Mark Wahlberg Says His Kids Think He's 'Cringe'

Mark Wahlberg stars in the Family Plan. Credit: Shy McGrath/WireImage

At 52, Mark Wahlberg, both actor and musician, shares a bustling household with his wife, Rhea Durham, aged 45, and their four kids.

Leading the pack is Ella, the 20-year-old trailblazer, followed by Michael at 17, Brendan at 15, and the youngest, 13-year-old Grace, completing this lively clan.

During a recent chat with the Telegraph, Wahlberg humorously pondered whether his brood considers him 'cool.'

It's easy to assume that a Hollywood heavyweight like me might automatically earn some cool points with my kids.

But truth be told, that assumption would miss the mark entirely.

Responding to the question, Wahlberg said: "I think we’re cool when it’s convenient, getting something done for them and meeting somebody they want to meet."

It would make sense, right? But it's a whole different ball game when you're not the celeb they're excited about meeting. At home, I'm just 'Mom' or 'Dad'—no glitz or glamour, just the usual folks.

The actor revealed his kids think of him as 'cringe'. Credit: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

He said: "But, you know, it’s fun for us, because we do live this kind of exciting life of pretend, making movies. We go home, and we’re just boring parents again."

Even so, Wahlberg admitted that despite their attempts to impart wisdom, things don't always pan out as expected with their kids. Parenthood's full of surprises, after all!

He said: "They don’t realize we’ve been through all these things, and we’re trying to pass that experience and knowledge onto our kids to make their lives a little bit easier and help them avoid making some of the mistakes we’ve made."

In some situations, having a famous parent can simply translate to being downright 'cringe'—or in other words, not so great, as my kids would put it.

Wahlberg said: "For them, it’s cringe. They definitely don’t want to hear that."

Wahlberg shares daughters Ella, 20, and Grace, 13, and sons Michael, 17, and Brendan, 15, with his wife Rhea Durham, 45. Instagram/Mark Wahlberg

Yet, being a famous dad provides ample chances for Wahlberg to embarrass his kids, like that one scene in The Family Plan where he belts out Vanilla Ice tunes. It's all part of the package!

He said: "They did get a big laugh out of that particular scene. They like to laugh at me."

In the 2023 movie The Family Plan, Wahlberg steps into the shoes of an elite government assassin who ditches that life to become a suburban car salesman. It's a switch-up worth watching!

A synopsis of the Apple TV movie reads: "When enemies from his past track him down, Dan packs his unsuspecting wife (Monaghan), angsty teen daughter, pro-gamer teen son and adorable 10-month-old baby into their minivan and takes off on an impromptu cross-country road trip to Las Vegas."

“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.”

At the premiere of “The Family Plan” Wednesday, Wahlberg told Fox News Digital he is “usually pretty cool” when his daughters bring dates home to meet him.

The actor also shared that his children are not fans of their dad’s vocal talent. Instagram/Mark Wahlberg

“I think after the first go-round with my oldest, I realized it is what it is,” he said. “It’s inevitable.”

Wahlberg also discussed recently attending a fraternity party while visiting Ella at Clemson University over parents’ weekend.

The Massachusetts native clarified that he didn’t “crash” the frat house.

“I was invited,” he said. “I didn’t crash the party. I mean, we tore up a little bit, but it was a blast.

“I mean, the house was damn near condemned. I wouldn’t tell you what it smelled like, but those guys were having a blast, and certainly I got a quick look at what I missed out on not attending college.”