Philip Andre “Mickey” Rourke, Jr was born in 1952 in Schenectady, New York in the United States. He’s an established Hollywood actor. He made his debut on the silver screen in the film 1941 (which was directed by Steven Spielberg) in 1979. Since then he’s starred in numerous other films, including Body Heat (which also starred William Hurt and Kathleen Turner) in 1981, Diner (which also featured appearances by Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg, Footloose star Kevin Bacon and Home Alone star Daniel Stern) in 1982, The Year of the Dragon in 1985, 9½ Weeks in 1986, Angel Heart (which featured an appearance by Robert De Niro) in 1987, Wild Orchid in 1990, Harley Davidson and The Marlborlo Man in 1991, The Rainmaker (which was directed by Francis Ford Copola) in 1997, Once Upon A Time in Mexico (which also starred Johnny Depp) in 2003, Sin City (which had an all-star cast including the likes of Bruce Willis, Brittany Murphy, Jessica Alba and others) and Domino (which also starred Keira Knightley) in 2005, The Wrestler in 2008 and various other films. Besides being a brilliant actor, Mickey Rourke also had a boxing career between 1991 and 1995. He’s been cast for roles in Sin City 2 (sequel to the 2005 film) and Iron Man 2 which is due to be released later in 2010.
Here are a few quotes out of the mouth of Mickey Rourke:
“A couple of guys won Academy Awards for the things that I turned down. Today, after coming to terms with everything, after being in therapy for a long time-there are areas where I will compromise.”
“All I am hoping for is to be able to work – I think my best work is still ahead of me – I think all that I have been through in the last several years have only made me a better, more interesting actor.”
“I always knew I’d accomplish something very special – like robbing a bank perhaps.”
“I had a bonding problem when I went off and boxed for five years. I was over in Europe and Asia fighting because I wanted to do something different; I was tired of acting. But the thing is, when I was done doing that, I couldn’t get a job.”
“Years ago I realized that maybe I made mistake, politically, when I turned a lot of that stuff down. I would go off to obscure places and make movies that six people went to see.”
“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 Mary`s. 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.”
“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.”
“You know the song, “I Fought the Law and the Law Won”? Well, I fought the system and it kicked the living shit out of me!”
“I’ll never be mellow, OK? I’d rather be dead than mellow. You might as well take me out the back and shoot me in the back of the head before I’m going to be mellow.”
“Cate Blanchett is an actress. Paris Hilton is not.”
“As long as I can work with people I’m excited about working with, it will be okay. I just can’t work for the paycheck.”
“Who do I share the good things happening to me with? My dogs, I guess.”
Related Links:
Mickey Rourke – Internet Movie Database
Mickey Rourke Online – Fansite
Mickey Rourke – Official Website
Mickey Rourke is one of the finest living actors of our times. He may have hit some bumps in the road, but I think he has finally hit his stride. He was probably disillusioned with the superficiality in Hollywood years ago. He is a conflicted person. I don’t know him personally. However, because I am a fan of his work, I have read enough interviews with him to gauge why he may be the way he is. He is extremely artistic, yet yearns to hang around more grounded, dare I say, less artistic and less pretentious people? He oozes talent, but is so unpretentious about it. It’s like he wants to hang out with people who are as talented as he is, but are a bit less conceited about it. I don’t know how to explain it. He seems cool to me. I am almost 20 years junior, happily married, and have a crush on him. He rocks! God bless Mickey Rourke, and God bless America!
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