Mark Wahlberg & Wife Rhea Durham Celebrate Son Brendan’s First Day Of High School With Family Photo

Aug 11, 2023 by apost team

Mark Wahlberg is a successful actor, businessman, producer and former rapper. The award-winning actor grew up as the youngest of nine siblings, and his older brother, Donnie Wahlberg, was part of the famous boy band "New Kids on the Block," which Mark joined when he was 13. The actor was quite problematic as a young kid, and by age 13, he was already getting into trouble with the law. In 1988, he served 45 days in jail for violence. 

“At 12, I was climbing out of the window and staying out all night, and by the time I was 13 or 14, I stopped going to school,” Mark once recalled. 

The “Ted” actor also stole cars and was addicted to cocaine. He told The Sun in 2008, "I was jealous of the kids who went to private school. I thought if you wore one of those uniforms you would have a different life without all the trouble.”

Mark credits his faith and his wife, Rhea Durham, as the keys to his changed life. The couple started dating in 2001 and have welcomed four kids together, Ella Rae Wahlberg, 19; Michael Wahlberg, 17; Brendan Joseph Wahlberg, 14; and Grace Margaret Wahlberg, 13. Durham is a renowned model who has been on the cover of French Vogue and Marie Claire and walked the runway for Victoria's Secret. 

“She has helped me become the man that I am and created a beautiful life for me and our children,” the actor said. 

On Aug. 7, 2023, the model shared a proud mom and dad moment with fans on Instagram. Their son, Brendan, was going to high school for his first day, so she posted a photo of the teenager with Mark. Continue reading to see the photo.  

Mark is a proud family man who will do anything for his family. When he started having children, he decided to get his diploma since he didn’t finish high school due to his run-in with the law. 

“I can’t tell my kids to go to school and get an education if I don’t have a diploma. They’d think, ‘You didn’t go and you turned out all right,” he said. “Now I'm officially a high school graduate.”

The “Transformers” actor is quite protective of his kids. He once revealed that although he attends his kids’ games, he doesn't get out of his car to protect his children’s identities and feelings. Mark shared that although he was hurt at first, he realized he had to do it if his children would have some semblance of normal life. His children also don’t go around with him with their friends for the same reason. 

Another way the businessman demonstrated his love for his kids was when he took his daughter, Grace, to prom and confronted the DJ, who played inappropriate music for the kids. Although he didn’t get to dance with his daughter, who was concerned that her dad might embarrass her, he protected Grace and the other kids and was applauded by parents when the news got out.  

It seems the producer’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his children, as they have a great relationship with him. The “Ted” actor bonds with his kids over the different things they have picked an interest in. He and Ella bond over her fashion choices and work out with her boyfriend. He also plays games with his sons, while Grace has studied him enough to be able to imitate him.

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Mark and his wife showed off their proud parent sides on Aug. 7, 2023, when the actor posed with Brendan while Durham took the photo, which she posted on Instagram. The photo marked Brendan’s first day as a high school freshman. 

“How did he become a freshman in high school already?? 🥲💙🎒📓📝⁉️” Durham captioned the photo of a smiling Mark with his arm around his son’s shoulder. 

Meanwhile, Brendan didn’t share his parents’ enthusiasm and stared at the camera stoically. The picture also showed that the teenager was already taller than his dad. 

“Your boy’s gettin big!” someone gushed. 

Durham, who was not yet over the excitement of Brendan’s first day, shared another photo on Instagram the next day. This time, Brendan and Michael, who had started his senior year, were pictured together in the frame. 

“Really bad lighting but it’s all I could get. Freshman and Senior ♥️🧑🏻‍💻🧑🏻‍💻,” the excited mom captioned the photo of her two sons, who were mostly cast in shadows because of the tree close to them. 

"Gotta take what we can get," one parent commented. "lol boys don’t like pics taken most of the time." A second person agreed, "I’m surprised they will let you take pics still 😂."

Durham’s post came a few months after Mark revealed that his kids were having a swell time in their new home in Nevada. The family moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2022 and put their 30,500-square-foot Beverly Hills estate for sale for $87.5 million.

“They love Vegas,” the actor told E! News and added, “I spent lots of time in L.A. pursuing my interests and my career and now it's time for them to pursue theirs. Everybody is thriving there, it's been great.”

What do you think of the actor’s story? Do you think it's sweet that Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham gush over their son like any other parents? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends, family and fans of Mark Wahlberg!