahlberg, Sr., was discharged from the army after the Korean War and worked as a delivery driver, while his mother, Alma Elaine (Donnelly), was a bank clerk and nurse's aide. Mark's mother had six children from her previous marriage, and together with Donald, they had three more—Mark being the youngest. His parents divorced in 1982 with joint custody, so Mark split his time between both households.

The boy received a Catholic upbringing and attended Copley Square High School in Boston. He was a deeply troubled teenager: by 13, he already had a criminal record for drug use and distribution, and at 15, Mark was caught verbally harassing African-American schoolchildren—three fourth-graders, including girls—and throwing rocks at them.

His crimes didn't stop there. When Mark was 16, he approached an elderly Vietnamese man with a large stick and beat him over the head until the man fell unconscious. That same day he attacked another Vietnamese man, punching him in the eye. Many believed Mark had permanently blinded the man in one eye, but in 2014, the victim revealed he'd already lost that eye during the Vietnam War.

Mark Wahlberg was a bully and a racist when he was younger

Given the injuries and constant racial slurs, Mark was charged with attempted murder but found guilty only of assault and sentenced to two years in prison. On his lawyer's advice, Mark chose adult prison over juvenile detention, believing he'd have a better shot at early parole.

Once behind bars, Mark realized he wanted out as soon as possible—and never wanted to return. To make that happen, he knew he had to straighten up and change his ways. Initially, he leaned heavily on his parish priest for guidance, then later had to break the news to his street gang that he was done. According to Wahlberg, he endured some serious fights and beatings before they finally let him walk away.

Music career and modeling

Mark discovered his passion for music at 13 and teamed up with his older brother, Donnie Wahlberg (who was 15 at the time), to form the hugely successful boy band «New Kids on the Block». But Mark wasn't comfortable with the band's sappy, sentimental image, so he bailed after just a few months.

Mark Wahlberg «New Kids on the Block» together with his brother Donnie

In 1990, the young artist launched his own hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. In 1991, Donnie helped Mark produce his debut album «Music for the People», which went platinum thanks to the hit single «Good Vibrations» that dominated US music charts.

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – «You Gotta Believe» (1992)

Mark's live performances drew massive crowds who went wild for his bold, risky behavior, provocative gestures, and signature onstage strip shows. He'd been bodybuilding for years before hitting it big, so the young star proudly showed off his ripped physique. Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch dropped their second album «You Gotta Believe» a year later, but it couldn't match their debut's success and the band's popularity slowly faded.

Mark gained recognition at the beginning of the '90s due to his music

He launched his solo career as Marky Mark, recording two albums with reggae singer Prince Ital Joe («Life in the Streets» and «The Remix Album») that blended rap and reggae with serious energy. Mark also dropped several singles: «No Mercy» (1995), «Hey DJ» (1996), «Feel the Vibe» and «Best of My Love» (1997), which later appeared on his third solo album «All Around the World» (1997).

Mark's ripped physique opened doors to modeling alongside his music career. He became globally famous for his Calvin Klein underwear campaign, featuring multiple TV spots and print ads alongside iconic supermodel Kate Moss. He later recorded and produced his own workout video – «The Marky Mark Workout: Form... Focus... Fitness» and launched a line of sports nutrition supplements called «Marked» in 2012.

Acting career

After making a name for himself in the music industry, Mark started exploring his other creative talents. He decided to try his hand at acting and made his debut in the television film «The Substitute» in 1993, landing a supporting role. The venture paid off, and a year later he was cast in the bigger-budget comedy «Renaissance Man», starring Danny DeVito. Around that time, the aspiring actor dropped his stage name – Marky Mark – and continued his acting career under his real name.

Wahlberg made his next appearance in the coming-of-age drama «The Basketball Diaries» (1995) opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, and his performance really caught critics' attention. Although the film didn't achieve the anticipated success, Mark got so deep into character that audiences were genuinely moved and impressed.

Mark Wahlberg and Leonardo DiCaprio co-starred in «The Basketball Diaries»

In 1996 Mark was cast in his first-ever leading role in the psychological thriller «Fear», directed by James Foley. His on-screen chemistry with the then-unknown Reese Witherspoon was so electric and memorable that he earned an MTV Movie Award nomination for «Best Villain».

Mark Wahlberg portrayed a villain in «Fear»

Mark's real breakthrough came when he appeared in the drama «Boogie Nights» (1997), alongside Julianne Moore and Burt Reynolds. The film explored the American porn industry in the '70s and '80s and became a massive hit with both audiences and critics. It received three Academy Awards nominations and two Golden Globe Awards nominations, resulting in one win.

Wahlberg's song in «Boogie Nights»

The sci-fi remake «Planet of the Apes» (2001), directed by Tim Burton and starring Helena Bonham Carter, became Mark's highest-grossing film at the time. But despite decent box office numbers, the film disappointed both critics and producers with its lackluster execution.

A snapshot from «Planet of the Apes», 2001

In 2004, Mark launched another high-profile project when he began developing the HBO comedy-drama series «Entourage» (2004-2011). The series followed an up-and-coming movie star and drew loosely from Wahlberg's own Hollywood experiences. Adrian Grenier was cast as the main protagonist, while Mark served as the show's executive producer. Critics praised «Entourage» as "smart, sharp and funny," and the show ran for eight successful seasons. Wahlberg himself called it one of his favorite projects.

In 2006, Wahlberg landed a supporting role in Martin Scorsese's acclaimed crime drama «The Departed», starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. Brad Pitt took on the role of the executive producer. The film became a massive critical and commercial hit, winning four Oscars including Best Picture, plus a Golden Globe for Best Director. Mark received his first Academy Awards and Golden Globes nominations for Best Supporting Actor.

»The Departed» is the first collaboration for Mark Wahlberg and Martin Scorsese

He then appeared in the action thriller «Shooter» (2007), the crime drama «We Own the Night" (2007), which he also produced, and the psychological thriller «The Happening» (2008), co-starring Zooey Deschanel.

One of Mark's most controversial projects to date is his leading role in «Max Payne» (2008), a neo-noir action thriller film based on the video game series of the same name. The film was a box office success, but critics slammed it for excessive visual effects, an overload of fight scenes, and a plot that made no sense. «Mark Wahlberg is terrific in hard-bitten roles...but that doesn't save this one». Mila Kunis, Mark's co-star, was criticized just as badly. Mark was eventually nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor.

»Max Payne» with Mark Wahlberg received a tepid reception

His next role in supernatural drama «The Lovely Bones» (2009) came as a welcome change from all the thrillers and action flicks. Young Saoirse Ronan was cast in the leading role and her outstanding performance brought in various nominations and awards. Following this project, Mark went on to make a cameo in a comedy film «Date Night» (2010) and appeared in a buddy cop action comedy film «The Other Guys» (2010), alongside Will Ferrell and Eva Mendes.

Mark Wahlberg has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

That same year a biographical sports drama film «The Fighter» premiered. It turned out to be one of the most significant projects in Mark's entire career – not only did he portray the main character, but he also co-produced the movie. «The Fighter» got him a Golden Globes nomination for Best Actor and an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

The movie required serious preparation though – Mark had to take up boxing and train up to 10 hours a day for 4 years before the film was even greenlit.

Mark Wahlberg's training

In 2013 Mark co-produced and starred in a neo-noir crime drama film «Broken City», opposite Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Unfortunately, the box office returns fell short of expectations, making this the only film in Mark's career where the earnings failed to recoup the budget.

Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis on the set of «Ted»

He later appeared in a dark comedy crime film «Pain & Gain» (2013), where he starred alongside Dwayne Johnson, and the success of the film considerably balanced out the previous flop. He kept his lucky streak going with another action comedy – «2 Guns» (2013), starring alongside Denzel Washington.

Mark Wahlberg: before and after his preparation for the role

Mark Wahlberg landed another memorable role in the biographical war drama «Lone Survivor» (2014). The film was based on the eponymous 2007 non-fiction book, set in 2005 during the war in Afghanistan. Mark was so moved by the story's depth that he agreed to work for minimum wage – just $17,000 a week – alongside director Peter Berg and the rest of the cast. He was especially excited to meet the real person who inspired his character during filming – Marcus Luttrell, the only survivor from a defeated SEAL unit.

In 2014 Mark replaced Shia LaBeouf in his leading role in «Transformers: Age of Extinction» – a fourth installment of the live-action Transformers film series. Despite overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics – "the longer the movie goes on, the less interesting it becomes" – the film was a massive commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide!

Mark Wahlberg is a part of the Transformers franchise, since 2014

Mark received a Teen Choice Awards nomination for his performance, and in 2017 reprised his role in the fifth installment – «Transformers: The Last Knight». Although critics bashed the film again, calling it "cacophonous, thinly plotted, and boasting state-of-the-art special effects," viewers were ecstatic. However, after this harsh critical response, Mark stated he'd no longer be taking part in future franchise movies.

Mark Wahlberg about «Transformers: The Last Knight»

Around this time in his career, Mark appeared in several box office hits: a crime drama «The Gambler» (2014), a comedy film «Daddy's Home» (2016) and its sequel «Daddy's Home 2» (2017), a disaster film «Deepwater Horizon» (2016), alongside Kurt Russell and John Malkovich). In 2016 Mark starred and co-produced a crime drama «Patriots Day» and in 2017 appeared in a crime thriller film «All the Money in the World». Additionally, in 2015 he produced a feature-length comedy film continuing the beloved TV series «Entourage».

Mark Wahlberg continues to dominate Hollywood's A-list. He topped the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid actors in 2017 (earning $68 million), though critics have labeled him one of Hollywood's most overrated stars, as his latest (at the time of the report) films «Patriots Day» and «Deepwater Horizon» delivered disappointing box office numbers.

Today the actor simultaneously works on a couple of films

In 2017, Mark teamed up with Google for an innovative project, personally answering frequently asked questions through short video responses.

Mark Wahlberg's personal life

Mark was romantically linked to actress and model Jordana Brewster from 1998 to 2001. According to Mark, their breakup stemmed from clashing perspectives and vastly different backgrounds—Jordana hailed from serious wealth:

There's nothing wrong with being privileged, but it reminds me of how hard I've had to work to get where I have

In 2001 after a couple of short relationships with his co-stars, including Reese Witherspoon and China Chow, he met model Rhea Durham (born 1978) and it was love at first sight. The couple welcomed three children—daughter Ella Rae Wahlberg (born September 2, 2003), son Michael Wahlberg (born March 21, 2006), and Brendan Joseph Wahlberg (born September 16, 2008)—before finally tying the knot. Wahlberg and Durham married on August 1, 2009, in a private Catholic ceremony in Beverly Hills, welcoming another daughter, Grace Margaret Wahlberg, on January 11, 2011.

In a chilling twist of fate, Wahlberg had originally booked Flight 11 on September 11, 2001, but changed his plans the day before and canceled his reservation. He later told a magazine: "If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn't have gone down like it did. There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, 'OK, we're going to land somewhere safely, don't worry.'"

In 2013, Mark Wahlberg finally earned his high school diploma—something he'd been missing since dropping out at age 13. He has since publicly acknowledged his troubled teenage years, calling his behavior "inappropriate and unacceptable" while personally apologizing to those he hurt.

Mark Wahlberg today

These days, Mark Wahlberg has stepped back from acting more frequently and focuses on producing, but he's got major plans ahead. He's got five projects lined up for 2020. In the animated Scooby-Doo movie, he'll voice the hero Blue Falcon. In the sci-fi thriller "Infinity," he'll star as Evan Michaels, a man who remembers his past lives and joins a secret society of similar people who—he discovers—actually run the world.

Mark Wahlberg on the set of the movie "Infinity"

That same year saw the release of drama "Good Joe Bell"—a biographical film about 16-year-old gay teen Jadin, who died by suicide in 2013 after brutal online bullying.

Wahlberg landed the role of private detective Spenser in "Spenser Confidential." Since it's based on one of Ace Atkins' novels—and there are roughly four dozen books in the series—a successful launch could lock Wahlberg into a multi-film deal.

December 2020 will see the release of adventure action film "Uncharted," based on the hit video game series. Tom Holland stars as Nathan Drake, a descendant of legendary explorer Sir Francis Drake, while Wahlberg plays Victor Sullivan, his grizzled mentor.

Mark Wahlberg: latest news and articles

Choose Hollywood actor with the most piercing gaze

14 Aug 2022

Matthew Myers

This actor has talent but many roles of him are bad but also he has some very good roles.

2021-05-15 12:01:22
Chase Jayden Kelly

Recently Mark makes me happy with his good roles except for the movie Pain & Gain

2021-04-26 08:48:42
Juan Wilson

Mark is in the public eyes and his face is recognizable but he still far away from Oscar but maybe because he didn`t meet the right film director yet.

2021-04-25 09:49:14
Melissa Cohen

I didn`t expect that he will act in the main role in `Ted` and also with a Mila Kunis :) This movie is cool

2021-04-22 08:13:36
Dorothy Ramos

In my opinion, Wahlberg made Transformers even better :) he is like a typical father from the cornfield.

2021-03-21 12:42:32

Photos: Mark Wahlberg