Mark Wahlberg Says He Is 'Embracing My Old Age' in Recent Roles: 'I Look Forward to Playing a Grandfather'

Mar. 15, 2025

Mark Wahlberg in 2023.Photo:Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Mark Wahlberghas no problem growing older onscreen.

The 52-year-old star ofThe Family PlantoldEntertainment Tonightin an interview published Thursday that he’s “embracing my old age.”

“I’m a dad now,” said the father of four — Ella, 20, Michael, 17, Brendan, 15 and Grace, 13, who he shares with wifeRhea Durham.

“A lot of guys my age in the business would probably say, ‘Well, that character has grown kids or kids in their late teens, I don’t want to play that role.’ I’m embracing that," said the Oscar nominee.

In fact, he added, “I look forward to playing a grandfather soon.”

An “impromptu cross-country road trip to Las Vegas” follows, per the film’s synopsis. “Determined to protect his family — while treating them to the vacation of a lifetime — Dan must put his long-dormant skills into action, without revealing his true identity.”

“I just thought it was really fun,” Wahlberg toldETof the film. “I think you see a lot of action movies — especially a lot of action comedies — and they don’t have as much character as this one had.”

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That’s not to suggestThe Family Planskimps on the action, the former rapper continued. “We wanted to make it feel very real when shooting it practically,” he said of the movie’s most physical sequences. “You want it to feel super cool but also be grounded enough that it’s believable.”

“The Family Plan”.Courtesy of Apple

Courtesy of Apple

In June of this year following his 52nd birthday, Wahlberg reflected on the disciplineddiet and workout routinethat he’s known for, telling PEOPLE he’s “hitting his stride, health-wise.”

Of aging, he said, “I’m not ignorant to the fact that I’m definitely past the halfway point… For me, it’s all about mobility and flexibility. When you start getting older, you’re thinking about lung capacity, thinking about bone density, you know, being able to at least still develop new lean muscle. So those are things that I definitely think about.”

TheFather Stuproducer-star alsorevealedin a recent interview withCigar Aficionadothat he doubts that he’ll “be acting that much longer at the pace I am now.”

“Certain businesses, you kind of build them, pass them on or you exit,” he said. Of all his many endeavors, he added, on-camera acting was “the most difficult thing.”

Wahlberg will next star in theupcoming moviesThe Union,The Six Billion Dollar ManandArthur the King.

source: people.com