How did Donnie Wahlberg transform from childhood to Blue Bloods? (continue)

Marries Kim Fey

Donnie Wahlberg began seriously dating Kimberly Fey, a singer and sound engineer, in 1991. Their son Xavier was six years old when they tied the knot in 1999. Fey produced some of Mark Wahlberg’s music when he was the frontman for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Wahlberg never publicly immersed himself in the celebrity dating scene before meeting Fey, and didn’t receive much press about his dating partners until he and Fey grew serious. Fey’s life outside of the limelight seemed to provide balance for Wahlberg, and they began building a family together when they were both still in their early twenties.

After many years together, the couple looked ready to prepare for a lifetime commitment. They were married on August 20, 1999. Unfortunately, Wahlberg and Fey divorced in 2010 due to irreconcilable differences. Fey gained custody of their son Elijah (Xavier had reached adulthood), but Wahlberg remains close with him. Fey has since stepped completely out of the public eye, while Wahlberg found love again with Jenny McCarthy.

Welcome to the Boomtown

Donnie Wahlberg had starred in ten feature films and played several roles on television before he landed his first series regular part. While playing the role of Carwood Lipton in the award-winning HBO World War II miniseries “Band of Brothers,” he caught the eye of writer-producer Graham Yost, whose previous credits included writing the screenplay for “Speed”; in 2002, Wahlberg accepted Yost’s offer to play the role of Detective Joel Stevens on the NBC crime drama “Boomtown,” which ultimately aired from 2002-2003.

Also starring Neal McDonough and Jason Gedrick, “Boomtown” offered a gritty perspective on the lives of law enforcement, beat reporters, and emergency medical workers.The show might have flourished on cable television, but didn’t fare well as a network series. “Boomtown” lasted for two seasons, with Wahlberg appearing in each of the show’s 24 episodes. That was more than enough evidence to prove he was a natural at playing a detective — which more than likely led to the way he’s continued to land cop roles in the years to come.

More detective work in the Saw franchise

The hit horror film series “Saw” welcomed Wahlberg to the fold in its second film, 2005’s “Saw II.” He played protagonist Detective Eric Matthews, a disgraced cop tasked with capturing the demented killer known as Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). “Saw II” remains the highest-grossing film in the lengthy franchise, and longtime fans will also remember his brief appearance in the mockumentary “Full Disclosure Report: Piecing Together Jigsaw,” included on the “Saw” uncut DVD. He also appeared in “Saw III” and “Saw IV.”

In “Saw II,” Detective Matthews must come to terms with his own flaws and grievous missteps in order to save his son Daniel (Erik Knudsen). Wahlberg gives dimension to his character, making the detective someone we can cheer on in spite of his mistakes. Although “Saw” has a far grislier focus than most of the other projects in which Wahlberg’s played cops, it’s further proof of his knack for adding layers to very familiar roles.

Family burgers for the masses

In 2011, Donnie and his brothers, movie star Mark and chef Paul, collaborated to open the first Wahlburgers — combining delicious fast food and celebrity appeal to feed the masses. The brothers opened their first location in Hingham, Massachusetts with the tagline “Our Family. Our Story. Our Burgers.” The restaurant met with huge success right away, and in 2014, the “Wahlburgers” reality show began airing on A & E. The second Wahlburgers restaurant opened in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the end of 2014.

In 2018, Donnie Wahlberg and his brothers opened their first location in Dorchester, bringing their cuisine and family support back to their old stomping grounds. The Wahlburgers brand now includes merchandise and a retail version of its “Wahl” sauce. In May 2020, Wahlburgers teamed with Crescent Capital to provide meals to frontline medical workers and families in need. Donnie and Mark Wahlberg are both “hands on” with the burger joints, finding time between their many other projects to help give back to the community. According to the Wahlburgers website, there are now 52 Wahlburgers locations around the world.

Narrates Boston Celtics documentary

Donnie Wahlberg has always been vocal about his lifelong loyalty to the Boston Celtics basketball team. In 2017, he had the chance to show off his support for his beloved Celtics when he signed on to narrate “Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies” for ESPN’s “30 for 30” series. The five-hour film showcases the storied histories of both franchises, dating back to the 1950s. Wahlberg shared narration duty with Ice Cube, who is a lifelong Los Angeles Lakers fan.

Wahlberg’s pride for Boston sports shines through his narration, and he’s gone on record as saying he felt honored to be a part of the film. He recalled the fierce rivalry between the two teams in an interview for Boston.com, and remembered how it impacted fans who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s. The documentary brought Wahlberg back to his own childhood when he was bussed to school as a part of Boston’s plan to desegregate the public school system, and spurred a personal reflection on his own Boston success story and how the Celtics impacted his formative years.

Hosts D Dubs R&B Back Rub

Donnie Wahlberg hasn’t slowed down since his entertainment career got started. He has a full-time acting schedule, co-owns a growing fast food empire, and enjoys life as a married father. Yet he still manages to squeeze more entertainment work into his tight itinerary. In 2011, Wahlberg started hosting D Dubs R&B Back Rub for Cherry Tree Radio. The show showcases the great R&B songs of the ’80s and ’90s, and helped increase public interest in the online radio station.

More recently, Wahlberg has entered another media world: In March 2022, he added “podcast host” to his lengthy resume, telling the story of convicted murderer Ronald DeFeo, Jr. for HLN. “Very Scary People” focuses on DeFeo’s life before the 1974 murders of his entire family in the Amityville, New York house that became the foundation for the “Amityville Horror” films. Just one of many attempts to shed light on a horrific crime, Wahlberg’s podcast investigates the story across six episodes.

Life with Jenny McCarthy

After recovering from the end of his marriage to Kim Fey, Wahlberg slowly re-entered the dating scene. In 2012, he met Jenny McCarthy; the following year, the pair embarked a relationship. McCarthy became a household name as the comedic host of the MTV dating show “Singled Out,” and before she met Wahlberg, she spent five years in a romantic relationship with Jim Carrey. McCarthy was also briefly married to television actor John Asher, with whom she had one son, Evan, in 2002.

Wahlberg and McCarthy quickly grew serious, marrying on June 8, 2014; along the way, McCarthy helped Wahlberg prepare for a particularly difficult “Blue Bloods” storyline. From 2015-’16, the newlyweds starred on the A&E reality show “Donnie Loves Jenny,” which highlighted their relationship and their blended family. According to an interview with US Weekly, the couple wanted the world to see that healthy, committed relationships take work, but the work pays off.

Blue-Blooded

Donnie Wahlberg’s professional and personal paths wound together to lead him to his long-lasting role as NYPD Detective Danny Reagan on the CBS police drama “Blue Bloods.” For over a decade, Wahlberg has portrayed the oldest son of the fictional Reagan law enforcement dynasty, and his nuanced performance uses the foundation of his previous roles to bring a palpable authenticity to the part.

Wahlberg gets along well with his onscreen “Blue Bloods” family, and has become close with Tom Selleck and Will Estes, who portrays his brother, NYPD Sergeant Jamie Reagan. His friendship with Bridget Moynahan, who plays Danny’s sister, Prosecutor Erin Reagan, goes back to 2008. The pop star who once lived life on the edge has evolved into a family man with an impressive acting resume. As for “Blue Bloods,” hardcore fans drive the series’ staying power … audiences could keep watching Wahlberg portray Danny Reagan for another 20 years.