Skip to main contentSkip to footer
Mark Wahlberg attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "Me Time" at Regency Village Theatre on August 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.© Getty Images

Mark Wahlberg talks mixed feelings about early fame after visiting daughter Ella at college

The Boogie Nights star is a dad-of-four with wife Rhea Durham

Ahad Sanwari
Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
December 12, 2023
Share this:

Mark Wahlberg is opening up about experiencing fame at an early age and how it cut into some of the pivotal experiences teenagers and young adults go through, particularly college.

The 52-year-old actor and entrepreneur spoke with Entertainment Tonight to promote his upcoming film The Family Plan with Michelle Monaghan.

Mark and wife Rhea Durham, who have been married since 2009, are the parents of daughters Ella, 20, and Grace, 13, and sons Michael, 17, and Brendan, 15.

Mark Wahlberg and wife Rhea Durham arrive at the Los Angeles Premiere "Pain & Gain" at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 22, 2013 in Hollywood, California© Getty Images
Mark and wife Rhea Durham are parents-of-four

He spoke to ET about visiting Ella at Clemson University back in September for Parents' Weekend, and gushed: "It was nuts! Parents' weekend was incredible."

He revealed that he and Ella had even crashed a frat party together, adding: "They were having the most fun I've ever seen anybody have, ever! Even more than her coming to Vegas. I was at the frat house and, you know, a couple of spots in town."

When asked whether he felt his career path would've been any different had he gone to college instead of breaking into the entertainment industry, Mark joked: "I'd still be in college!" 

Rhea Durham, Mark Wahlberg, Brendan Joseph Wahlberg, Grace Margaret Wahlberg, Ella Rae Wahlberg and Michael Wahlberg attend Safe Kids Day at The Lot on April 26, 2015 in West Hollywood, California© Getty Images
The couple are parents to Ella, Michael, Brendan, and Grace

"I would still be at the frat house. I'd be a 25th year senior," he quipped, to which his co-star Michelle added: "The grandfather, the patriarch of the fraternity!"

Mark jokingly replied: "Oh, that’s actually another movie idea right there! You just gave me a new movie."

MORE: Mark Wahlberg's relationship with famous family and brothers

Mark first rose to fame as the younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg, one of the original members of the iconic boy band New Kids on the Block. At 13, Mark was originally slated to join the group, but dropped out after a few months.

American hip hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, circa 1990. They are Mark Wahlberg, Scott Ross (alias Scottie Gee), Hector Barros (alias Hector the Booty Inspector), Terry Yancey (alias DJ-T), and Anthony Thomas (alias Ashey Ace).© Getty Images
Mark got his start in the entertainment industry as a member of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

He began pursuing other projects and in 1989-1990, began recording with a group of vocalists that later came to be known as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Their debut album was a success, with its lead single, "Good Vibrations," becoming a number one hit, all before he turned 20.

He parlayed that success into film roles, making his film debut in 1993 in the TV film The Substitute. Mark eventually caught the eye of the public with his starring role in 1996's Fear opposite Reese Witherspoon, and skyrocketed to fame once again as the star of 1997's Boogie Nights.

RELATED: I tried Mark Wahlberg's intense workout routine and was left exhausted

In fact, in an interview with People, Mark revealed that Ella was interested in paying tribute to his past, so much so that she purchased a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch tee from a vintage store.

American model, rapper and later actor Mark Wahlberg, aka Marky Mark, poses shirtless, circa 1991.© Getty Images
He became a teen heartthrob and musical sensation at a young age, because of which he never went to college

"My daughter actually was so cool. She bought a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch T-shirt from a vintage shop, and she's been rocking it like crazy," he told the publication.

MORE: Mark Wahlberg explains confrontation at his father-daughter dance

He emphasized that she "wasn't doing it to give me a hard time," rather "she was really rocking [it] with me."

Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham© Getty Images
The family-of-six now reside in Las Vegas, Nevada

"It's nice to have [her celebrate] some of my past," he sweetly added. "That was actually a very nice little moment for me."

Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox. 

Sign up to HELLO Daily! for the best royal, celebrity and lifestyle coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More Parenting

See more