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(#1) He's Trying to Get an Official Pardon for His Felony
A 16-year-old Wahlberg assaulted Hoa "Johnny" Trinh so violently that he faced attempted murder charges. (Wahlberg also thought that he permanently blinded the man in one eye, but that injury was sustained during the Korean War). He plead guilty and was sentenced to prison for two years (of which he served 45 days), but would forever have felony charges on his record.
Recently Wahlberg has come out seeking a full pardon, stating he's turned his life around and has become a good influence. Even the victim, Johnny Trinh, is in support of the pardon.
“My hope is that, if I receive a pardon, troubled youths will see this as an inspiration and motivation that they too can turn their lives around.”
Source: TIME.com
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(#2) He's Got a Very Long Criminal Record
Mark had 20-25 incidents on his record with the Boston Police Department throughout his teen years. By 13 he was addicted to cocaine and other substances. By 14 he had dropped out of high school never to return (he did get his GED later). At 15 he had a civil action lawsuit filed against him for two instances of harassing African American children (including throwing rocks and shouting slurs).
He's since publicly apologized numerous times, and does everything he can to be a better role model.
Source: Boomsbeat
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(#3) He's Been to Prison
Mark's rocky past is no secret, but he was charged with a pretty serious crime at one point. He was arrested on attempted manslaughter charges and faced two years in prison. Wahlberg only served 45 days, but those were enough to decide to turn his life around.
"As soon as I began that life of crime, there was always a voice in my head telling me I was going to end up in jail. Three of my brothers had done time. My sister went to prison so many times I lost count. Finally I was there, locked up with the kind of guys I'd always wanted to be like. Now I'd earned my stripes and I was just like them, and I realized it wasn't what I wanted at all. I'd ended up in the worst place I could possibly imagine and I never wanted to go back. First of all, I had to learn to stay on the straight and narrow."
Source: Google Book - The Amazing Life of Mark Wahlberg
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(#4) Yes, It's True. He Has a Third Nipple
Turns out roughly one in 18 men has a third nipple (which is just as useless as the other two) and Mark Wahlberg is among them. In a few movies (Rockstar, for example) they opted to digitally air brush it out, but in Shooter you can see it clear as day. For years he kept mum about it, but eventually opened up about his extra nipple.
"That is correct." he told Australia's Nova FM when asked if it were true. "Right below the other one. It's actually the size of an infants nipple, it didn't grow."
He has no plans of losing it either. "I've come to embrace it" he told Rolling Stone "that thing is my prized possession."
Source: NextMovie.com
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(#5) He Has a Long-Running Deal with Matt Damon
For some reason people tend to confuse Matt Damon with Mark Wahlberg. They've both agreed that whenever someone thinks they're the other, they have to be on their very best behavior so as to not ruin either reputation. Matt will even sign autographs "Mark Wahlberg" and Mark will sign "Matt Damon."
Source: BostonMagazine -
(#6) He Was the Original Choice for Two Iconic Roles
Mark Wahlberg has dropped out of two iconic roles in hugely influential films. He was originally cast as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. (The role that eventually went to Heath Ledger, earning him his first Oscar nomination). He was also cast as Linus in the Ocean's films. (The role the eventually went to Matt Damon, we guess they really wanted a Boston boy.)
Source: Google Books - Mark Wahlberg Biography Series -
(#7) He Received His High School Diploma in 2013
In a continued effort to right the wrongs he made as a kid, Mark Wahlberg got his high school diploma in June of 2013. Having dropped out when he was just 14, it took him until 41 to hit the books. He credits his kids with the inspiration to finally do it. "I didn't want the kids saying, 'You didn't do it, so why do I need it?' They are all wanting to do things in their future that require an education."
He may even continue his education: "I would love to go to USC and study film. I don't want to become a veterinarian or anything, [I want to study] things that further my career and broaden my horizon."
Source: People.com -
(#8) He Made a Workout Video in the Marky Mark Days
Mark Wahlberg went in to prison a scrawny kid, but worked out hard for nearly two months to pass the time. It's no wonder he went on to become famous for posing in his underwear, become an action star, and start a line of workout supplements. It's also no surprise that at some point in the early days, he made a super '90s workout video. It's wonderful. POW!
Source: Youtube -
(#9) He Co-Owns a Cricket Team
In 2013 Wahlberg became a co-owner of the Barbados Tridents. “I am a huge cricket fan now,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League because I know cricket is huge in the Caribbean and a rich part of the region’s heritage. Sports and entertainment are a powerful combination, and the LCPL will appeal to a huge audience worldwide.”
Source: Wikipedia -
(#10) He Had Tickets on Flight 11 on September 11th
Mark Wahlberg and some of his friends were scheduled to fly from Boston to Los Angeles on flight 11 on 9/11, but they decided to attend a film festival in Canada before heading back to LA and chartered a flight north instead. The plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center as part of the terrorist attacks. Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane was supposed to be on the same flight.
Source: Boomsbeat -
(#11) He Founded and Helps Run a Charity
After his extremely trouble youth, Wahlberg decided to focus on giving back to troubled kids. He started the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation to do just that.
"Established in May 2001 by Mark Wahlberg and his brother James, lifelong members and advocates of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. It is the mission of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation to improve the quality of life for inner city youth through a working partnership with other youth organizations."
Source: The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation -
(#12) There Are Two Shows Loosely Based Around His Life
The hit HBO series Entourage is loosely based around Wahlberg's early years in Hollywood (Vince = Mark, Aquaman = Perfect Storm, etc.). Wahlberg has guest appeared on the show many times and is one of it's executive producers. He also appears from time to time on the reality show Wahlburgers, based around the burger chain of which he is a co-owner.
Source: Wikipedia -
(#13) He's Also a Brilliant Producer
Producing takes an incredible skill for decision making and taking educated guesses at what might do well. Wahlberg isn't just a great actor, he's also an excellent judge as to what's going to do well. He produces the TV shows Entourage (surprise surprise), How to Make it in America, Boardwalk Empire, and Ballers, plus films like Lone Survivor, The Gambler, Prisoners.
Source: IMDB -
(#14) His House Has a Water Park in It
Mark Wahlberg bought an $8 million mansion in Beverly Hills in 2009 and then spent five years perfecting it. It's 30,000 sq feet of glory. There's a water park, an indoor gym, and a home theater. Plus a full size basketball court and a putting green. Oh yeah, and then there's the private library and guest house. Jealous?
Source: Daily Mail.Co.Uk -
(#15) He's Getting Most of His Tattoos Removed
Wahlberg has been getting tattoos since he used a sewing needle to ink a shamrock on his arm at 12 years old. Eventually he added other tats, including Sylvester (of Sylvester and Tweety) and a portrait of Bob Marley. He even had his own name tattooed on his shoulder.
He's in the process of getting them all removed, and he's bringing his kids to the appointments so they don't end up with tats themselves.
Source: SFGate -
(#16) He Came to Fame with the Help of His Brother Donnie
At just 13 years old, Mark joined his big brother Donnie's boy band, The New Kids on the Block. He was a founding member alongside Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood, and Donnie.
Source: Boomsbeat
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(#17) He Thought Andy Samberg's Wahlberg Impression Was Funny
Andy Samberg's SNL bit about Wahlberg talking to animals made fun of the star's Boston accent. So Wahlberg went on Kimmel and acted mad about the sketch, saying he planned to "crack his big f*cking nose." Samberg was reportedly actually worried he offended Wahlberg, but then Mark showed that all was well by joining in on one of the sketches and surprising Samberg.
Source: Zaz Report -
(#18) He Made Sure The Fighter Got Made
David O Russell's The Fighter was revered by critics and audiences alike, but it very nearly didn't get made. For years Wahlberg pushed to tell the story of 'Irish' Mickey Ward from Lowell Mass and endured countless rewrites, multiple directors, and actors coming in and out of the project (everyone from Brad Pitt to Matt Damon was attached before Bale came on).
He kept the film going for more than four years, training with Freddie Roach (Pacquiao's coach) in a full gym and boxing arena he built in his basement for the film. He even got Christian Bale cast as his brother Dicky. Their kids go to school together and he asked him one day if he was interested... that role later got Bale an Oscar.
Source: MovieFone -
(#19) He's Won a Whole Array of Awards
He's won awards in both music and film, both positive and negative. In the early '90s his hit "Good Vibrations" hit number one on the billboard charts, he's also ranked first on VH1's Hottest Hotties of the '90s. On the flip side, Rolling Stone readers voted him the "Worst Male Singer of the Year" in 1992.
Film work has been better for Mark. As of July 2010, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he was even nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his work in The Departed.
Source: MovieFone -
(#20) He Has a Great Respect for the Military
Not only has Mark played a few military roles, he's also outspoken in his support for the armed forces.
"For actors who sit there and talk about, 'Oh, I went to SEAL training.' I don't give a f*ck what you did. You don't know what these guys did. For somebody go sit there and say my job was as difficult as being in the military? How f*cking dare you, while you sit in a makeup chair for two hours?"
Source: IMDB
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(#21) There's a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Video Game!
Remember in the early days of video games when there would be (horribly rendered) pre-shot video that you could "edit" together to form a music video or action scene? Yeah, the Funky Bunch had one of those! It's on plenty of "worst games of all time" lists. Despite the band's success, the game never took off.
Source: Gamerkings -
(#22) He Comes from Humble Beginnings
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg was born June 25th, 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts. His father Donald Edward Wahlberg was a teamster who worked as a delivery driver. His mother, Alma Elaine (Donnelly) Wahlberg, was a nurse's aide and bank clerk. He was raised Roman Catholic in the rough neighborhood of Dorchester, MA.
Source: Boomsbeat -
(#23) His Family Is Even Bigger Than You Think
Sure we all know Mark, Donnie and maybe even Arthur Wahlberg, but that isn't even half of the family. Mark's other siblings are: James, Debbie, Michelle, Paul, Tracey, and Robert. He also has two half brothers and a half sister, Scott, Buddy, and Donna. (His father's kids from another mother.)
Source: Boomsbeat -
(#24) He Is Married with Four Children
Mark Wahlberg and his wife Rhea Durham didn't get married until 2009, after having three (of their eventual four) children together and dating since 2001! Their kids are Ella Rae Wahlberg (2003), Michael Wahlberg (2006), Brendan Joseph Wahlberg (2008), and Grace Margret Wahlberg (2010).
Source: MovieFone
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About This Tool
Who is Mark Wahlberg? When you know him for the first time, you may not like him, but when you learn more about his personality and achievements, you will appreciate this talented actor and producer. In 1991, Mark released his first album "Music for the People", and he was arrested for attacking ethnic minorities, which also kept him under public attacks on racial discrimination.
He started his acting career in 1994 and has many outstanding roles. But his life has not always been so brilliant, at the age of 42, he announced that he had successfully obtained his high school diploma. The random tool introduced 24 interesting facts about Mark Wahlberg.
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