Hollywood brothers Donnie and Mark Wahlberg are the youngest of nine children, but they're not the only ones in their family who pack serious star power.
The Wahlberg family includes seven other siblings who you may not know about: Debbie, Michelle, Arthur, Paul, Jim, Tracey, and Robert. All nine of them grew up together in Dorchester, a neighbourhood in Boston, and before several of them entered the entertainment world, their upbringing was far more humble than most people might think.
Their mother, Alma Wahlberg, worked as a bank clerk and nurse's aide, while their father, Donald Wahlberg Sr. was a delivery driver after serving in the Korean War. Growing up, the siblings lived in a three-bedroom apartment with limited resources and slept in the same bedroom.
"It was always about trying to provide. I love my parents to death, and I think they did a remarkable job, considering the circumstances in which they lived," Mark told Vanity Fair in 2011, reflecting on his parents working hard to put food on the table. In 1982, their parents divorced, with their father passing away in 2008 and their mother in 2021.
Despite their modest beginnings, Donnie was the first in the family to find fame as a member of the iconic 1980s and 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block. He went on to land his renowned role as Detective Danny Reagan in the long-running CBS police drama Blue Bloods (2011–2024). His brother Mark also started in the music industry, rapping in the group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, with their hit single 'Good Vibrations' reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Moving from rap to cinema, Mark has since starred in major blockbuster films including The Departed (2006), Ted (2012), and Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014).
Creative talent runs deep in the family, as several other Wahlberg siblings have made their mark on screen as actors, producers, and writers, while others have avoided the limelight entirely.
Read on to find out more about the famous family, alongside the next generation of Wahlbergs making their way onto the screen...
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© InstagramDebbie Wahlberg
First on the list is the eldest Wahlberg sibling, Debbie, who was born on July 8, 1960, and was the first of nine children born to Alma and Donald Wahlberg.
Unlike her siblings, she lived a private life away from the spotlight, and her profession remains unknown. However, her sudden death from a heart attack on September 2, 2003, at the age of 43 was a devastating tragedy for the family, occurring on the very day Mark welcomed his daughter Ella. Mark told Entertainment Tonight of his sister's passing: "It was completely devastating. My mom fell into a big, deep depression after my sister passed away... no parent should have to lose a child."
The actor celebrated his daughter's 18th birthday in 2021 with a tribute post on Instagram honouring both his sister and daughter, calling the occasion "bittersweet" and describing his older sister Debbie as Ella's "guardian angel".
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© Ron Galella Collection via GettyMichelle Wahlberg
Michelle Wahlberg was the second of the nine siblings, born on November 12, 1961, and largely stayed out of the spotlight for a quiet life away from Hollywood. However, on IMDb, she is listed as a producer known for her work on In the Between (2022).
Little else is known about Michelle, other than that she passed away at the age of 58 on December 10, 2019.
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© Getty Images for Samira's NetworArthur Wahlberg
The eldest brother in the family is Arthur Wahlberg, who inherited the creative instincts shared by several of his siblings.
Born on June 17, 1963, he has worked throughout his career as an actor, writer, and location manager on two short films. He started his acting career in the 2010s, most recently starring in the 2025 drama Beyond Detention. According to IMDb, he has three projects currently in development, including the horror film Abandoned Ones.
When he is not acting, Arthur works as a carpenter, focusing on home remodelling.
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© Getty Images for WahlburgersPaul Wahlberg
Born on 20 March 1964, Paul Wahlberg works as a professional chef and appeared alongside his brothers Mark and Donnie on Wahlburgers between 2014 and 2019. The show ran for ten seasons, received two Emmy nominations, and featured frequent appearances from their late mother, Alma, alongside semi-regular cameos from brothers Robert, Jim, and Arthur.
Paul opened the first Wahlburgers restaurant in 2011 in Hingham, Massachusetts, operating a family business, as his brothers are listed as co-owners. The franchise grew to be a success and now spans more than 90 locations across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Speaking to People in 2018 about how the business strengthened their bond, Mark said: "This is truly a family affair, and it's brought us all closer together. Having more reasons to spend time with each other has been a huge side benefit of the business."
Paul has also been credited as additional crew on two of his brother Mark's blockbuster films, The Happening (2008) and Max Payne (2008), bringing his culinary skills to the set.
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© Johnny NunezJim Wahlberg
James 'Jim' Wahlberg was born on 19 August 1965, and his work in entertainment has taken place primarily behind the scenes. His first screen credit arrived as a producer on the 2012 film A Feeling from Within, while his recent project Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality was released in 2025.
On the commercial side, he is the founder and CEO of the production company Wahl St. Productions, creating films that focus on substance use disorders and the opioid epidemic. In 2020, he published a book titled The Big Hustle: A Boston Street Kid’s Story of Addiction and Redemption, and he regularly undertakes speaking engagements discussing his recovery from addiction.
He also serves as the executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, helping his brother coordinate fundraising events. He posted a sibling photo on Instagram in 2018, captioning it: "Great night at Instant Family premiere benefiting @WahlbergYouth couldn’t be prouder of my brother @markwahlberg great movie great event."
Away from film, Jim has been married to Bennie Gonzalez since 1988 and is a father of three. Following in his footsteps, his son Jeff has established his own screen career, appearing in three episodes of Euphoria (2026) and five episodes of The Girl from Plainville (2022-present).
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© InstagramTracey Wahlberg
Born on 16 January 1967, Tracey Wahlberg is one of the most private siblings and has chosen not to work in the entertainment industry. However, in 2020, she made a rare public appearance on Jenny McCarthy’s SiriusXM radio show to compete against McCarthy's sister Amy in a lighthearted "battle of the sisters".
When their mother became ill, Tracey helped care for her, and she remained a close support to her brother Mark on his 50th birthday shortly after Alma's death. In 2021, Mark shared an Instagram video showing his lawn decorated by his older sister in their mother's traditional style: "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."
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© Getty Images for Churchill DownsRobert Wahlberg
Aside from Mark and Donnie, Robert Wahlberg is the youngest brother in the family, born on 18 December 1967. He married Gina Santangelo on 25 September 1994, and the couple has two children.
Out of the nine siblings, Robert is the only one who still lives in their home neighbourhood of Dorchester, where he works for a local utility company. He has also built a successful acting career, earning credits in films including The Departed (2006), Mystic River (2003), and Lies Gone Viral (2018), alongside producer credits on Wahlburgers and Boston's Finest (2013).
