“I think when you come from a big family, you can stay close,” the ‘Blue Bloods’ actor explained
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Donnie Wahlberg on November 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Donnie Wahlberg‘s Blue Bloods character prompted him to reevaluate how much time he does — or doesn’t —spend with his siblings.
The actor, 55, recently told Variety that although he comes from a large family, his career sometimes takes priority.
“It’s not that I’m not committed to my family, but I live in a different state than my siblings,” Wahlberg, who has nine brothers and sisters, said. “I think when you come from a big family, you can stay close, but my career has taken me all over the world, and it still does.”
The Band of Brothers actor continued: “My sister always calls and says, ‘Come on, Mom’s gone now, let’s all fly to Boston and do Thanksgiving.’ A lot of times I’m like, ‘It’s a long flight. I’ve been flying back and forth, filming and going on tour. I just want to sit at home and put on the fireplace and be with my wife and my dogs.’ ”
But as Donnie continued, he noted, “Maybe I need to hop on a plane and do a little bit more of those occasions with the siblings and encourage Mark [Wahlberg] to get on a plane and do the same.”
Donnie and Mark, 53, are the eighth and ninth siblings, respectively, following Michelle, Arthur, Paul, Jim, Robert, Tracey, and Debbie, who died at age 43.
All nine children were born to Alma Wahlberg, who worked as a bank clerk and nurse’s aide, and Donald Wahlberg Sr., who was a delivery driver after serving in the Korean War.
Related: Mark Wahlberg’s 8 Siblings: All About His Brothers and Sisters
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Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg attend the Wahlburgers Coney Island VIP Preview Party on June 23, 2015 in New York City.
Donnie’s comments were inspired by his Blue Bloods character, Det. Danny Reagan’s commitment to family. Donnie starred on the CBS series since its premiere in 2010, alongside on-screen father, Tom Selleck
The popular police procedural is coming to an end after 14 seasons, and Donnie told Variety that on his final day on set of the series in June, he “couldn’t turn off the tears for another probably two days” after the show wrapped.
He revealed that Selleck, 79, had read a poem to the cast after they filmed their final Reagan family dinner scene — a scene that was featured in every episode of the show — and it triggered his tears.
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Will Estes as Jamie Reagan, Vanessa Ray as Officer Eddie Janko, Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan, Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan, Sami Gayle as Nicky Reagan-Boyle, Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan in “Blue Bloods”
Donnie told the outlet he “didn’t make it through” Selleck’s reading of “Love Is Not All” by Edna St. Vincent Millay and added, “Literally, my life passed before my eyes.”
“I was listening to his voice mesmerize this room and thinking about what a magical journey, and what a gift that this boy, who didn’t know where his next meal was going to come from half the time, in this scrappy family, who grew up watching this man on TV, is sitting next to him, sharing this magical moment of his wisdom and grace,” he recalled.
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The series finale of Blue Bloods airs Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.
Credit: Original article published here.