Donnie Wahlberg Reflects on Family Ties, Urges Brother Mark to Prioritize Sibling Time

After more than a decade of portraying Detective Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods, Donnie Wahlberg is turning the lessons of family loyalty from screen to real life. In a December 2024 interview with Variety, the 55-year-old actor and New Kids on the Block star opened up about his desire to reconnect more often with his siblings—including brother Mark Wahlberg—and to encourage them all to carve out more time together.

Inspired by the Reagans of Blue Bloods

For 14 seasons, Donnie sat around the Reagan family dinner table on Blue Bloods, where familial bonds and tradition were the heart of the show. That recurring theme struck a chord with him personally. “Maybe I need to hop on a plane and do a little bit more of those occasions with the siblings and encourage Mark to get on a plane and do the same,” he reflected, noting how the drama’s emphasis on family dinners made him reevaluate his own priorities.

A Big Family, Pulled in Different Directions

Donnie and Mark are the youngest of nine siblings born to Alma and Donald Wahlberg Sr. in Dorchester, Boston. Their tight-knit upbringing was marked by limited resources but a strong sense of loyalty. Today, however, distance and demanding careers make frequent reunions difficult.

Donnie resides in St. Charles, Illinois, with wife Jenny McCarthy, while Mark lives in Las Vegas with his wife Rhea Durham and their four children. Their siblings remain mostly based in Boston. “It’s not that I’m not committed to my family, but I live in a different state than my siblings,” Donnie explained. “My career has taken me all over the world, and it still does.”

He admitted that while his sister often urges the family to gather for holidays like Thanksgiving, he sometimes hesitates. “A lot of times I’m like, ‘It’s a long flight… I just want to sit at home and be with my wife and my dogs.’ But maybe I need to do more of those occasions.”

Brothers, Bonded but Busy

Donnie and Mark have long shared a particularly close relationship. As kids, they were “inseparable,” Mark recalled in 2015, while Donnie has said he’s “probably the closest person to Mark in his entire life.” Still, their professional paths pulled them apart—Donnie rising with NKOTB and later in acting, Mark transforming from Marky Mark to an Oscar-nominated actor and producer. Together, with brother Paul, they built Wahlburgers into a global chain, but even shared business hasn’t guaranteed shared time.

Their bond has faced strain from schedules, as when Mark missed Donnie’s 2014 wedding due to his daughter’s birthday. But both have publicly dismissed any feud, emphasizing their lifelong closeness. A joint courtside appearance at the Boston Celtics’ NBA Finals game in June 2024 was a recent reminder of their enduring connection.

Mark’s View on Family

For his part, Mark Wahlberg has also been reflecting on family priorities. Promoting his 2025 thriller Flight Risk, the 53-year-old told PEOPLE that when the siblings do reunite, it’s not about work. “When we’re getting together and spending time together, it’s really just about quality time together as a family,” he said. “Life is too short.”

Mark also highlighted his role as a father as his top priority. Relocating his family to Las Vegas in 2022, he explained, was a move to give his children “a better life”—a decision he says has been deeply rewarding.

Moving Forward

For Donnie, the lessons of Blue Bloods extend beyond television. With their mother Alma’s passing in 2021 underscoring the importance of family traditions, he says he’s ready to be more intentional about time with his siblings—and hopes Mark will join him in that effort.

As Donnie put it, “You can stay close, but it takes effort. I want to do a little more of that effort now.”

Would you like me to shape this piece in a family-centered human-interest style (emotional, reflective) or a celebrity-profile style (focusing on the brothers’ careers alongside their bond)?