With an impressive background that spans across the worlds of music, film and television, DONNIE WAHLBERG (Duddits) has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. He has proven his versatility by transforming himself from a teen pop sensation to a noteworthy dramatic film actor and critically acclaimed television star.
Wahlberg currently stars in the new NBC hit drama series Boomtown, where he has received praise from critics and audiences alike for his portrayal of "Joel Stevens," an intense Los Angeles detective struggling to keep his troubled home life a secret while remaining dedicated to facing the challenges of his daily work life. Graham Yost, executive producer and writer of Boomtown, had worked with Donnie in Band of Brothers in which Wahlberg starred as 2nd Lt. C. Carwood Lipton and was so impressed by his performance that he wrote the role of "Joel Stevens" specifically for him.
Prior to Band of Brothers, Wahlberg received a great deal of attention for his dynamic role in The Sixth Sense as the psychotic patient of Bruce Willis in the opening sequence. This role was originally intended for a 13-year-old boy until Wahlberg met with M. Night Shyamalan to inquire about obtaining the rights for a theatre production and ended up getting this pivotal role.
He also starred as the kidnapper who was in over his head in Ransom with Mel Gibson, directed by Ron Howard. Prior to that, Wahlberg received attention for his role in an independent film, Southie, directed by John Shea.
Born in Boston, the eighth of nine children, Wahlberg began performing in plays and banging on pots and pans as early as the first grade. In high school, he attended a fledgling arts program and became involved in theatre, acting, writing and directing plays. At age 14, Wahlberg started a band, and in a few years they went from playing at high school parties to becoming the pop music sensation New Kids on the Block. At the height of New Kids’ popularity, Wahlberg made a decision to go in another direction, focusing on writing and producing for his younger brother, Mark. He then appeared in Bullet with Mickey Rourke and Tupac Shakur, a project that lit a spark in him, motivating him to continue to work on his craft.
Wahlberg currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.
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