Mark Wahlberg owes Penny Marshall

Marky Mark was saved by Laverne. Wahlberg reveals how a meeting with director Penny Marshall for a role in Renaissance Man changed his life. He says, “I wanted to be the most serious rapper. Real guy from the street. That sort of thing. And she’s like, ‘You’re an idiot. You’ve been acting the whole time. You act like you’re a tough guy. You’re a sweet kid. Why don you give this a shot.’” EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLA

Wahlberg reveals how a meeting with director Penny Marshall for a role in Renaissance Man changed his life. He says, “I wanted to be the most serious rapper. Real guy from the street. That sort of thing. And she’s like, ‘You’re an idiot. You’ve been acting the whole time. You act like you’re a tough guy. You’re a sweet kid. Why don you give this a shot.’” EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLALong before movie stardom, rapper fame and those steamy Calvin Klein underwear ads, Mark Wahlberg was a high school drop out causing trouble on the streets of Boston. He revealed to Extra the moment that changed his life and opened up about his teenage years, saying, “I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger…I got incarcerated when I was 17, got sent to an adult prison. That was not where I wanted to be.”While Wahlberg was spending his time behind bars, his brother, Donnie, was climbing the music charts as a member of New Kids on The Block. Wahlberg admits, “I didn’t think [NKOTB] was a cool thing to be involved with. I was a street kid. I was into the hip hop thing. Wasn’t going to be singing love songs…Then I end up sitting in the TV room [in] Plymouth House of Correction trying to convince people that that’s my brother. [That] I could’ve done that. They’d tell me how dumb I was to have not taken that opportunity.”Wahlberg reveals how a meeting with director Penny Marshall for a role in Renaissance Man changed his life. He says, “I wanted to be the most serious rapper. Real guy from the street. That sort of thing. And she’s like, ‘You’re an idiot. You’ve been acting the whole time. You act like you’re a tough guy. You’re a sweet kid. Why don you give this a shot.’”Now an A-list actor and the successful executive producer of HBO’s hit show, Entourage, Wahlberg comments about his future. “I think about the important things. I think about being with my family and being able to sleep at night….Being a guy of faith, I know it’s extremely difficult for a rich man to get into heaven, so I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing. I’ve had a lot of success if it all went away tomorrow, I’d be thrilled because I know in my heart and my head I’m in the right place. I’m focused. I’m appreciative. I’m humble, grateful.”“Extra’s” interview with Mark Wahlberg airs tonight.