Mark Wahlberg Kept His Huge Prop Penis From 'Boogie Nights'

Mark Wahlberg is no different from many other celebrities who have retained mementos from movies they’ve been in. The movie star has appeared in films such as "Other Guys," "Ted," and "Daddy's Home," two installments of the "Transformers" live-action film franchise, and many other action thrillers.

Keeping props from film sets is not unusual among celebrities. Using such objects for such a long time throughout the film's production has given many a strong connection to them, even though they are inanimate objects.

While Wahlberg recalls most of the films he has been in, he recently disclosed that his appearance in "Boogie Nights" was more memorable since he preserved the prosthetic penis he used for the role.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5WpFeqiSsg

Appearing on Ellen DeGeneres's eponymous show, the Golden Globe nominee said that he retained the prosthetic penis he donned in "Boogie Nights" but keeps it concealed from his kids so as not to scare them with its graphic appearance.

"It's in a safe, locked away. It's not something I can leave out," Wahlberg said during Monday's episode of the acclaimed show.

"All of a sudden, my kids are looking for the spare phone charger, and they pull that thing out," the actor joked. "It wouldn't be a good look."

Despite the actor's efforts to keep the memento out of his children's sight, one of them, Ella (18), appears to have seen the film and observed how her father used the prosthetic. Fortunately for him, she has decided not to bring up the subject, which Wahlberg appreciates.

"Thank god, she's sparing me," the actor joked to DeGeneres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN7pcEa83dU

Wahlberg played Dirk in the film, an amateur porn actor that suddenly experiences a burst of fame that catapults him into being one of the industry's most renowned actors.

However, just as quickly as he shot into the limelight, Dirk's career suffered a shocking setback that sends it to rock bottom. However, he eventually made a comeback into the porn industry, and the last few seconds of the film showed the first and only shot of Dirk's notoriously enormous penis, which has been touted throughout the movie.

Although "Boogie Nights" was shot as a comedy-drama to appeal to a wider audience, its box office appearance didn’t yield as much as they had hoped. During its first weekend in the theaters, it earned $50,168 before slowly pulling off a total box office of $43.1 million worldwide, including $26.4 million in the United States and $16.7 million in international markets.

While the comedic drama has now become a cult classic years after its release, Wahlberg was nearly not cast in the starring role of Dirk. At the time, director Paul Thomas Anderson preferred Leonardo DiCaprio, whom he had seen starring in "The Basketball Diaries."

However, after being offered the screenplay, DiCaprio had to decline the part owing to his commitment to the emotional drama "Titanic." Joaquin Phoenix was also considered for the part but declined due to worries about playing a porn star. Wahlberg was eventually cast in the role after DiCaprio suggested him.

Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, and Philip Seymour Hoffman were also cast in the film after Wahlberg was confirmed for the lead role. Anderson, Reynolds, and Moore received nominations for multiple awards for their performances, with Reynolds eventually landing the 1998 Golden Globe for best supporting actor.

Wahlberg's acting career has been marred by a controversial history that includes racism claims and other physically heated situations despite appearing in several popular action flicks since he starred in "Boogie Nights." The actor had sought to secure a pardon for his convictions, which he eventually dropped after the matter gained public ire.

Wahlberg's recent feature "Father Stu" seems to be the actor's attempt at connecting his own story of redemption to that of the titular character, "Father Stu." In the film, Wahlberg played the main character Stuart Long, an amateur boxer from Montana who moved to Los Angeles to work as a supermarket clerk while hoping to launch an acting career in the late 1980s.

He eventually encounters a profound spiritual experience after a serious motorcycle accident which ultimately changes his part from being an agnostic to becoming a catholic priest.

"Father Stu" debuted in theatres on April 13, 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKAEmi9PVrY