Many actors who started their careers decades ago are still acting, but some of them got bored with the popularity and decided to go the other way.
Mickey Rourke, once considered one of the most attractive actors of his time, turned the other way and faced no small difficulties. Luckily, Mickey is doing much better these days.
In the early 80s, Mickey was considered one of the most attractive Hollywood actors. He acted in such films as The Diner (1982), Rumble Fish (1983)
and The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), where he shone and attracted everyone’s attention. Thanks to
the charm and charm, Mickey fell in love with many women. However, his fame as a heartthrob was short-lived.
Over the next decade, the actor often shared his struggles with popularity and talked about his disdain for the industry.
In a 1992 interview, he admitted, ‘You know you belong to the studio and to the community. So in eight years you gradually lose yourself.’
Mickey wanted to take a different direction…
In 1991, Rourke made the decision to turn his career around 180 degrees. He remembered one of his first passions in life boxing,
and felt the need to return to this sport. Boxing became a kind of protection for him, a way to escape from the pressures of Hollywood.
Within a few years of entering the ring, Rourke faced huge setbacks that cost him his career. During the performances,
he received numerous injuries. Mickey was even warned that he would face permanent brain damage if he continued to box.
Fans couldn’t help but notice the change in Rourke’s appearance. In some scenes of the film ‘Wild Orchid’,
the actor’s swollen cheeks caused the audience to suspect that he had implants. Mickey denied these claims and
explained that the swelling was caused by unexpected side effects after dental surgery, but fans still had questions for the idol.
In the 1990s, Mickey’s reputation changed dramatically. Instead of a promising young talent, he became a tragic figure and had difficulty finding work.
‘About 10 years ago, my career was moving in the right direction,’ he said. ‘But then I stopped liking the business, I didn’t like myself anymore.
I was slowly destroying myself from within.It seemed to me that I no longer belonged to myself and felt some kind of guilt for having succeeded in cinema.
In 2009, Mickey shared that he had undergone unsuccessful facial surgery. He admitted: ‘I did it mainly to correct the consequences of entering the boxing ring, but I got a bad surgeon.’
After the success of the film “The Wrestler” and the nomination for the ‘Oscar’ Mickey Rourke triumphantly returned to the cinema. But, unfortunately,
the difficulties of the actor did not end. He was disappointed after his role in the superhero film Iron Man 2.
Rourke stated that most of his work was left behind the scenes. Mickey took on other projects solely for financial reasons.
Job offers became less and less frequent. Yes, and the appearance of Mickey did not make it easier to find the right role for him.
In 2017, he shared a photo on social media and captioned it like this: ‘Now I’m beautiful again. There is one more left.’ This was probably how Rourke hinted at his last surgical operation.
The fate of Mickey Rourke, who went from a popular Hollywood actor to a man filled only with regrets,
is an example of the risks that fame brings, as well as the consequences of choosing based on dissatisfaction with oneself.
Against all odds, Mickey’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to get back on track.