Donnie Wahlbergs The Sixth Sense Role, Explained

Donnie Wahlberg's role in The Sixth Sense was a brief but unforgettable part of the horror movie. The singer and actor has played a handful of movie and TV characters and shared his personal life in two reality series, allowing a behind-the-scenes look at running a fast food franchise with his brothers in Wahlburgers and his relationship with Jennie McCarthy on Donnie Loves Jenny. M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense is famous for its twist in the last moments of the movie, which connects back to Wahlberg's small role as Vincent Grey.

After joining the New Kids on the Block in 1984, Wahlberg appeared in several movies throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including playing Chollo in Bullfighter and the intelligent Detective Eric Matthews in the Saw franchise. He has also taken on many long-term TV detective and police characters, including Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods and Joel Stevens on Boomtown. Wahlberg's role in The Sixth Sense is significant and has a big impact on the story.

Donnie Walhberg Played Vincent Gray In The Sixth Sense

Vincent Kicks Off The Movie And Sets Up The Final Twist

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Donnie Wahlberg played Vincent Gray in The Sixth Sense, and his backstory with Malcolm is key to the twist ending that is one of the most discussed within the horror and thriller genre. Vincent began working with Malcolm as a child and shared that he saw ghosts, which echoes Cole's predicament. Vincent appears in the opening scene and shoots Malcolm in his home and then himself.

The Sixth Sense ending reveals that Malcolm has been dead the entire time and his former patient is the one who killed him. Vincent is a lonely, sympathetic character who has been haunted by his situation for decades. While Wahlberg's appearance is brief, his character has a profound effect on Malcolm, who is distraught that he couldn't protect his patient from harm.

Vincent shares his frustration that Malcolm didn't stop him from seeing ghosts and he is tired of being told that something is wrong with him. Wahlberg's performance is strong, showing Vincent's vulnerability and fear, and the movie paints a picture of mental health struggles through his character.

Wahlberg Went On An Intense Diet For The Role

The Actor Committed To The Physical Portrayal Of The Troubled Character

Donnie Wahlberg was drawn to the Sixth Sense script right away and was more than willing to commit to the small role. Similar to several other actors who lost weight for movie roles, Wahlberg managed to lose 43 pounds to play Vincent. According to USA Today, the actor wanted to look "emaciated" as Vincent misused several substances and began living away from his family in a New York City apartment. He said:

"I would fast for two days then only eat steamed cabbage and drink beet juice... I didn’t shower for weeks. I just wasn’t taking care of myself and I was a loner... I definitely had to suffer in the only way I could. "

Although Wahlberg went to extreme (and dangerous) methods to get into character, his empathy for Vincent proves that he was the right person to take on the role. He seemed to completely understand the struggles the character was facing, and used these emotions to help elevate his (and his colleagues') performances.

The Sixth Sense Is Donnie Wahlberg's Most Memorable Role

The Sixth Sense Allowed Wahlberg's Talents To Shine

Though Donnie Wahlberg has starred in many movies and television shows before and after his role in The Sixth Sense, his brief appearance as Vincent Grey in the movie remains his most memorable role. But younger horror fans might better know him as Eric Matthews in the Saw movie franchise. Wahlberg first appeared in Saw II and made several appearances in some of the sequels that followed. He also starred alongside Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in the crime movie Righteous Kill.

Donnie Wahlberg's Most Memorable Roles:

In television, Wahlberg found other roles that have brought him plenty of fans. His longest-lasting role to date has been as Daniel "Danny" Fitzgerald Reagan on the police procedural series Blue Bloods. But if there is Wahlberg one role that might compete with The Sixth Sense in terms of popularity and acclaim, it's his performance as Carwood Lipton, a key member of Easy Company, in the acclaimed miniseries Band of Brothers.

While all of those roles gave Wahlberg more screentime than he has in The Sixth Sense, Vincent Grey remains both his most memorable and most impressive. Wahlberg has often gravitated to playing tough-guy roles, often cops. Even a more layered character like Lipton in Band of Brothers only requires the similar stoic performance Wahlberg is known for. However, The Sixth Sense allowed him to show a different side of his talents.

The physical transformation the actor underwent is considerable, but his performance is still the most impressive aspect. Wahlberg is able to play up the chilling qualities of Vincent while also being vulnerable and sympathetic. The fact that he can add so many layers to the character in such a brief appearance makes it all the more impressive. In addition, Vincent's role in The Sixth Sense is pivotal to the story and the unforgettable reveal. It cements Wahlberg and his performance in the minds of audiences based on its huge impact on the story.

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.

Release Date August 6, 1999

Runtime 107 minutes