Published by sophieb17

Hollywood bad boy, Mickey Rourke was born in New York, 1956. He later lived in Liberty City, a deprived area of Miami, and it was here that he began a career in boxing. Good looking in a rugged, sullen kind of way, Rourke decided to try his hand at acting, and returned to New York to train under the direction of Sandra Seacat.

He hit the big screen as the ruthless arsonist in 'Body Heat' (1981) and continued to make a name for himself in 'Diner' (1982), 'The Pope of Greenwich Village' (1984) and 'The Year of the Dragon' (1985). However, it was his performance as John, in the steamy 'Nine 1/2 Weeks' (1986) opposite Kim Basinger, which shot his star status into orbit. Adrian Lyne's film was so successful that, in some countries (including France) it played in the cinema for over two years, but Rourke's most critically acclaimed role was as Henry Chinasky, alcoholic poet in 'Barfly' (1987), for which he received an Oscar recommendation.

Unfortunately, Rourke subsequently made some terrible film choices; 'Wild Orchid' (1991), 'Harley Davidson & The Marlboro Man' (1991) and quit acting to return to the boxing ring. As a 39 year-old pro boxer, he was unbeaten in eleven consecutive fights. He threw in the towel in 1995 after he being beaten to a pulp in Japan. His sporting injuries were so severe that Rourke underwent reconstructive surgery to mend a shattered jaw.

After time out, wife abuse allegations and therapy, Rourke returned to Hollywood. He has since been seen in 'Rainmaker' (1997), 'Get Carter' (2000), 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico' (2003) and 'Man on Fire' (2004). Trivia - Mickey Rourke owns a gym in West Hollwood called Shapiro. He also starred in Enrique Iglesias' video 'Hero'.

On his return to Hollwood, Rourke was known about town as 'ugly'... Might this have influenced his new surgically enhanced appearance?