Mark Wahlberg’s 8 Siblings: All About His Brothers and Sisters

Mark Wahlberg comes from humble beginnings and a large family full of talent.

The Academy Award-nominated actor, entrepreneur, producer and former rapper has eight siblings: Debbie, Michelle, Arthur, Paul, Jim, Tracey, Robert and Donnie. All nine children were born to Alma Wahlberg, who worked as a bank clerk and nurse’s aide, and Donald Wahlberg Sr., who was a delivery driver after serving in the Korean War.

Mark and his siblings grew up in Dorchester, a neighborhood in Boston. According to interviews with Esquire and Vanity Fair, he and his five brothers slept in the same room growing up while his parents worked hard just to put food on the table.

“It was always about trying to provide,” Mark told Vanity Fair in 2011. “I love my parents to death, and I think they did a remarkable job, considering the circumstances in which they lived.” Being the youngest of nine siblings without a lot of money growing up, Mark has said he was lucky to get clothes or items that weren’t already used.

“Growing up with eight brothers and sisters was chaotic and fun. Being the youngest, I always got hand-me-downs, including a pink bicycle once. 😜,” Mark wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of him and his eight siblings as kids.

After the Wahlberg parents divorced in 1982, the kids divided their time between Alma and Donald. After their father died in 2008, their mother made frequent appearances on the family’s reality TV show Wahlburgers and became a fan-favorite character before she died in April 2021.

She loved her children deeply and was proud of who they became, which she discussed in an interview with Today in December 2018.

“I wanted them to know that I’m always there. Always, always. I may not like what you’re telling me, but I’m there for you and that’s it and that’s who they are now. They’re there for me,” Alma said. “Now I look at them and every single one of them are good people and they help people and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Here’s everything to know about Mark Wahlberg’s siblings.

Mark is the youngest of nine

Mark Wahlberg and his eight siblings as kids on his Instagram.

Mark Wahlberg Instagram

The Wahlbergs grew up in a three-bedroom apartment with limited financial resources.

“Well, there was a lot of us, but being the youngest of nine wasn’t odd. It was common where I grew up,” Mark told the Las Vegas Review Journal in 2018. “My parents were like everyone else [in Dorchester] and just spent their time trying to put a lot of food on the table, which wasn’t easy because my dad drove a truck and my mom worked as a nurse’s aide.”

When Mark’s mother Alma was asked about the most challenging times raising her kids during an interview with Today in 2018, she elaborated on the family’s hardships prior to the siblings’ success.

“When they were small … that’s when I used to have to go get the welfare butter and cheese,” Alma said. “I invented the craziest meals … English muffin pizzas. That was the big treat.”

Mark’s brother Donnie is an actor and singer

Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block visit “The Joan Rivers Show” on Dec. 2, 1992 in New York City.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty

Mark’s brother Donnie was the first member of the family to achieve international acclaim as a member of the multi-platinum boy band New Kids on the Block. The group achieved mainstream stardom in 1988 after the release of their album Hangin’ Tough, which sold over 15 million copies and led to a Super Bowl halftime show in 1991.

Mark was briefly a member of the band before embarking on his music career as rapper Marky Mark, securing a No. 1 song, “Good Vibrations,” on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991. Mark introduced New Kids on the Block at their first show and then again during a 2011 concert at Fenway Park, crediting Donnie for his success. Mark’s older brother reflected on this sweet moment during a 2016 interview on his wife Jenny McCarthy’s SiriusXM show.

“He was the original member of the band with me … When Mark acknowledged that he introduced us at the first show and now it’s come full circle to acknowledging us and introducing us at Fenway, I’d forgotten that he did that,” Donnie said. “That’s what moved me. It’s the ‘look how far we’ve all come.’ ”

Donnie has also had a successful acting career with roles in the Saw franchise and The Sixth Sense. He has also been starring in the TV series Blue Bloods since 2010 and has had roles in other shows, including Band of Brothers.

The former popstar got married to actress, model and TV personality Jenny McCarthy on Aug. 31, 2014. Shortly after the wedding, they launched their reality show, Donnie Loves Jenny, on A&E, which ran for three seasons. In 2019, the couple gave an exclusive tour of their home to PEOPLE.

“This isn’t an extravagant home, but there’s no greater symbol of our love for each other than this house and how much love has gone into it,” Donnie said. “When we first met, we talked about how we both longed to have a small-town life with our kids … And, here we are, together with our kids and we’re grateful for every bit of it.”

Mark and Donnie were the closest growing up

Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg during the 1991 MTV Rock ‘n Jock Basketball in Los Angeles, California.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Mark was born on June 5, 1971, and Donnie was born on Aug. 17, 1969. As the two youngest siblings in the family, Donnie and Mark had a strong bond.

“We were both the youngest, so we were the closest. I mean, we spent a lot of time together,” Mark said on a 2015 episode of Wahlburgers. “We were inseparable.”

Donnie echoed the same sentiment in a 2018 interview with PEOPLE. “I’m probably the closest person to Mark in his entire life and vice versa since we were kids,” he said. “We literally spent every moment together of our childhood up until our late teen years so to see how close we’re getting in the show [Wahlburgers] and to see some of the frustrations come out, it’s really powerful to watch for me.”

With their busy schedules, the two don’t have as much time to see each other, even if they’re in the same city, like when they were both in New York for one night in 2015. The pair were struggling to connect due to various commitments, so Mark showed up to one of Donnie’s concerts, being escorted on stage by 50 Cent as a surprise.

Mark also cameoed with his kids in Donnie’s New Kids on the Block music video for “House Party,” released during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.

Mark, Donnie and Paul starred in Wahlburgers, a reality show based on their restaurant

Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg attend the Wahlburgers Coney Island VIP Preview Party at Wahlburgers Coney Island on June 23, 2015 in New York City.

Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic

In 2011, Mark’s older brother Paul created the first Wahlburgers burger restaurant in Hingham, Massachusetts. His brothers Mark and Donnie are co-owners with Paul and the franchise has over 90 locations across the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The Wahlburgers website describes the brothers’ journey to restaurant ownership: “One brother, Donnie, didn’t just join the school band as a kid. He created the most famous boy band in the world. His younger brother, Mark, didn’t just take drama. He became one of the most famous actors in the world.”

The “Our Story” page continues, “And for Paul, well, he loved food and his family. But he wasn’t satisfied cooking for just them. He wanted to cook for everyone else’s family too. He was hungry for something more. So he created Wahlburgers…”

In 2014, the family began starring in Wahlburgers — a reality show, which ran for 10 seasons until 2019 and received two Emmy Award nominations. The show’s primary stars were Mark, Donnie and Paul, with frequent appearances from their late mother Alma and semi-regular appearances from the stars’ brothers Robert, Jim and Arthur.

Mark spoke with PEOPLE in 2018 before the premiere of the ninth season of Wahlburgers about how the show strengthened the family’s bond.

“This is truly a family affair and it’s brought us all closer together,” the actor said. “Having more reasons to spend time with each other has been a huge side benefit of the business.”

Jim is the director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation

Jim Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg and Paul Wahlberg attend the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation Celebrity Invitational Gala on Dec. 2, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

While much of Jim’s family has been a part of the entertainment industry through acting, Jim has worked behind the scenes as a writer, director and producer, including on the family’s show, Wahlburgers.

He is also the founder and CEO of the production company Wahl St. Productions, with many of their films centering on substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic.

Having recovered from addiction himself, Jim does speaking engagements on the subject and published a book in 2020 titled The Big Hustle: A Boston Street Kid’s Story of Addiction and Redemption. He is also the executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, where he has coordinated fundraising events tied to his brother’s career.

“Great night at Instant Family premiere benefiting @WahlbergYouth couldn’t be prouder of my brother @markwahlberg great movie great event,” Jim wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him and Mark at his brother’s 2018 premiere.

Robert and Arthur have both been involved in acting

Mark Wahlberg with his brothers and father on Mark’s Instagram.

Mark Wahlberg Instagram

Arthur, the oldest Wahlberg brother, has dabbled in acting over the years and Robert, the third-youngest sibling, has had acting roles from 1998 to his most recent in 2022.

The eldest brother is a carpenter, who focuses on remodeling homes, but he also had notable acting roles in two of his brother Mark’s films, Patriot’s Day in 2016 and Spenser Confidential in 2020.

Robert, commonly called Bob, is the only Wahlberg living in their hometown of Dorchester. He works at a local utility company and has had roles in films such as The Departed, Mystic River and Southie.

They were there for each other and their mother Alma before she died

Donnie and Mark Wahlberg pose with their mother Alma, as they attend the grand opening of the newest location of the family restaurant, Wahlburgers, in their childhood neighborhood of Dorcester in Boston, Massachusetts on Dec. 18, 2018.

CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

The Wahlbergs have been through their share of hard times, including when the family matriarch, Alma, died on April 18, 2021. Mark spoke with Extra in 2022 about how difficult it was to lose her, but also about how he and his siblings came together and supported her.

“It was tough because she was obviously very sick. [I] went home to visit her, spend time with her, say goodbye and was Facetiming with her constantly,” Mark said. “All of my siblings were surrounding her, especially my sister Tracey, who was her primary caregiver … all of my siblings were there to take care of her and my nephews and nieces.”

Tracey decorated Mark’s lawn for him on his 50th birthday

Donnie Wahlberg and his sister, Tracey, on his Instagram.

Donnie Wahlberg Instagram

Tracey has mostly kept out of the public eye aside from a 2020 appearance on McCarthy’s SiriusXM talk show. She competed with McCarthy’s sister Amy in a “battle of the sisters,” to prove who was the bigger fan of Maurice Bernard, star of General Hospital.

Tracey took care of her mother when she was sick and was there for Mark on his 50th birthday shortly after their mother’s death. Mark shared a video on Instagram of his lawn, which his big sister decorated in their mother’s tradition.

“Nothing more important than family. My big sister Tracey made sure that my birthday was special the way my mom always did! I love you so much ❤️,” Mark captioned the 2021 post.

Mark’s sister Debbie died the same day his daughter was born

Mark and his daughter Ella Wahlberg on his Instagram.
Mark Wahlberg Instagram

Sept. 2, 2003, will always be remembered as a day of mixed emotions for Mark. It was the day he welcomed his daughter Ella Rae into the world and also said goodbye to his sister Debbie when she died of a heart attack at 43 years old.

On Ella’s 18th birthday in 2021, Mark shared a tribute to both his daughter and his late sister Debbie on Instagram. The first image was of Mark holding his newborn daughter, while the second was a framed picture of Mark hugging Debbie.

“Happy B day my Ella❤️🎁18 years old 😚wow how time flies. So proud of you !! Always A bittersweet day. Missing my big sister Debbie💔 Ella’s Guardian angel,” Mark wrote in the caption.

All About Mark Wahlberg’s Daughter Ella Rae Wahlberg

Mark has a lot of nieces and nephews

Mark Wahlberg with his family on his Instagram.

Mark Wahlberg Instagram

Arthur is the only sibling without children but feels “delighted to have 23 nieces and nephews,” according to his cast biography on A&E for Wahlburgers.

Mark and his wife, model Rhea Durham, have four children together: Ella, Michael, Brendan and Grace. In 2011, Mark spoke about fatherhood with Boston Common magazine.

“I want to give my kids the world, but I also want them to appreciate everything, to succeed, to be good people, to enjoy life,” the actor said. “This is my most important role. If I fail at this, I fail at everything.”

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Source: HIS Education