Everything You Should Know About Donnie Wahlberg’s Large Family and His Career Endeavors

Quick Facts

Donnie Wahlberg comes from a large family whose members largely make a living from the American entertainment scene. While many might argue that the Wahlberg siblings, popularly referred to as the Wahlburgers in reference to the name of their restaurant, are not the most popular entertainment family in Hollywood, the impact members of the family have had in either or both music, film, and television can not be overlooked.

Donnie, who would certainly admit that he is not the most famous Wahlburger, has made strides as an actor, film and record producer, songwriter, and vocalist. He is best known for being a member of the boy rock band, New Kids on the Block, before going on to appear in movies such as Righteous Kill, Dreamcatcher, and The Sixth Sense, among others. In recent times, he has played the character of Danny Reagan in the CBS police procedural drama television series, Blue Bloods.

Highlights of Donnie Wahlberg’s Career

Donnie Wahlberg developed a passion for music while growing up. This led him to be the first member of the boy band, New Kids on the Block. With the group, he enjoyed huge success as they sold millions of records and even earned a Grammy Award nomination in 1990. The two-time American Music Awards recipients later disbanded in 1994 but have since reunited to release other projects. This includes Face of Music in 2008, 10 in 2013, and Thankful in 2017.

In 1996, two years after the band disbanded, Donnie made his first film appearance in the crime drama film Bullet starring as Shelby “Big Balls” Hornein alongside actors Tupac Shakur and Mickey Rourke. In the same year, he appeared alongside Mel Gibson in the crime thriller Ransom. He received wide attention for his role as Vincent Grey in The Sixth Sense – a 1999 horror-thriller that also starred award-winning actor Bruce Willis.

Donnie Wahlberg continued making a name for himself in the acting world in the 2000s. He appeared as Second Lieutenant C. Carwood Lipton in the TV miniseries Band of Brothers in 2001, the same year he played the role of Chris Scott in the crime drama series Big Apple. The following year, he played Detective Joel Stevens in Boomtown (2002-2003) before playing Detective Eric Matthews in Saw II (2005), a role he would go on to reprise in Saw III (2006) and Saw IV (2007). He received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Movie Scream for his performance in Saw II.

One of the biggest roles of Donnie’s career has turned out to be that of Detective Daniel Reagan in Blue Bloods. In 2017, he received a People’s Choice Award nomination in the category of Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor.

Thanks to his exploits on the screen and in business, as well as what he has earned from being a member of New Kids on the Block or writing and producing songs for other people, the multi-talented American has built quite a huge net worth for himself. Donnie Wahlberg lives a decent lifestyle with a reported net worth of $20 million.

Interesting Things To Know About His Family

Donnie Wahlberg was born in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He is the eighth of nine children born to his parents; Donald and Alma Wahlberg. His father made a living as a delivery driver while his mother Alma worked as a clerk as well as a nurse aide.

Donnie’s eight siblings include Jim, Arthur, Paul, Tracey, Debbie, Robert, Michelle, and younger brother Mark. He further has three other half-siblings named Scott, Buddy, and Donna who are products of his father’s first marriage.

Including Donnie, four Wahlberg children have been able to establish themselves in the entertainment business. The most popular and successful of them all is Mark, an Academy and Golden Globe award-nominated actor, businessman, rapper and model. He has appeared and/or produced movies and TV series such as Entourage, Ballers, Boardwalk Empire, The Departed, The Italian Job, and Ted, among many others.

The oldest Wahlberg sibling to have a career as an actor is Paul who is also a chef. Paul, who has worked in a number of high profile restaurants over the years, runs the sibling-owned dining burger restaurant and bar called Wahlburgers in Boston. He also stars in the reality television series of the same name that features the family.

Robert is the last of the Walhburgers to make a living as an actor. He is best known for his appearances in films like Mystic River, The Equalizer, The Departed, and Contraband.

Who is Donnie Wahlberg Married to?

Donnie Wahlberg is married to American actress and comedic star Jenny McCarthy. The pair met each other in 2013 at the Watch What Happens Live show. After a few months, they announced their engagement in April 2014 and by August 2014; they walked down the aisle. Their wedding ceremony was held at the historic Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Illinois.

Prior to this marriage, Donnie was previously married to a lady named Kimberly Fey. His first marriage lasted for almost a decade before they decided to call it quits due to irreconcilable differences. Together, the actor and his first wife have two sons; Xavier Wahlberg and Elijah Wahlberg. Their first son Xavier was born on the 4th of March, 1993 while the second one Elijah was born on the 20th of August, 2001.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.