Mark Wahlberg’s character in the 2014 movie The Gambler, a modern adaptation of the 1974 film of the same name, proved to be a daring endeavor for the versatile movie star.

To embody the character of Jim Bennett, an anti-alpha male college professor, and novelist entangled in a self-destructive spiral of gambling losses, Wahlberg underwent a remarkable physical transformation, shedding approximately 60 pounds.

However, apart from the physical transformation, the film left Wahlberg with the need to reconsider his academic evolution.

Mark Wahlberg and Jessica Lange
During an engaging media interaction in Beverly Hills, California, with a group of reporters, Wahlberg shared insights about the challenges he encountered while preparing for the role.

Mark Wahlberg admitted his regret about missing out on the college experience

Reflecting on the character he portrays, Mark Wahlberg shared his regrets about missing out on the traditional college experience. As preparation for his role, while visiting UCLA for a lecture and exploring the campus, he couldn’t help but contemplate the opportunities he had foregone.

However, Wahlberg acknowledged that his life’s trajectory would have been different had he pursued higher education. Inspired by his role as a professor, he expressed a desire to continue his education in the future, potentially studying film and business, although he humorously dismissed the idea of living in a fraternity.
Mark Wahlberg
“I remember when we went to UCLA to a lecture, and afterwards, we were kind of walking around on campus and thinking about all those things in life.

You think about all the things you missed out on, but look: my path would have been different. The great thing is now, I’m inspired to continue my education, so at some point — I don’t think I’ll be living in a fraternity or anything — but maybe I’ll study some more film and business.”

And following through with action, Wahlberg went ahead and earned his high school diploma around eight years later.

When Mark Wahlberg set an example for his kids

Mark Wahlberg, 42, achieved a significant milestone by earning his high school diploma in June 2022. The $400 million worth of actor revealed that his four children played a vital role in motivating him to pursue his education.

He said, “I didn’t want the kids saying, ‘You didn’t do it, so why do I need it?’ They are all wanting to do things in their future that require an education.”
Mark Wahlberg
Having faced a troubled childhood and dropping out in the ninth grade, Wahlberg considers obtaining his diploma a remarkable achievement.

He expressed relief at finally accomplishing this goal, acknowledging that it was more challenging to return to academics at the age of 41. He added, “It’s also a huge sense of relief. I wondered, ‘Why didn’t I do it when I was there?’ It’s so much harder at 41 going back and trying to do all these difficult tasks.”

While taking online classes, math proved to be the most demanding subject for Wahlberg. To overcome this hurdle, he hired a tutor and studied between takes on the set of the film Two Guns.

With his diploma secured, Wahlberg now has plans to further his education by studying film, preferably at USC, to enhance his career and broaden his horizons.