Mark Wahlberg has opened up about his decision to leave Los Angeles after years of working in Hollywood. The actor moved his family to Las Vegas in 2022 to prioritize his four children and their upbringing. Wahlberg recently explained the decision on The Shop podcast, saying his kids were “getting exposed to a lot” and “getting in a lot of trouble.”
Although Wahlberg misses Los Angeles, he believes moving away was the right choice for his family. He said, “The best thing was to say, ‘OK, let’s put them first. I don’t have to be here. I can always come back.'” The actor shares four children with his wife, Rhea Durham. He has previously explained that Las Vegas gives them more freedom to pursue hobbies such as golf, horseback riding, and basketball.
Wahlberg also believes living in Hollywood is no longer necessary to maintain a successful career. He said, “In this day and age, you can self-tape, and you can audition from anywhere.” The actor pointed out that productions increasingly shoot outside California, including in countries such as Australia and the UK, making it easier for actors to work without living in LA.
Despite that, Wahlberg has not completely fallen out of love with the city. He said he misses its weather, restaurants, and friends. He hopes to come back and calls it his ‘goal.’ Wahlberg wants to spend more time there during the summer, saying, “Summertime in California, man, there’s nothing better.”
What is Mark Wahlberg working on next?
Wahlberg continues taking on new projects despite living outside Los Angeles. His next major release is a historical crime thriller, By Any Means, directed by Elegance Bratton. The film stars Wahlberg as infamous mafia hitman Gregory Scarpa, who joins forces with a young Black FBI agent, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, to investigate the murders of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi. It is scheduled to hit theaters on September 4, 2026.
The actor will also be seen in The Big Fix, an upcoming Netflix thriller directed by Baltasar Kormákur. Wahlberg stars alongside Riz Ahmed in the film. The story follows a former Interpol officer who uncovers a global match-fixing operation. It is expected to be released in 2027. His upcoming projects also include The Operator, Weekend Warriors, Ted: The Animated Series, and The Six Billion Dollar Man.
