Mark Wahlberg Biography

Mark Wahlberg, actor

Birthdate: June 5, 1971

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts

Sign: Gemini

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg, the Academy Award-nominated actor best known for films like "The Italian Job" and "The Departed", grew up in the district of Dorchester in Boston, Massachusetts to two working class parents, Alma & Donald, and was the youngest of nine children. Wahlberg dropped out of high school at age 14 (although later receiving his GED). In his teens, Wahlberg was heavily involved in violence, vandalism and eventually the occasional drug deal and substance abuse.At the age of 16, Wahlberg pled guilty to assault for knocking a man unconscious, leaving another permanently blind in one eye and attacking a security guard in a pharmacy robbery. He served 45 days of his 2 year sentence.

The younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg, one of the members of successful late 80's/early 90's boy band New Kids on the Block, Wahlberg was one of the original members before dropping out due to the band's bubblegum pop image. His older brother landed him a recording contract where, along with a troupe of dancers and DJ to become the "Funky Bunch", he became rapper "Marky Mark". Together, Mary Mark and the Funky Bunch released their first album in 1991, "Music For The People", which went Platinum and yielded the #1 hit single, "Good Vibrations".

Wahlberg was best known, however, for his physique, which was featured prominently in popular Calvin Klein ads shot by Herb Ritts with Wahlberg stripped down to his underwear. He also released a book and workout video in that time.

In 1994, Wahlberg landed his first feature film role with a minor part in "Renaissance Man", alongside Danny DeVito. He garnered the attention of critics with his turn in 1995's "The Basketball Diaries" with Leonardo Dicaprio and he later starred in the 1996 thriller "Fear" with Reese Witherspoon. He continued to star in critically-acclaimed and box-office successes such as "Boogie Nights", "Three Kings" and "The Italian Job". He was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his supporting role in Martin Scorsese's 2006 thriller "The Departed".

Wahlberg currently executive produces the hit HBO series, "Entourage", based loosely on his experiences in Hollywood. He recently starred in the video game-based actioner "Max Payne" and the M. Night Shymalan thriller "The Happening". He'll next be seen in the film adaptation of the best-selling book, "The Lovely Bones".