Mark Wahlberg makes rare red carpet appearance with wife and all four kids at Play Dirty premiere
The actor, his wife Rhea Durham and their four children attended the NYC premiere of Play Dirty at SVA Theater, as Wahlberg discusses filming abroad and his kids’ growing appreciation for his work.
Mark Wahlberg stepped out for a rare red carpet moment with his wife and all four of their children at the world premiere of Play Dirty in New York City on Wednesday. The 54-year-old actor was joined by model wife Rhea Durham, 47, and their kids—Ella, 22; Michael, 18; Brendan, 17; and Grace, 15—at the event held at the SVA Theater.
Wahlberg kept his look casual for the premiere, wearing a dark green crew neck with khaki pants and white sneakers, while Durham stunned in a strapless black gown paired with open-toe gold heels. Their eldest daughter Ella looked radiant in a magenta floor-length silk gown, with her hair styled straight for the night. Grace wore a chic black dress paired with white sneakers, Brendan opted for a grey henley shirt and dark jeans with white Converse, and Michael dressed up in a pale blue button-up shirt, navy pants and brown dress shoes.
On the red carpet, Wahlberg spoke about the long hours spent filming in Australia and the challenge of being away from home. He told People that shooting was a difficult, time-consuming process far from family, but also noted the value of the experience. He said the family’s presence at the premiere felt meaningful, especially as his kids have begun to appreciate his work as they’ve grown older.
"We saw this movie together, we were in Paris, we were all hanging out in Paris," he told People on the red carpet. "I was doing Family Plan 2, and they love this movie. So now, they love seeing dad swearing, kicking a** — all the things that they couldn't see when they were kids, they're now allowed to see. And I think they enjoy those more." He added he was "so excited" all of his kids could join him for the night.
The family dynamic has long been a talking point given Wahlberg and Durham’s nearly 16-year marriage. He said he hoped the reunion with his children would be a reminder of why they work so hard, noting that his daughter's been away at school and everyone is at different life stages, but that time together, even briefly, was valuable.
Play Dirty follows Parker (Wahlberg) and his crew, Grofield (Stanfield), Zen (Salazar), and others, as they square off against the New York mob after stumbling upon a major score. The film also features Keegan-Michael Key, Rosa Salazar, Tony Shalhoub, Nat Wolff, and Thomas Jane, with Shane Black directing. The production took Wahlberg far from home, including a major shoot in Australia, before the premiere.
Play Dirty is slated to debut on Prime Video on October 1.
Rhea Durham shared glimpses from the premiere on Instagram, posting shots of herself with her boys and a series of backstage and theater snaps, including images of tote bags bearing Play Dirty graphics. The posts underscored a family-first moment for the Wahlbergs as they celebrated the project together.
The premiere in New York highlighted a rare moment of the Wahlbergs appearing publicly as a unit during a major film rollout, with the family’s presence drawing attention to how they balance high-profile careers with a family life that has endured since their marriage began in 2009. Other cast members at the premiere included Keegan-Michael Key, Rosa Salazar, Tony Shalhoub, Nat Wolff, and Thomas Jane, while Shane Black directed the film.