Mickey Rourke Net Worth

What is Mickey Rourke's Net Worth and Salary?

Mickey Rourke is an American actor who has a net worth of $5 million. Mickey Rourke emerged as a promising actor in the 1980s with acclaimed performances in films like "Diner" (1982) and "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (1984). Rourke's brooding intensity and rugged good looks made him a rising star, with notable roles in "9½ Weeks" (1986) and "Angel Heart" (1987).

However, his career took a downturn in the early 1990s due to difficult behavior on set and poor role choices. Rourke left acting to pursue a professional boxing career, which altered his appearance and further impacted his Hollywood prospects.

After years in relative obscurity, Rourke made a remarkable comeback with his Oscar-nominated performance in "The Wrestler" (2008). This role reignited his career, leading to parts in high-profile films like "Iron Man 2" (2010) and "The Expendables" (2010).

Early Life

Philip Andre Rourke Jr. was born on September 16th, 1952, in Schenectady, New York. Rourke was raised in a Catholic household, which had a strong impact on his later life. To this day, Rourke practices Catholicism and has been described as "a good Catholic" by his peers. When Mickey was just six, his father left the family. His mother initially raised Rourke and his siblings alone but later remarried and moved the entire family to South Florida. In 1971, Mickey Rourke graduated from high school in Miami.

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Boxing Career

Mickey Rourke was very athletic in his teen years and began amateur boxing at the age of 12. From age 14 to 25, Mickey Rourke had a record of 27 wins and three defeats, although he suffered numerous concussions.

Acting Career

Rourke began with small roles in films like "1941" and "Heaven's Gate" before gaining critical attention in the 1981 film "Body Heat." His breakthrough came with his intense performance in "Diner" (1982), where his natural charisma and raw talent captivated audiences and critics alike.

Throughout the 1980s, Rourke solidified his status as a leading man with memorable performances in films such as "Rumble Fish" (1983), "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (1984), and "Year of the Dragon" (1985). His work in the erotic drama "9½ Weeks" (1986) with Kim Basinger further cemented his reputation as a Hollywood sex symbol, while his roles in "Angel Heart" (1987) and "Barfly" (1987) showcased his exceptional range as an actor.

Despite his rising star, the late 1980s and early 1990s marked a turbulent period for Rourke. Frustrated with Hollywood and his career trajectory, he made the shocking decision to leave acting and pursue professional boxing in 1991. This unusual career shift resulted in facial injuries that dramatically altered his appearance and would later require extensive reconstructive surgery.

During his boxing hiatus and the years that followed, Rourke's film appearances became sporadic and often limited to supporting roles in films that failed to match his earlier success. His career seemed to languish in direct-to-video projects, with occasional glimpses of his former brilliance in films like "The Rainmaker" (1997) and "Buffalo '66" (1998).

Rourke's remarkable comeback began taking shape in the early 2000s with roles in films such as "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and "Man on Fire." The turning point came in 2005 with his portrayal of Marv in Robert Rodriguez's "Sin City," where his physically imposing presence and gravelly voice perfectly matched the noir aesthetics of the film.

His career resurrection reached its apex with his Oscar-nominated performance in Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" (2008). Playing Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a washed-up professional wrestler fighting for one last moment of glory, Rourke delivered a raw, vulnerable performance that many critics saw as semi-autobiographical. The role earned him a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, cementing his return to Hollywood's elite circle.

Post-"Wrestler," Rourke has continued working steadily, appearing in blockbusters like "Iron Man 2" (2010) as villain Ivan Vanko and continuing his collaboration with Rodriguez in "Machete" (2010) and "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" (2014). While not all his recent projects have reached the heights of "The Wrestler," Rourke remains a compelling screen presence who brings intensity and authenticity to his roles.

Relationships

Mickey Rourke's first marriage was to Debbie Feuer in 1981. The pair met while filming "Hardcase," and later both appeared in "Homeboy." They divorced in 1989, although they remained good friends afterward. Mickey Rourke attributed the failure of the relationship in part to his role in "9 ½ Weeks."

Mickey Rourke appeared alongside Carre Otis in 1989's "Wild Orchid" (which allegedly contained an unsimulated sex scene between the two). Mickey and Carre married in 1992. Two years later, Rourke was arrested on charges of spousal abuse, although these were later dropped. The couple later made amends and starred together in the film "Exit In Red." Ultimately, their marriage ended in 1998.

Mickey Rourke has dated a range of female celebrities over the years. These include Terry Farrell, Sasha Volkova, Courtney Love, and Bai Ling. From 2009 to 2015, Mickey Rourke was in a long-term relationship with Anastassija Makarenko.

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Personal Life & Politics

Mickey Rourke has gone through several rough patches in his career, and he has admitted to suffering from various mental health issues prior to his comeback into the acting world. He stated that he got through these rough times with support from his agent, his psychiatrist, and a Catholic priest.

Mickey Rourke is famous for his activism and his outspoken political views. In 1989, Mickey Rourke donated most of his roughly $2 million salary to organizations supporting Joe Doherty, a member of the IRA who had taken part in an attack against British forces. Rourke has expressed support and admiration for George W. Bush over the years, especially in regard to his handling of the war in Iraq.

In 2014, Mickey Rourke purchased a t-shirt with the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He later explained his actions by stating he had met the president previously and admired him. In 2015, Mickey Rourke supported Ben Carson as the Republican nominee and denounced Donald Trump. He later called Trump a "garbage can president," among other things.

Mickey Rourke is a passionate dog lover, and he prefers small breeds. Over the course of his life, Rourke has owned five chihuahuas.

Arrests

Mickey Rourke has been arrested on a number of occasions. In addition to his arrest in 1994 (which he resisted), Rourke was arrested for a DUI in 2007 in Miami Beach. In 2014, he was arrested again – this time for a DUI while riding a Vespa.

Endorsements

Over the years, Mickey Rourke has increased his net worth with a number of brand endorsements. In the early 90s, Mickey Rourke appeared in Japanese commercials for Suntory Reserve and Daihatsu. During this period, he also appeared in commercials for Lark cigarettes. In 2010, Mickey Rourke promoted Bavaria Beer in another commercial.

Real Estate

Mickey Rourke's real estate investments (if any) are not widely known. However, he is known to rent various apartments. In 2011, it was reported that Rourke was moving out of a 5,000-square-foot Manhattan apartment for a smaller rental apartment. The apartment he previously rented allegedly cost almost $20,000 per month, whereas the smaller apartment he then chose cost $13,500 per month.

In 2014, it was reported that Rourke was on the hunt for another rental property, and he was allegedly choosing between options in the ballpark of $10,000 per month. Eventually, he signed an 18-month lease and moved into a Tribeca apartment. In 2017, Rourke's landlord sued him for unpaid rent and damages. He allegedly stopped paying rent two months before the lease expired, leaving him with $30,000 of rent debt. Rourke was also charged with $10,000 worth of damages to the apartment. These included holes left in the walls, a damaged bathtub, a broken lock for the front door, and the unauthorized installation of "disco lights" on the ceiling.

This wasn't the first time Rourke had been at the forefront of such issues. In 1994, he was ejected from the Donald Trump Plaza Hotel for causing serious damage to the Central Park Suite. Allegedly, Rourke broke $20,000 worth of furniture in the $5,000-per-night suite.

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