A romance for the history book. Mark WahlbergAnd Rhea DurhamWhile they may not have adhered to the usual rules of relationship, their connection grows stronger each day.
The couple began dating in 2001. They welcomed their first child together two years later, Ella Rae. They had three more children: twins Brendan and Michael in 2006, 2008, respectively, as well as Grace in 2010.
It wasn’t until August 2009 that the EntourageThe former model and executive producer finally got married. The couple exchanged vows in a intimate ceremony at a Catholic Church in Beverly Hills, with their children and close family members present.
One year before his nuptials, the “Good Vibrations” artist applauded his soon-to-be-wife with helping him become more of a family man after his rocky past. Wahlberg had a few legal issues as a teenager, but he was willing to accept the responsibilities of fatherhood when he fell for Durham.
“I owe a lot to my wife,” he told the U.K.’s The Sun2008. “She has helped me become the man that I am and created a beautiful life for me and our children. … You need the right woman in your life and that feeling that you’re going to be together for a long time. That’s especially important if you’re going to have children.”
Despite his famed Hollywood career, Wahlberg & Durham tried to keep their children grounded & grateful, despite the fact that he was a star. In May 2014, the Daddy’s Home star opened up about the couple’s secrets to parenting success in the spotlight.
“I think the most important thing is to always be involved in every aspect of their life,” he told EsquireAt the time. “The biggest thing for me is, you know, as quickly as I was able to turn it around, to get from there to here, from me having nothing as a kid to me here now, providing everything for my kids, it’s like, I worry that maybe they won’t appreciate things. I worry that maybe they’ll have a sense of entitlement. You don’t wanna give your kids everything without giving them the tools to be great people.”
Scroll down to relive Wahlberg and Durham’s unconventional love story.
