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

Mar. 15, 2025

Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg attend the Wahlburgers Coney Island VIP Preview Party on June 23, 2015 in New York City.Photo:Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic

Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic

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

The Academy Award-nominated actor, entrepreneur, producer andformer rapperhas eight siblings: Debbie, Michelle, Arthur, Paul, Jim, Tracey, Robert andDonnie. All nine children were born toAlma 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 withEsquireandVanity 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 toldVanity Fairin 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. 😜,” Markwrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of him and his eight siblings as kids.

She loved her children deeply and was proud of who they became, which she discussed in an interview withTodayin 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

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 theLas Vegas Review Journalin 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 withTodayin 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

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 bandNew Kids on the Block. The group achieved mainstream stardom in 1988 after the release of their albumHangin’ 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 asrapper Marky Mark, securing a No. 1 song, “Good Vibrations,” on theBillboardHot 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 onthis sweet moment during a 2016 interview on his wifeJenny 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.’ ”

“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

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 ofWahlburgers. “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 lifeand 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.”

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.

Now that the family lives in different areas, it’s hard to get together often. But in a December 2024 interview withVariety, Donnie said that he and Mark should be better at meeting up with their siblings.

“It’s not that I’m not committed to my family, but I live in a different state than my siblings,” he said. “I think when you come from a big family, you can stay close, but my career has taken me all over the world, and it still does.”

But despite how busy he might be, Donnie said he’s ready to make a change. He added, “Maybe I need to hop on a plane and do a little bit more of those occasions with the siblings andencourage Mark to get on a plane and do the same.”

Mark, Donnie and Paul starred inWahlburgers,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 brotherPaulcreated 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.

TheWahlburgers websitedescribes 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 inWahlburgers— 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 ofWahlburgersabout 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

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 companyWahl 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 titledThe Big Hustle: A Boston Street Kid’s Story of Addiction and Redemption. He is also the executive director of theMark 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,” Jimwrote on Instagramalongside 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 Dayin 2016 andSpenser Confidentialin 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 asThe Departed,Mystic RiverandSouthie.

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

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 withExtrain 2022 about how difficult it was to lose her, but also about how he and his siblings came together and supported her.

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

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

Donnie Wahlberg Instagram

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

On Ella’s 18th birthday in 2021, Markshared a tributeto 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.

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 hiscast biography on A&EforWahlburgers.

Mark andhis wife, modelRhea Durham, have four children together: Ella, Michael, Brendan and Grace. In 2011, Mark spoke about fatherhood withBoston Commonmagazine.

“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.”

source: people.com