Birthplace: Dorchester, MA
Nicknames: Marky Mark, Monk D

theOscarSite Bio: Wahlberg had a troubled early life. One of nine children, he dropped out of school at 16 (he would later earn his GED) and committed a number of minor felonies. After working various odd jobs, Wahlberg briefly joined brother Donnie and his group New Kids on the Block before forming his own, Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch. The group had widespread popularity for a time, most notably with its 1992 hit single "Good Vibrations." However, it was Wahlberg himself who received the lion's share of attention, whether it was for the homophobia controversy that surrounded him for a time, or for the 1992 Calvin Klein ad campaign featuring him wearing nothing more than his underwear, Kate Moss, and an attitude.

In 1993, Wahlberg turned his attentions to acting with a role in THE SUBSTITUTE. The film, co-starring a then-unknown Natasha Gregson Wagner, was a critical and commercial failure, but Wahlberg's next project, 1994's RENAISSANCE MAN with Danny De Vito, gave him the positive notices that would increase with the release of his next film, THE BASKETBALL DIARIES (1995). Although the film received mixed reviews, many critics praised Wahlberg's performance as Mickey, Leonardo Di Caprio's friend and fellow junkie. Following DIARIES, Wahlberg appeared in FEAR (1996) in the role of Reese Witherspoon's psychotic boyfriend. It was with the release of Paul Thomas Anderson's BOOGIE NIGHTS in 1997 that Wahlberg finally received across-the-board respect for his commanding yet unassuming performance as busboy-turned-porn star Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler. The film was nominated for three Oscars and a slew of other awards by associations ranging from the British Academy to the New York Film Critics Circle to MTV. The positive attention landed Wahlberg on a wide range of magazine covers and gave him greater Hollywood pulling power. He had, as they say, arrived.

Subsequent film credits include THE BIG HIT (1998), THE CORRUPTOR and THREE KINGS (both 1999), THE YARDS and THE PERFECT STORM (both 2000), PLANET OF THE APES and ROCK STAR (both 2001), THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE (2002), THE ITALIAN JOB (2003), I HEART HUCKABEES (2004), FOUR BROTHERS (2005), INVINCIBLE and THE DEPARTED (both 2006), SHOOTER and WE OWN THE NIGHT (both 2007) and THE BRAZILIAN JOB (announced for 2008 release).

· Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2006: THE DEPARTED