FUNKY BUNCH OF BIRTHDAY WISHES
Bro, buds show the love to Marky Mark
Mark Wahlberg is neither new, nor a kid anymore. Our beloved Marky Mark, who’s roaming about Italy, turned 46 years old yesterday — with plenty of star pals publicly wishing him a happy birthday. “I’m on the set here in Rome. I want to thank everybody for all the wonderful birthday wishes,” Wahlberg said in an Instagram video that he filmed in front of a cremeria and latteria — that’s fancy Italian speak for an ice cream shop. “Shooting out here,” he continued. “God bless, y’all. Thank you. Forty-six — I’m getting old. Thank you guys for the well wishes. God bless. Love you.” The man made famous by his performances in films like “Boogie Nights,” “The Fighter” and “Lone Surviv o r , ” is currently in Italy f iml ing “All the Money in the World,” which is about a left-wing organization that orchestrates a high-stakes kidnapping plan back in the ’70s. While Mark may be in Roma, big brother Donnie Wahlberg wrote to him on Twitter, “Happy Birthday to the person who has kept me laughing my (expletive) off, since we were kids! My kid brother @mark_ wahlberg! Love you! #Family!” He brought his post to the next level with a picture of the two of them looking young, wild and free on a motorcycle. Other birthday wishes came from actor and former WWE performer Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; Randall Emmett, who’s produced “Lone Survivor,” “End of Watch” and 2008’s “Rambo;” and Tie Domi, former professional hockey player and author of “Shift Work.”
When not on the movie set, Wahlberg has been out in the streets of Rome, taking selfies with fans and posting photos of his own. He cheered on a group of guys doing capoeira — that’s a type of Brazilian dance fighting — in front of a BNL Paribas.
Since his arrival in Italy, he also took in a meal with friends at Ristorante La Rosetta, which is nestled near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. And he’s snapped pics of his tour of the Swiss Guard armory at the Vatican, where he admired shiny suits of armor and rows of rifles.
Word is, the avid golfer has also taken in at least one early morning round in Italy before kicking off a day of filming.
Swing away, Mark. Swing away.