Mickey Rourke

Philip Andre "Mickey" Rourke Jr. ( ROORK; born September 16, 1952) is an American actor who has appeared primarily as a leading man in drama, action, and thriller films. In a film career spanning more than forty years, films in which he has appeared have grossed over $1.9 billion worldwide. Rourke's film debut was a small role in 1941 (1979), but it was his short yet powerful performance in the well-received neo-noir Body Heat (1981) that initially garnered attention of film critics, including Roger Ebert, who called it his "breakthrough role" and the "best supporting work" in the film. He then went on to win wider acclaim and a National Society of Film Critics Award for his role in Diner (1982). He subsequently established himself as a leading man, giving lauded performances in dramas such as Rumble Fish (1983), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), Year of the Dragon (1985), 9½ Weeks (1986), Angel Heart (1987), Barfly (1987), and Johnny Handsome (1989). In 1991, after some critical and commercial failures, Rourke—who trained as a boxer in his youth—left acting to pursue professional boxing. After retiring from boxing in 1994, Rourke returned to acting and had supporting roles in several films such as The Rainmaker (1997), Buffalo '66 (1998), Animal Factory (2000), The Pledge (2001), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Man on Fire (2004) and Domino (2005). In 2005, Rourke made a comeback in mainstream Hollywood circles as a leading actor in the neo-noir action thriller Sin City. His comeback culminated in his portraying aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson in the sports drama film The Wrestler (2008). For the role, Rourke won the Golden Globe Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor, and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. After this, Rourke appeared in...