Mark Wahlberg

8kiu...dByY

18 Feb 2024

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg, born June 5, 1971, in Boston, Massachusetts, is an American actor known for his versatility across various genres, including comedy, drama, and action. His career began with his involvement in the hip hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch in the 1990s, releasing albums like "Music for the People" (1991) and "You Gotta Believe" (1992).
Wahlberg transitioned to acting, making his screen debut in "Renaissance Man" (1994) and receiving his first starring role in "Fear" (1996). However, it was his portrayal of porn actor Dirk Diggler in "Boogie Nights" (1997) that earned him critical acclaim.
In the early 2000s, Wahlberg ventured into big-budget action films, including "The Perfect Storm" (2000), "Planet of the Apes" (2001), and "The Italian Job" (2003). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a police officer in the crime drama "The Departed" (2006) and another Golden Globe nomination for portraying Micky Ward in the sports drama biopic "The Fighter" (2010).
Throughout the 2010s, Wahlberg found success in comedy with films like "The Other Guys" (2010), "Ted" (2012), "Daddy's Home" (2015), and "Daddy's Home 2" (2017). He also became a key figure in the "Transformers" film franchise and was recognized as the world's highest-paid actor in 2017.
In addition to his acting career, Wahlberg served as executive producer for several HBO series, including "Entourage" (2004–2011), "Boardwalk Empire" (2010–2014), "How to Make It in America" (2010–2011), "Ballers" (2015–2019), and the documentary "McMillions" (2020). He co-owns the Wahlburgers chain and starred in a reality TV series about it. Wahlberg was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg was born on June 5, 1971, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of nine children, including his brothers actor Robert and singer/actor Donnie. His mother, Alma Elaine (née Donnelly; 1942–2021), worked as a bank clerk and a nurse's aide, while his father, Donald Edmond Wahlberg Sr. (1930–2008), was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. After his parents' divorce in 1982, Wahlberg split his time between them.
Wahlberg's ancestry includes Swedish, Irish, English, and French-Canadian heritage. On his mother's side, he is distantly related to author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Raised Catholic, Wahlberg attended Copley Square High School on Newbury Street in Boston.

Mark Wahlberg has a history of racially motivated attacks dating back to his teenage years. In June 1986, at the age of 15, Wahlberg and three friends targeted three black children, yelling racial slurs and throwing rocks at them. The following day, they harassed a group of mostly black fourth-graders on a beach, again shouting racial epithets and throwing rocks. As a result, civil action was filed against Wahlberg for violating the civil rights of his victims, and he and his friends were issued a civil rights injunction.
In April 1988, when Wahlberg was 16, he assaulted a middle-aged Vietnamese-American man on the street, using racial slurs and knocking him unconscious with a large wooden stick. Later that same day, he attacked another Vietnamese-American man, punching him in the eye. Wahlberg was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, among other charges. He pleaded guilty to felony assault and served 45 days of a three-month sentence.
In August 1992, Wahlberg attacked his neighbor Robert Crehan, fracturing his jaw in an unprovoked attack. Wahlberg's attorney claimed provocation after racial slurs were directed at a black associate of Wahlberg's. The lawsuit was settled out of court.
In 2006, Wahlberg expressed a desire to make amends with his victims, and in 2016, he met with Johnny Trinh, one of the Vietnamese-American men he had assaulted, and publicly apologized. Trinh forgave Wahlberg, and the two reached a resolution.
In 2014, Wahlberg applied for a pardon for his past convictions, sparking controversy. He later expressed regret for seeking the pardon, and the petition was closed after he failed to respond to a request from the pardon board.

Mark Wahlberg rose to fame initially as the younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg, a member of the successful boy band New Kids on the Block. At the age of 13, Mark briefly joined the group but left after a few months, before the band achieved major success. Following his departure, New Kids on the Block became a sensation with members Danny Wood, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, and Joey McIntyre.
In 1990, Wahlberg embarked on a music career of his own, forming the group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The group, consisting of Wahlberg and several dancers/rappers, achieved success with their debut album "Music for the People," featuring the hit single "Good Vibrations" produced by his brother Donnie. The album's success led to a tour with New Kids on the Block and a second album titled "You Gotta Believe," which was less successful.
Despite his music career's initial success, Wahlberg faced controversy in December 1992 when he praised dancehall artist Shabba Ranks on a British TV show, despite Ranks' homophobic comments. This led to condemnation from GLAAD and criticism of Calvin Klein for using Wahlberg in their advertisements.
Wahlberg continued to pursue music, collaborating with Prince Ital Joe on the album "Life in the Streets," which featured singles like "Happy People" and "United." He also released solo tracks like "No Mercy" and "Hey DJ" and collaborated with the band Black Label Society on the music video for "Counterfeit God."
While his music career never reached the same heights as his acting career, Wahlberg's early ventures into the music industry contributed to his overall fame and success.