Mark Wahlberg

Date of Birth: June 05, 1971
Place of Birth: Dorchester, Massachusetts

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Mark Wahlberg Biography

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Mark Wahlberg at the press conference for 'Shooter' (2007)

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg was born June 5th, 1971 in the poor working class district of Boston known as Dorchester, the youngest of nine children. His parents were Alma & Donald Wahlberg. The large Wahlberg brood didn't have a lot growing up, especially after his parents divorced when he was eleven. Wahlberg dropped out of high school at age 14 (but later got his GED) to pursue a life of petty crime and drugs. He'd spend his days scamming and stealing, working on the odd drug deal before treating himself to the substances himself.
Funky Bunch

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 modelling

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 (1994). 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 (1994), 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 (1995) and chilled them in Fear (1996) as every father's worst nightmare. Wahlberg hit a high point in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997), 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.

Family

VITAL STATS

Mark Wahlberg Information:

Full Name:Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg

Height:5' 8½" (1.74 m)

Nickname(s): Marky Mark

Notable feature(s): Plays bold characters, characters which respond to his guy mentality.

Education: None

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

Other: Good friend of actor Leonardo DiCaprio

Partner: Fiance Rhea Durham.

Children: First child Ella Rae was born September 2nd, 2003 and Michael born March 22, 2006. Rhea & Mark have now had their third child, Brendan Joseph born September 16th, 2008.

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Comments

epicbattler

what a fatass. haha

posted 53 days ago
jonathanandjordanfan

i love mark because he's a great actor.i've got six of his movies on dvd and they are:four brothers,the departed,the italian job,shooter,we own the night,and maxx payne.

posted 57 days ago
cherrystyle4u2003

HEY MARKY,
I MUST SAY IM A BIG FAN OF MOST OF YOUR MOVIES.
I TRULY LOVED BOOGIE NIGHTS.
I STILL WATCH IT ON OCCASION.
MY PROBLEM IS IN THE MOVIE THE HAPPINING?
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
WHO WROTE & DIRECTED THAT STUFF ANYWAY?
ALL THOSE SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE APPEARANCES, WORKED OUT BETTER ON T.V.
TELL YOU MARKY MARK SAID HELLO!!! L.O.L
BIGG HUGGS FROM DANNY.

posted 128 days ago
kcburke22

Whats up?I just wanted to tell you you've been really good in every movie you've been in.I would even have to say you were great when it was Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch....You had great style,music,and great dance moves. What happen to all that?

posted 162 days ago
senorita106

Happy Belated Birthday Mark Wahlberg!!!!!!!

Hope you had a fun day celebrating your birthday.

Love Always

Joanna.

posted 164 days ago
bleedinglips1

Your amazing actor and so damn fine, love Four brothers that was a really good movie.

posted 175 days ago
FrstKnght21

Love this man's acting career over his singing.
His personal life isn't my business.

posted 193 days ago
OCButterfly99

I love you!! Need I say more. Your acting is great. I loved the Perfect Storm..used to live in Dutch harber.Your also Gorgeous~&funny!!..take care

Add me people. I need some friends. New on this..take care.

posted 201 days ago
startrek2007

add me at star_trek2007@yahoo.co.uk or star_trek2007@hotmail.co.uk

posted 216 days ago
deysiduke

he is all that! great actor;who would think that he will reach so far!

posted 235 days ago

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Mark Wahlberg Movies

The Brazilian Job (Unrated, 2011)
The Fighter (Unrated, 2011)
The Other guys (Unrated, 2010)
Date Night (PG, 2010)
The Lovely Bones (Unrated, 2009)
Max Payne (PG-13, 2008)
The Happening (R, 2008)
We Own the Night (R, 2007)
Shooter (R, 2007)
The Departed (R, 2006)

View All Mark Wahlberg Movies

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Mark Wahlberg Trivia

Which 2001 film was originally supposed to feature Bruce Willis, Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson? Answer »
Who has worked a job in Italy, had love for his brothers, put the fear in Reese Witherspoon and is about to become a football star? Answer »
Which now famous actor had his rap nickname as Marky Mark? Answer »
Who am I? I made a NFL football team unexpectedly I killed my mothers murderers I battled a storm in the middle of the ocean Answer »

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