Mark Wahlberg takes on the role of Stuart Stu Long in the new film about Boston Marathon bombings, Patriots Day. The 43-year-old actor, producer and former rapper was born and raised in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts to parents John Wahlberg and Donna Durkovic-Wahlberg. Though he didn’t grow up with any siblings, he did have many close friends who all helped him as he grew up in the city’s tough neighborhoods and tough situations… Mark Wahlberg as Father Stuart ‘Stu’ Long
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The Story Behind the Film
Mark Wahlberg’s character, Father Stuart Stu Long, is based on a real person. But when The Fighter first hit theaters in 2011, it was unclear whether anyone involved in its creation knew that fact. In 2010, Boston Globe reporter Patrice O’Shaughnessy penned an exposé on Stu Silvia—the man who acted as Mark Wahlberg’s inspiration for his Oscar-nominated role in The Fighter.
How an Actor’s Real Life Is Connected to His Character
Mark Wahlberg is known for playing emotionally complex characters onscreen, but his latest role in The Gambler may be more reflective of his own life than most. He stars as Father Stu Long, a recovering gambler who attempts to dissuade college professor Jim Bennett (played by co-star Jessica Lange) from getting involved with gambling again.
Writer/Director Paul Haggis’s Connection to the Film
Paul Haggis, writer and director of Crash, has a personal connection to his new film. His father was Catholic priest Stuart Stu Haggis—the model for Father Long in Crash. Paul spent a lot of time around church and faith as a kid, but stopped practicing Catholicism in college.
Casting Decisions
Mark Wahlberg was cast because director Peter Berg was impressed with his performance in The Fighter, in which he played real-life boxer Micky Ward. Two of Ward’s brothers, who are actual firefighters, were also cast for their roles as firemen. Robert John Burke, who plays Thomas Red Westaway, actually lost his house to a fire during filming and suffered minor injuries himself.
The Cast Discusses Their Characters and Experience Making the Film
Tom Hooper, writer and director of The King’s Speech, sat down with Kate Winslet, Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth and Mark Wahlberg to discuss making their film. This is their own perspective on playing these characters and shooting their scenes in London. They describe why they connected with each character’s struggles and relate what it was like working on set together.
My Thoughts on the Film Mark Wahlberg as Father Stuart ‘Stu’ Long
Absolutely loved it! As a film, it was able to balance both drama and humor in a way that is rare for a faith-based film. Each actor brought something special to their role, from Eugene Levy’s supporting role as Pastor Dave’s father to Mark Wahlberg and Rosemarie DeWitt’s on-screen chemistry. And even though Kirk Cameron is no longer relevant (in my opinion), he was still great in his role. Definitely worth watching – you won’t regret it! 5/5 stars.
Jacki Weaver as Kathleen Long “Father Stu”
I’ve known a lot of Fathers over my life, Stu and your dad have always been real close. I don’t know if they talk much anymore, but they go way back. Your dad’s like a brother to me and it’s no secret that he loves you very much. I guess it’s safe to say that in your heart of hearts you love him too. You’re lucky to have someone who cares so much about you, who will be there for you through thick and thin. You need someone like that in your life right now because things are about to get pretty tough. I’m not saying what happened was right or wrong; we all make mistakes, but at some point when it comes time for forgiveness you might want to think about giving it a shot…for his sake as well as yours.
Mel Gibson as Bill Long “Father Stu”
Throughout most of The Departed, Bill is nothing more than a memory. He’s dead, after all, and exists only in flashbacks and stilted conversations between Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon). But because he’s such an integral part of every other character’s story arc—especially Costigan’s—his presence lingers. In fact, it lingers so long that his apparition finally comes to life: Enter Mark Wahlberg as Stu Long, ex-convict father to reformed bad boy Billy Costigan.
Teresa Ruiz as Carmen “Father Stu”
Ruiz continued a trend of casting minority actors in religious roles. She also cast Mark Wahlberg, who is not Catholic, in a Catholic priesthood role. Although there are many more minority priests and nuns than white ones, critics felt that by giving Stu a Hispanic surname and casting Ruiz (who identifies as Afro-Latina), Ruiz was trying to be racially inclusive when she probably should have just hired an actual Hispanic actor for that role.
Cody Fern as Jacob “Father Stu”
He’s also described as a tough and no-nonsense priest. Fern is a young actor who recently had roles in The Assassination of Gianni Versace and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. He’ll also be appearing in Mute, Duncan Jones’s upcoming sci-fi film starring Alexander Skarsgård, but he’s not exactly a household name. On paper, he definitely looks like an interesting choice for David Lynch given his previous roles, and there’s nothing on his Instagram to suggest he can’t do a convincing southern accent either; we’re eager to see how it all comes together. Hopefully soon.
Malcolm McDowell as Monsignor Kelly “Father Stu”
Malcolm McDowell (born Malcolm John Taylor; 13 June 1943) is an English actor with a career spanning over forty years. He is best known for his roles in If… (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), O Lucky Man! (1973), Caligula (1979), Time After Time (1979), Star Trek Generations (1994) and The Artist (2011). He also narrated George Lucas’s 1973 film American Graffiti, provided narration for several commercials including those for MasterCard and Snickers, and appeared on a large number of television shows including Coronation Street and Doctor Who.
Niko Nicotera as Barfly “Father Stu”
After a woman is killed in a hit-and-run, police officer Tom Mullen (Dwayne Johnson) takes her father, John Goode (Jack Nicholson), to see Father Stu — also known as Mark Wahlberg. Though he was disbarred years ago, Stu has developed a reputation for being able to reach out to lost souls and lead them away from a life of crime. But will he be able to redeem violent gangster Bob Saginowski (Peter Berg) and his ruthless crew? Or is there another method that could keep Stu’s client alive? Watch ahead for details about Peter Berg’s action film The Irishman.
did jacki weaver play in poltergeist ?
Indeed, she did! And when I tell you she was in Poltergeist, I mean she was actually in it. You see, Mrs. Weaver played Diane Freeling and her two children, Dana and Robbie (played by Heather O’Rourke and Oliver Robins), were in peril from evil spirits during a full-on haunting by a rather scary family of supernatural intruders.
Who played Carmen in Father Stu?
Nina Dobrev played Carmen in `Father Stu`. She was, and remains, one of Canada’s best-known actresses. Dobrev is also known for her performance on hit series such as The Vampire Diaries (2009) and Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001). Born in Sofia, Bulgaria to a family of celebrities – including her father, film director Dobrin Dobrev – she moved to Toronto with her parents at age seven and graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
