BLUE BLOODS star Donnie Wahlberg took on a special role in his stepson’s life after his father left him.
When the BLUE BLOODS actor married Jenny McCarthy, he developed a close father-son relationship with her son, Evan Asher, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age.
“One Christmas, early on, Donnie handed me one of the greatest gifts ever, which was…that he was taking care of Evan’s college tuition,” McCarthy said of Wahlberg’s love for her son.
“I knew who I was marrying, but what was surprising to me was how much Evan appreciated it and loved it so much,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “I think Donnie coming in, he had a sense of security that he’d never seen before.”
Evan began having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 2½. “He was given anti-seizure medication, but McCarthy was still worried. In 2005, she took her son to a neurologist for a second opinion. There, he was diagnosed with autism,” PEOPLE reported.
“I know why God gave me Evan. He is a wonderful teacher and an inspiration to the world,” McCarthy said during a 2008 appearance on Oprah. “It made me who I am today.”
Wahlberg shares sons Xavier Alexander and Elijah Hendrix with ex-wife Kimberly Fey. He previously spoke about how Evan adds to his fatherhood experience:
One of the interesting things about us as parents is my son is super intellectual and very reserved. So he’s not the, ‘Hey, dad. Let’s go out and play,’ or, ‘I love you, dad.’ He’s not that type. But he can carry on a great conversation. Where Jenny’s son is super affectionate, will tell you exactly how he feels. He’s not reserved, but he’s not the intellectual type. So we’ve come into each other’s lives and our kids sort of, we connect with our kids in ways that we haven’t connected with our own. So with Evan, Jenny’s son, I get all this amazing ways to connect with him that I don’t get with my son
Today, Evan is 22 years old and aspires to become a writer and filmmaker. In a sweet post for his birthday back in May, McCarthy said, “Happy birthday to my sweet son @evanjasher I’m so proud of the man you’ve grown up to become. You bring so much love and light wherever you go. Happy birthday. Love you buddy.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Wahlberg:
Donnie Wahlberg recently offered words of support from the Bible to those struggling with anxiety via social media.
“There is one phrase in the Bible that’s repeated 365 times. Do you know what it is? ‘Do not be afraid!’ the audio over Wahlberg’s Instagram video said.
“To whomever is struggling with fear today, I know a 15-second reel may not change your life,” he wrote in the caption. “I also know that it’s not easy to live without fear, worry or anxiety.”
Wahlberg explained that overcoming anxiety has been “something that I’ve worked on, and continue to work on, every single day since I was an anxiety riddled little kid.”
“That said,” the BLUE BLOODS actor continued, “If this reel can give you a little boost, a little bit of hope or even ease your worry for a brief 15 seconds — then it’s worth me sharing! Hang in there! You will make it through — you always do! Sending love your way.”
