To quote Mickey Rourke on himself..."I didn't have a childhood, really, because I worked my whole life and . . . other reasons. So when I had some success, I went ballistic. That was my childhood, and the party kept going on. I didn't get off my motorcycle for 10 years.I thought my talent would transcend my outspokenness. I was wrong. I'm willing to give them 100 per cent this time. I just want a second chance at Hollywood.
"I lost the house, the wife, the credibility, the entourage. I lost my soul. I was alone ... I'm sort of OK with it now, but the first time I'm in there, pushing a fucking cart, getting my supper. I used to go to the 24-hour place in gay town, so no one would recognize me. The only thing I could afford was a shrink, so that's where my money went. Three times a week for the first two years. The year after that, twice a week and now I'm down to once a week. I've only missed two appointments in six years.
9 1/2 Weeks "You get desensitized to pain and for three and a half years I developed these symptoms of brain damage - you forget what you did the night before. You have to get out when the doctors tell you to, otherwise you're on queer street for the rest of your life. One doctor said to me before a big fight, "our neurological report doesn't look too good" I was like four fights away from a big, big fight and he said, "Mickey, how much are they paying you? Look at your tests - you won't be able to count the money".
"I've talked to my priest a lot. I used to have to call him or the shrink when there was an explosion, because I was really good at not talking to anybody until there was an explosion. My priest is this cool Italian from New York. We go down to his basement and he opens the wine. We smoke a cigarette and I have my confession. He sends me upstairs to do my Hail Marys. I mean, I'm no Holy Joe, but I have a strong belief. If I wasn't Catholic I would have blown my brains out. I would pray to God. I would say, "Please, can you send me just a little bit of daylight?" He talked me out of it and we started meeting. His name is Father Pete and he lives in New York. Father Pete put me back on the right track."
Mickey Rourke was born Phillip Andre Rourke, Jr., in Schenectady, New York. As a teenager, he attended Miami Beach Senior High School, where it's not clear if he graduated or not. One thing that is clear: Rourke played second-string first baseman on the school's baseball team under coach Skip Bertman. Yet another mystery regarding his high school days is his acting career. It's reported that he took drama classes with the legendary "Teacher To The Stars," Jay W. Jensen; appearing in at least one stage play. However, a P. Rourke listed in the play's credits, could be that of his sister, Patricia Rourke, who also attended Miami Beach Senior High School. Rourke's teenage years were more aimed towards sports than acting. Raised in the tough inner city, Rourke took up self-defense training at the Boys Club of Miami. It was there he learned boxing skills, and decided on an amateur career. At the age of 12, Rourke won his first boxing match as a 118-pound bantamweight. Some of his early matches were fought as Andre Rourke. He continued his boxing training at the famed 5th Street Gym on Miami Beach, Florida; joining the Police Athletic League boxing program. In 1969, Rourke, now weighing 140lbs., sparred with former World Welterweight Champion Luis Rodriguez. Rodriguez was the number one rated middleweight boxer in the world, and was training for his match with world champion Nino Benvenuti. Rourke claims to have received a concussion in this sparring match. In 1971, at the Florida Golden Gloves, he received another concussion from a boxing match. He was told by doctors to take a year off and rest, but Rourke decided to retire from the ring. From 1968 to 1972, Mickey Rourke compiled an amateur boxing record of 20-6, with 17 knockouts. He was disqualified 4 times, and lost 2 decisions. At one point, he reportedly scored 12 consecutive first round knockouts. As an amateur, Rourke had been friendly with pro-boxer Tommy Torino. When Rourke decided to return to boxing as a professional, Torino promoted some of Rourke's fights. Rourke was trained by former pro-boxer Freddie Roach at Miami Beach's 5th Street Gym and the Outlaw Boxing Club Gym in Los Angeles. Rourke made $250 for his pro debut, but by the end of his 2nd year of boxing, he earned a million dollars. Rourke appeared on the cover of World Boxing Magazine in June 1994. He sparred with world champions James Toney, John David Jackson, and Tommy Morrison. Rourke wanted to have 16 professional fights and then fight for a world title. However, he retired after 7 bouts and never got his desired title fight. His boxing career resulted in severe facial injuries which required a number of operations to repair his damaged face.
Films of Mickey Rourke... Iron Man 2 (2010) (pre-production) (rumored) .... Ivan / Whiplash ... aka Iron Man II (International: English title: promotional title) Broken Horses (2010) (pre-production) The Expendables (2010) (pre-production) .... Emanuel Sin City 2 (2010) (pre-production) (rumored) .... Marv 13 (2010) (filming) .... Jefferson The Informers (2009) .... Peter Killshot (2008) .... Armand 'The Blackbird' Degas The Wrestler (2008) .... Randy 'The Ram' Robinson Stormbreaker (2006) .... Darrius Sayle ... aka Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker (USA) True Crime: New York City (2005) (VG) (voice) .... Terrence Higgins Domino (2005) .... Ed Moseby ... aka Domino (France) Sin City (2005) .... Marv ... aka Frank Miller's Sin City (USA: complete title) Driv3r (2004) (VG) (voice) .... Jericho Man on Fire (2004) .... Jordan Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) .... Billy Masked and Anonymous (2003) .... Edmund Spun (Unrated Version) (2002) .... The Cook Picture Claire (2001) .... Eddie The Follow (2001) .... Husband ... aka The Hire: The Follow (USA: series title) They Crawl (2001) .... Tiny Frakes ... aka Crawlers (USA) The Pledge (2001) .... Jim Olstad Get Carter (2000) .... Cyrus Paice Animal Factory (2000) .... Jan the Actress Shades (1999) .... Paul S. Sullivan Out in Fifty (1999) .... Jack Bracken Shergar (1999) .... Gavin O'Rourke Cousin Joey (1999) Thursday (1998) .... Kasarov Thicker Than Blood (1998) (TV) .... Father Frank Larkin Point Blank (1998) .... Rudy Ray Buffalo '66 (1998) .... The Bookie The Rainmaker (1997) .... Bruiser Stone ... aka John Grisham's The Rainmaker (USA: complete title) Love in Paris (1997) .... John Gray ... aka Another 9 1/2 Weeks (video title) Double Team (1997) .... Stavros ... aka The Colony Exit in Red (1996) .... Ed Altman Bullet (1996) .... Butch 'Bullet' Stein Fall Time (1995) .... Florence F.T.W. (1994) .... Frank T. Wells ... aka Last Ride The Last Outlaw (1993) (TV) .... Graff White Sands (1992) .... Gorman Lennox Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) .... Harley Davidson Desperate Hours (1990) .... Michael Bosworth Wild Orchid (1989) .... James Wheeler Johnny Handsome (1989) .... John Sedley a.ka. Johnny Handsome / Johnny Mitchell Francesco (1989) .... Francesco ... aka St. Francis of Assisi Homeboy (1988) .... Johnny Walker A Prayer for the Dying (1987) .... Martin Fallon Barfly (1987) .... Henry Chinaski Angel Heart (Special Edition) (1987) .... Harry Angel ... aka Aux portes de l'enfer (Canada: French title) 9 1/2 Weeks (1986) .... John Year of the Dragon (1985) .... Capt. Stanley White The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) .... Charlie ... aka Village Dreams (Europe: English title) Rumble Fish (Special Edition) (1983) .... The Motorcycle Boy Eureka (1983) .... Aurelio D'Amato Diner (1982) .... Robert 'Boogie' Sheftell Hardcase (1981) (TV) .... Perk Dawson Body Heat (1981) .... Teddy Lewis Heaven's Gate (1980) .... Nick Ray ... aka Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (USA: complete title) Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case (1980) (TV) .... John Rideout Fade to Black (1980) .... Richie Act of Love (1980) (TV) .... Joseph Cybulkowski City in Fear (1980) (TV) .... Tony Pate 1941 (1979) .... Pvt. Reese
(1987) .... Harry Angel
