I've always looked at my career as an athlete would look at his. I won't play forever. Some don't know when to walk away, but the smart ones do. - MW
| Mark Walhberg Mini Biography |
At age 16, he was convicted of assault against two Vietnamese men after he had tried to rob them. As a result of his assault conviction, he was sentenced to serve 50 days in prison at Deer Island penitentiary. Whilst there, he began working out to pass time and, when he emerged at the end of his sentence, he had gone from being a scrawny young kid to a buff young man. Wahlberg also credits the jail time as being his motivation to improve his lifestyle and leave the crime behind him. Once he was released, Mark rejoined his family, who were now in the national spotlight. His older brother Donnie Wahlberg was a member of the 1980's singing sensation New Kids on the Block. Mark himself had been an original member of the band but had backed out early on Donnie got Mark set up with a recording contract.
Despite a lack of singing ability, promoters took to his dance moves and a physique they knew teenage girls would love. Donnie scripted some easy songs for Mark, who collected a troupe of dancers and a DJ to become his "Funky Bunch" and "Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch" was born. His debut album, "Music for the People", was a smash hit, which was propelled along by the rapper's willingness to disrobe down to boxer-briefs on stage, not to mention several catchy tunes. Teenage girls thrilled to the rapping "bad boy". Record producer David Geffen saw in Wahlberg a cash-cow of marketing ability.
After speaking to designer Calvin Klein, Marky Mark was set up as the designer's chief underwear model. His scantily clad figure soon adorned billboards across the nation. In 1992, he released a book dedicated to his penis.
Wahlberg was constantly getting into rumored fights, most memorably with Madonna and her entourage at a Los Angeles party. While things were always intense, they were relatively harmless and made for enjoyable reading for the public. However, when the story of his arrest for assault (and the allegations of racism) broke in the press, things took on a decidedly darker note. People were not amused. Soon after, while on a British talk show along with rapper Shabba Ranks, he got into even more trouble. After Ranks made the statement that gays should be crucified, Wahlberg was accused of condoning the comments by his silence. Marky Mark was suddenly surrounded by charges of brutality, homophobia and racial hatred.
His second album, "You Gotta Believe", had not been faring well and, after the charges surfaced, it plummeted from the charts. Adding to the hoopla, Wahlberg was brought to court for allegedly assaulting a security guard. He was ordered to make amends by appearing in a series of anti-bias advertisements. Humbled and humiliated by his fall from grace in the music world, Wahlberg decided to pursue another angle, acting.
He dropped the "Marky Mark" moniker and became known simply as Mark Wahlberg. His first big screen role came in Penny Marshall's Renaissance Man. Despite the name change, many people snickered at the idea of the has-been rapper thinking he could make it as an actor. From the get-go, he was proving them wrong. In Renaissance Man, he gave an utterly charming performance as a simple but sincere army recruit. What naysayers remained found it increasingly difficult to write Mark Wahlberg off as he delivered one fine performance after another. He blew them away in the controversial The Basketball Diaries and chilled them in Fear as every father's worst nightmare. Wahlberg hit a high point in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights, in which he metamorphosed from shy young "Eddie Adams" into egomaniac porn star "Dirk Diggler". Critics and audiences were impressed with the young actor's range and abilities, not to mention certain other attributes.
It seems as though Mark Wahlberg has finally put bad boy "Marky Mark" behind him. While some controversy remains (Wahlberg denies ever having been a racist), he is now taken much more seriously than he ever was before. He is one of the few teen pop sensations to survive through it and come out on top.
Vital Stats
Mark Walhberg Information |
| Full Name: Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg | Nickname(s): Marky Mark, Monk D
| | Eye Color: Hazel | | Hair Color: Brown | | Height: 5' 9 | | Notable feature(s): Plays bold characters, characters which respond to his guy mentality | | Nationality: American | | Education: Attended Copley Square High School (but never graduated) | | Family: Father Donald , Mother Alma , Brothers: Arthur, James, Paul, Robert and Donnie, Sisters: Debbie, Michelle and Tracey | | Resides in: Beverly Hills | | Religious affiliations: Roman Catholic | | Personal interest/hobbies: | Chartities/Causes:
- Founder of The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation
It is the mission of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation to improve the quality of life for inner city youth through a working partnership with other youth organizations. The Foundation provides financial and community support to assist in making the dreams and ultimate potential of inner city youth become a reality
- A Place Called Home
- Elevate Hope Foundation
- Felix Organization
- Lance Armstrong Foundation
- Los Angeles Free Clinic
- The Art of Elysium
- The Gentlemen's Fun
| | Other: Good friend of actor Leonardo DiCaprio |
Younger brother of Arthur Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg and Robert Wahlberg.
Named one of "People" magazines 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
His older siblings are: Arthur Wahlberg, James, Debbie, Michelle, Paul, Tracey,Robert Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg. Robert, Donnie and Mark are from their mother's third marriage with Donald Wahlberg. Half Siblings from his dad's side of the family Scott Wahlberg, Buddy Wahlberg and Donna Wahlberg.
Was originally cast as Linus Caldwell in Ocean's Eleven (2001) but dropped out.
December 2001 - Bought a 5 million dollar mansion in Beverly Hills, and moved his mother in.
His music group, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, debuted on "The Arsenio Hall Show" (1989) in the late 1980s.
[September 2, 2003] His first child with Rhea Durham, a girl named Ella Rae was born at 4.am at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The baby weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces.
He said in one of the featurettes in The Italian Job (2003) DVD that he thought about doing the movie because it was going to be his third remake in a row (if you don't count Rock Star (2001)) after The Truth About Charlie (2002) and Planet of the Apes (2001).
Is of Swedish, Irish, German and French Canadian descent.
Narrated the documentary Juvies (2004) along with The Italian Job (2003) co-star Mos Def (Mos Def supplied poetry).
Dated actress Jordana Brewster for several years [1998-2001].
His older sister Debbie passed away on September 2nd, 2003, leaving behind a teenage son. She died the same day Mark's first child Ella Rae was born.
Has a tattoo of Bob Marley on his left shoulder.
Is very close to his mother.
Older brother, Donnie Wahlberg, was a member of the boy group New Kids on the Block.
Mark and Rhea Durham, welcomed their second baby and first son, Michael Wahlberg, on March 21, 2006.
Has a summer home in Wrentham, Massachusetts.
Turned down the role of "Hero" in Feast (2005).
Turned down the lead role of "Jake Roenick" in Assault on Precinct 13 (2005).
Martin Scorsese directed Wahlberg to his very first Academy Award nomination as "Sgt. Sean Dignam" in The Departed (2006). Wahlberg has said that it's one of the roles he is most proud of.
Friends with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Considers The Truth About Charlie (2002) his worst film.
He and some friends were actually booked to fly on one of the planes that crashed in to the twin towers on September 11, 2001. Originally planning on flying from Boston to Los Angeles but at the last minute they decided to charter a plane to Toronto, Canada for a film festival and then from there to Los Angeles. A near brush with death that he still dreams about today. "We certainly would have tried to do something to fight. I've had probably over 50 dreams about it."
Ranked #65 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
His father Donald E. Wahlberg, a veteran of the Korean War, died on 14 February 2008.
As of 2008, he earns a reported $12-15 million per film plus a percentage of the back end profits.
While performing as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch he often wore nothing but underpants on stage. Calvin Klein consequently asked him to model for Klein's underwear line.
Was originally a member of New Kids on the Block, but left the band before they had their big break.
Through being a distant relative of Madonna, he is also one of Céline Dion.
Had to spent about 60 days in the House of Correction in Massachusetts when he was a teenager.
Was a drug dealer as a young teenager.
His mother's maiden name is Alma McPeck.
Was born in St. Margarets's hospital in Boston.
Dropped out of school when he was 13.
Rhea Durham, gave birth to their third child, a boy named Brendan Joseph Wahlberg, on September 16, 2008. He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz.
Has stated his performance as Max Payne in Max Payne (2008) as his favorite role.
Has stated that he struggled with weight gain his whole life.
Was briefly sent to prison for two 1988 incidents in which he attacked, beat, and yelled ethnic slurs at two Vietnamese men in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Both incidents were unprovoked by the victims, and in the second attack, Wahlberg beat and permanently blinded in one eye a man who was trying to help him escape from the police after the first attack.
Ranked #1 on VH1's "Hottest Hotties of the 90's".
Was spoofed by Andy Samberg on "Saturday Night Live" (1975). After the first skit premiered Wahlberg jokingly acted as if he was offended when appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (2003) ("Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Episode #6.141" (2008)), but he eventually appeared in SNL ("Saturday Night Live: Josh Brolin/Adele (#34.5)" (2008)) going along with the joke.
He and his wife, Rhea Durham, welcomed their fourth child, Grace Margaret Wahlberg, on January 11, 2010.
Paid $8.25 million to purchase a 6.14-acre, vacant lot in Beverly Hills, California's Beverly Park neighborhood where he plans to custom-build a mansion on the property. [2009]
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 29, 2010.
Married long time partner, Rhea Durham, at a private Catholic ceremony in Beverly Hills, California
| Contact Mark Wahlberg | Mark Wahlberg
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