In the 2013 crime thriller Broken City, directed by Allen Hughes, Mark Wahlberg plays Billy Taggart, a former cop turned private detective whose journey through corruption and intrigue drives the film’s narrative. Billy Taggart is a character defined by his moral ambiguity, personal demons, and struggle for redemption amidst the murky world of political corruption. His complex character adds depth to the film’s exploration of power, betrayal, and justice.

Billy Taggart is introduced as a disillusioned private detective who is grappling with the fallout from his past mistakes. Once a promising officer in the New York City Police Department, Taggart’s career was derailed by a controversial shooting incident that led to his dismissal. Now working as a private investigator, he is haunted by his past and struggling to rebuild his life. The film’s narrative is set in motion when Taggart is hired by the city’s ambitious mayor, Nicholas Hostetler, played by Russell Crowe, to investigate his wife’s suspected infidelity.