Mark Wahlberg celebrates son Michael's 18th birthday with throwback pic: 'So proud'

Mark Wahlberg and his wife, Rhea Durham, are celebrating their son Michael's 18th birthday.

On March 22, Wahlberg shared a cute throwback photo on Instagram when the teen was an infant.

He wrote, "Happy 18th b-day buddy. Can’t believe how fast you’ve grown up. So proud of the young man you are."

Durham captioned her Instagram slideshow, "I truly cannot believe that you are 18 my buddy. This a tough one. I remember that you would NEVER sleep anywhere as an infant except in my arms and how you wouldn’t take off some kind of hat for 2 years straight and how we would obsessively read books about sharks together (and you still remember the 7 deadliest sharks."

The mom continued, "I look at you today from across a room and wonder how I got so blessed. You are kind, thoughtful, mature and beautiful inside and out. I love you bruh."

Along with Michael, Wahlberg and Durham share their three other kids, Grace, Ella and Brendan.

In October 2022, Wahlberg revealed he and Durham moved their family to Nevada to give their kids “a better life.”

“Every free moment that I have, I’m at home,” he said on “The Talk.” “I want to be able to work from home. I moved to California many years ago to pursue acting and I’ve only made a couple of movies in the entire time that I was there.

“So, to be able to give my kids a better life and follow and pursue their dreams — whether it be my daughter as an equestrian, my son as a basketball player, my younger son as a golfer — this made a lot more sense for us,” Wahlberg continued.

Read on to learn more about Wahlberg's kids.

Ella Rae Wahlberg

In 2003, Wahlberg and Durham welcomed their first child, daughter Ella. The milestone moment was also bittersweet. The same day Ella was born, Wahlberg's older sister, Debbie Wahlberg, died at 43.

When Wahlberg celebrated his little girl's 18th birthday on Instagram in 2021, he called his sister Ella's "guardian angel."

"Always a bittersweet day," he posted.

In January, Wahlberg's wife got emotional after dropping Ella off at college in South Carolina. Posting a photo of herself looking somber on a plane, she said her emotions were "running wild" after her first ever drop-off.

In a September 2023 interview with TODAY.com, Wahlberg spoke about that moment and said he didn't get too emotional when Ella went off to college because he understood that she was starting a new chapter in her life.

"She's just so happy there," he said. "She's really thriving so I understand. Obviously, it's more difficult for moms, because when you have a child, your own existence revolves around taking care and nurturing this child and helping them grow. But you're giving life and they go off and do their thing, and hopefully, they come back and spend time with you."

Wahlberg also opened up about how having his oldest child in college has made him rethink some of his life decisions.

He shared that he has some regrets about not enrolling in college when he was younger. The “Ted” actor explained that the feelings bubbled up after he visited Ella at college.

“We just went to parents’ weekend, you know with the sorority girls and the frat house. It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I definitely felt like I never really had too many regrets about not going to college until I saw (this),” he explained with a laugh.

Michael Wahlberg

In 2006, Wahlberg and Durham welcomed their oldest son, Michael. Like his younger brother, Brendan, he is "obsessed with everything sports," according to an interview Wahlberg did with People.

“The first thing out of their mouths in the morning when their eyes are barely open is, ‘Dad, did the Clippers win?’" he said.

For Michael's 16th birthday in March 2022, Durham celebrated the kid who made her a "boy mommy" in a series of throwback photos. "These past 16 years with you have been an amazing ride and I can’t wait to ride (into) the future," she wrote.

In May 2022, Wahlberg marked Michael's confirmation ceremony by posting a photo of him and his mom. "So proud of this young man," Wahlberg wrote.

Brendan Wahlberg

In 2008, Wahlberg and Durham welcomed their youngest son, Brendan.

Just like his older brother, Brendan is an athlete. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in 2021, Wahlberg said his celebrity status sometimes intersects with his kids' aspirations — which, in effect, means he has to watch their sports games from the car.

“Me being in the public eye, there are pros to that, but there’s a lot of cons,” he said. “My kids wanna have their own identity, you know? I’m not allowed to get out of the car at football practice or a game. I got to sit in the car and watch.

“At first I took it personally, because I want to be there to support them, but supporting them is by making them feel comfortable in what they’re doing and them having their own identity too,” Wahlberg continued. “It’s very difficult.”

In October 2023, Wahlberg told TODAY.com that his children have become a little more open to him attending their events.

Wahlberg called his son a "natural" at riding a golf cart, posting a video to Instagram.

Of all of Wahlberg's kids, fans say Brendan looks the most like the actor. In March, Wahlberg posted a photo of them at UFC 285 in Las Vegas, and fans were quick to point out their resemblance.

“Your twin,” one person said.

“Wow. Mini you,” someone else commented.

Grace Wahlberg

Born in January 2010, Grace is the baby of the family.

She is also a competitive horse rider. In February, Wahlberg shared a few pictures of Grace and her horse, with a first-place ribbon on his reins.

"So proud of Grace and the whole team, what an amazing job. TEAM GRACE," he captioned the post.

On Jan. 11, Wahlberg gave Grace another shout-out when he paid homage to his daughter on her 14th birthday.

On Instagram, Wahlberg shared a photo of him and Grace sitting on the couch together when she was a toddler.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com