Born: 5
June 1971
Birthplace: Dorchester, Massachusetts
Occupation: Actor, Model, Singer
Sign: Sun in Gemini, Moon in Scorpio
Relations: Father: Donald; mother: Alma; siblings: has three sisters
and five brothers, including Donnie Wahlberg, formerly of the New Kids on the
Block; ex-girlfriend: Jordana Brewster
Education: High School dropout
Wahlberg was an original member of The New Kids
on the Block (1985); he dropped out before the release of their first single,
but later
restarted his music career as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Their first album
Music
for the People (1991) contained the number one single Good Vibrations.
He also modeled for Calvin Klein (1992) before heading for Hollywood. His films
include The
Basketball Diaries (1995) with Leonardo
DiCaprio, Traveller
(1997), Boogie
Nights (1997), The
Big Hit (1998
with fellow Calvin Klein model Antonio Sabato jr.), Three
Kings (1999), and The
Perfect Storm (2000), both with George Clooney, Rockstar
(with Jennifer Aniston), Planet
of the Apes , The
Yards (with Charlize Theron and Joaquin Phoenix), The
Truth About Charlie (also starring Thandie Newton), the heist movie
The
Italian Job (his second film with Charlize Theron, also starring Edward
Norton) and more.
Facts about Mark Wahlberg:
Frank
Sanello wrote an unauthorized biography of Mark Wahlberg: "Don't
Call Me Marky Mark". Including an eight-page color photo spread
and 30 black-and-white photos, this provocative, full-frontal biography delves
into the controversial life of Boston-born Mark Wahlberg who went from street
thug to rap superstar to Calvin Klein underwear model to respected film actor.
Before he started acting, Mark Wahlberg was best
known as Marky Mark, the pants-dropping rapper who attained fame and notoriety
with his group The Funky Bunch. Their first album Music
for the People (1991) contained the number one single Good Vibrations.
In
summer 2003 the high-octane heist drama THE
ITALIAN JOB was released, starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron,
Edward Norton and lots of Mini Cooper's.
In 2003 the remake of Charade: The
Truth About Charlie, was released, with Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton
well
cast in roles originated by Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. The plot's essentially
the same, kicking into high gear when Newton--the unwitting courier of a priceless
treasure--is chased around Paris by her murdered husband's military cohorts,
an avuncular embassy official (Tim Robbins), and a suave stranger (Wahlberg)
whose true identity remains elusive.
Mark
Wahlberg did keep a souvenir from the critically acclaimed film BOOGIE
NIGHTS (1997): the infamous fake penis used in the final shot of the
film.
(2000-June 2001) Dated Jordana
Brewster.
(August 2001) Dating Swedish model
Frida Andersson.
Besides
featuring together in THREE
KINGS, he and George Clooney also starred in THE
PERFECT STORM (2000), which is also set in 1991, like Three Kings.
Has a cat named Pearl and a dog named Rocko.
His mom and dad divorced recently and now his
mom is remarried.
He
joined PLANET
OF THE APES (2001) after meeting with Tim Burton for only five minutes.
He was so anxious to work with the director that he agreed to play any part.
In
the ending sequence of THREE
KINGS (1999), his character is said to move to Torrance, California.
In BOOGIE
NIGHTS (1997) and FEAR
(1996) Wahlberg's characters are also from Torrance, CA.
Was taught to get high at age 10.
Mark
Wahlberg stayed in Bobby Shatford's room above the Crow's Nest bar, and even
checked IDs at the door one night during the production of THE
PERFECT STORM (2000).
December 2001 - Bought a 5-Million-Dollar
mansion in Beverly Hills, and moved his mother in.
When
his character in ROCK
STAR (2001) is performing with the band Steel Dragon, the voice of Michael
Matijevic of the band Steelheart was used.
(May 1992) Named one of "People"
magazines 50 Most Beautiful People in the World
Mark is left-handed.
Mark's older siblings are: Arthur,
James, Debbie, Michelle, Paul, Tracey, Robert, and Donnie. Robert, Donnie and
Mark are from their mother's third marriage with Donald Wahlberg.
Was
originally cast as Linus Zerga in
Ocean's Eleven (2001) but dropped out to star in
Planet Of The Apes. His part went to Matt Damon.
Personal quotes:
"I wanted to do something totally
different, prove to people that, in the right situation, I CAN act. I've gotta
play different parts or I might as well just get on a TV show "
Mark Wahlberg in Movieline, June 1997
"Marky Mark is a big part of Mark Wahlberg,
but a more trumped-up version. Marky Mark is an energetic, wild kid who pulls
his pants down. Mark Wahlberg is grown into a young man."
Mark Wahlberg
"People have seen me in my underwear before.
I would imagine it would be pretty difficult to hide something like that."
[Mark Wahlberg on his prosthetic penis in Boogie
Nights]
"A lot of talented actors still have to
pay their bills. All that running around in my underwear put money in my pockets.
I can focus on working in interesting movies without having to worry about supporting
myself."