Donnie Wahlberg Bio, Age, Height, Wife Jenny McCarthy, NKOTB, Plane Incident, Net Worth & 2026 Update
Donnie Wahlberg is an American singer, actor and producer who rose to fame as a founding member of New Kids on the Block and later became a television mainstay as Detective Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods. On October 18, 2026, he made headlines for surviving a failed takeoff in Las Vegas, when his private jet ran out of runway and skidded into a perimeter fence. This biography covers his early life, career, family and 2026 update.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr. |
| Nick Name | Donnie, Donnie D |
| Profession | Singer, actor, producer |
| Birth Date | August 17, 1969 |
| Age | 57 years 2 months old (2026) |
| Birth Place | Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | New Kids on the Block; Blue Bloods |
| Ethnicity | Irish, Swedish, English, French-Canadian |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 170 lbs (77 kg) |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Qualification | High school graduate |
| Religion | Raised Irish Catholic |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Jenny McCarthy (m. 2014); previously Kim Fey (m. 1999â2008) |
| Relationships | Married to Jenny McCarthy since 2014 |
| Children | Xavier Wahlberg (b. 1993), Elijah Wahlberg (b. 2001) |
| Family Tree | Siblings include Mark, Robert, Paul, Jim and Tracey Wahlberg |
| Hobbies | Fitness, cooking, Boston sports, family |
| Current Work | Actor and singer; NKOTB touring member |
| Years Active | 1984âpresent |
| Net Worth | Estimated at $40 million |
Related Names: Jenny McCarthy, Mark Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg, Danny Reagan, New Kids on the Block, Blue Bloods.
Early Life & Education
Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr. was born on August 17, 1969, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, the eighth of nine children. His mother, Alma Elaine (nĂ©e Donnelly), was a bank clerk and nurse’s aide, and his father, Donald Edmond Wahlberg Sr., was a teamster and delivery driver. The couple divorced in 1982, and the family’s Irish-Catholic upbringing shaped much of Donnie’s outlook.
He grew up in a crowded, working-class household alongside siblings including actors Mark and Robert, chef Paul, and producer Jim. His first job was in the foreign-exchange office of a bank, and he has often described the Boston of his youth as tough, musical and fiercely loyal â themes that still show up in his work.
Career Journey
New Kids on the Block
In 1984, producer Maurice Starr was assembling a group to be a white counterpart to New Edition. He heard 15-year-old Donnie rapping and made him the first member of New Kids on the Block. With Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Danny Wood and Joey McIntyre, the group became a global phenomenon, selling tens of millions of records through hits like “Hangin’ Tough,” “Step by Step” and “You Got It (The Right Stuff).”
The band broke up in 1994, but Donnie never fully left the pop world. After a 2008 reunion album, The Block, topped the charts, NKOTB returned to touring and has remained an active nostalgia act, playing arenas and cruise events into the 2020s.
From Pop Star to Character Actor
Wahlberg’s acting career began in the mid-1990s and picked up steam with Ransom (1996), The Sixth Sense (1999), Dreamcatcher (2003) and the Saw sequels, where he played Detective Eric Matthews. He earned strong reviews as Carwood Lipton in HBO’s Band of Brothers (2001) and starred in the crime drama Boomtown from 2002 to 2003.
Blue Bloods and Wahlburgers
In 2010 he was cast as Detective Danny Reagan on CBS’s Blue Bloods, a role he played for 14 seasons until the series ended in 2024. He also produced and starred in the A&E reality series Wahlburgers with his brothers, earning two Primetime Emmy nominations, and headlined reality projects including Donnie Loves Jenny and Rock This Boat. In 2025 he returned to the Reagan universe with Boston Blue.
The 2026 Las Vegas Plane Incident
On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Wahlberg said he was aboard a private jet that failed to take off from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. “We’re all OK. I’m OK. We were taking off and didn’t get up in the air and ran out of runway,” he said in a video posted to Instagram.
The airport confirmed that a general aviation aircraft “skid off runway 1L” and made contact with the perimeter fence, adding that there were no known injuries and that both runways would be closed for inspection. Wahlberg praised the pilots: “These pilots saved our lives… I’m not sure how many fences we avoided but we didn’t avoid the last one. But we avoided those trucks and heavy equipment and the dumpsters behind that.”
Career Stats
- Founding member of New Kids on the Block since 1984
- 14 seasons as Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods
- Two Primetime Emmy nominations as producer of Wahlburgers
- Starred in Band of Brothers, The Sixth Sense and the Saw franchise
- Survived a runway accident in Las Vegas in October 2026
Personal Life
- Wife: Jenny McCarthy, TV host and actress; married August 31, 2014.
- Ex-wife: Kim Fey, married 1999 and divorced in 2008.
- Sons: Xavier (b. 1993) and Elijah (b. 2001).
- Stepfamily: McCarthy’s son, Evan, from her previous marriage.
- Family: Brother of Mark Wahlberg, Robert Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg and Jim Wahlberg.
Dating History and Affairs
Wahlberg married Kim Fey in 1999, and they had two sons before divorcing in 2008. He began dating actress and TV host Jenny McCarthy in 2013, and the couple married on August 31, 2014, in a ceremony attended by family and friends. They have spoken openly about blending their families â his two sons and her son, Evan â and about McCarthy’s advocacy for autism awareness. There are no verified reports of affairs in either marriage.
Controversies
Wahlberg’s career has had friction points. New Kids on the Block were criticized in the early 1990s for their manufactured image and lip-syncing rumors, and the band’s breakup was messy. As an actor, he has largely avoided scandal, though his family’s reality shows and his brother Mark’s legal history have kept the Wahlberg name in tabloids. In 2026, the Las Vegas incident was not a controversy but a close call that he handled with a public message of gratitude.
Awards & Achievements
- Primetime Emmy nominations: two, as producer of Wahlburgers
- Teen Choice nomination: Choice Scream, for the Saw films
- Music: multi-platinum albums with New Kids on the Block
- Television: 14 seasons leading Blue Bloods
- Business: co-founder of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain
Physical Statistics
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
- Weight: Approx. 170 lbs (77 kg)
- Hair: Dark brown
- Eyes: Brown
- Build: Athletic
Favorites
- City: Boston, his hometown
- Sports: Boston teams
- Food: Wahlburgers and home cooking
- Music: Pop, R&B and hip-hop
- Cause: Autism awareness and children’s charities
Earnings
Donnie Wahlberg’s net worth is estimated at around $40 million in 2026. His income comes from Blue Bloods and Boston Blue salaries, NKOTB tours and royalties, Wahlburgers and producing deals, and reality-television work. The exact terms of his CBS contracts and tour earnings are not public.
Interesting Facts
- He was the first member recruited for New Kids on the Block, at age 15.
- He played Carwood Lipton in Band of Brothers.
- He has two Primetime Emmy nominations as a producer.
- He survived a runway accident in Las Vegas in October 2026.
- His brother Mark was briefly a member of NKOTB.
Did You Know Already?
- He is the eighth of nine Wahlberg siblings.
- He played Danny Reagan for 14 seasons.
- He married Jenny McCarthy in 2014.
- He co-founded the Wahlburgers restaurant chain.
Social Media Links
Wahlberg is active on Instagram at @donniewahlberg, where he posted his account of the Las Vegas runway incident, and on X at @DonnieWahlberg. New Kids on the Block updates appear at @nkotb.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Donnie Wahlberg in 2026?
He was born on August 17, 1969, so he is 57 years 2 months old in 2026.
What happened to Donnie Wahlberg’s plane?
On October 18, 2026, his private jet failed to take off at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, ran out of runway and hit a perimeter fence. No injuries were reported.
Who is Donnie Wahlberg’s wife?
Jenny McCarthy, the TV host and actress. They married in 2014.
Does Donnie Wahlberg have children?
Yes, two sons, Xavier and Elijah, from his first marriage to Kim Fey.
What is Donnie Wahlberg’s net worth?
Estimates put it at around $40 million in 2026.
Conclusion
Donnie Wahlberg has lived several careers in one: teen pop idol, character actor, reality-TV producer and restaurant mogul. The October 2026 runway scare put him back in the news for a far more serious reason, and his response â gratitude to the pilots and relief that everyone walked away â fit the persona he has built over four decades. At 57, he remains a Boston institution with a national audience.
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