Mark Wahlberg is opening up about his grueling early morning workouts, spending quality time with family and more.
Wahlberg opened up to “Good Morning America” on Thursday morning while discussing his upcoming film “Play Dirty.”
“The only way I can do it is if I get to bed at 7 [p.m.], ’cause I need eight hours of sleep,” Wahlberg said of his early morning fitness routine, which starts at around 3 a.m.
“I learned the hard way over the years, which is why I try to show what I do every day, just so I can show people that it is about the work, it is about the discipline, and this is the only way that I could be successful, both personally and professionally,” he added.
Wahlberg regularly posts on social media about his early morning workouts.
“It’s very authentic. I kind of just do it every day. It’s the best way for me to start my day,” he said, sharing his morning routine, which he said involves prayer and a cold plunge.
“I feel like after the workout, I can conquer the world, and then all the problems start hitting,” Wahlberg joked. “I can dodge and leave them a little bit more.”
Mark Wahlberg appears on “Good Morning America,” Sept. 25, 2025.
ABC News
Wahlberg said his hours don’t shift much, even when traveling. “When I got to the East Coast, because I live on the West Coast, I started going to bed at 6:30 Boston time,” he said.
The actor said his wake-up hours are so early he will often find his son playing video games when he rises, or another child still awake.
Wahlberg also opened up about his kids‘ waning interest in his career, describing how it’s changed over the years.
“In the ‘Transformer’ days, they were interested. They wanted to come. They wanted to see the action. They wanted to see Bumblebee. Now they’re like, ‘Dad, this is boring,'” he said.
He added that his oldest daughter still appreciates getting to meet celebrities she admires.
Wahlberg said time spent away from his family is “the biggest sacrifice” he faces in his career, so he was pleased with their attendance at Wednesday night’s “Play Dirty” premiere.
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Wahlberg is a father to four children: Ella Rae Wahlberg, Michael Wahlberg, Brendan Wahlberg and Grace Wahlberg. He has been married to his wife Rhea Wahlberg since 2009.
“Play Dirty,” a crime action film, stars Wahlberg as Parker, an “expert thief” who “rolls out the biggest heist of his life,” according to a synopsis.
“Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob in this gritty, clever caper,” the synopsis reads.
In addition to Wahlberg, Stanfield and Salazar, “Play Dirty” stars Tony Shalhoub, Keegan-Michael Key, Chukwudi Iwuji, Nat Wolff and Thomas Jane.
The film debuts Oct. 1 on Prime Video.