Mickey Rourke is a New York–born American actor and screenwriter who starred in some of Hollywood’s most memorable action and thriller films, including Sin City, Iron Man II, and 13. He achieved critical acclaim for portraying the American wrestler Robin Ramzinski in The Wrestler, a role that earned him the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Academy Award nomination in 2009. In addition to acting, Rourke was also an award-winning professional boxer during the 1990s.

Mickey Rourke, born Philip Andre Rourke Jr., came into the world on September 16, 1952, in Schenectady, New York. After his parents divorced when he was seven years old, he moved to Florida with his mother, where he grew up with his sister and stepfather. From an early age, Rourke was drawn to sports, particularly boxing. At the age of twelve, he won his first boxing match, and between 1964 and 1972, he competed in twenty-six bouts, winning twenty of them.

In 1971, after suffering an injury during a match in Florida, doctors advised him to stop boxing. That same year, while still attending Miami Beach Senior High School, he participated in a school play titled The Serpent, marking his first experience with acting and igniting his interest in performance.

Rourke made his cinematic debut in 1979 with a small role in Steven Spielberg’s wartime comedy 1941. Over the next several years, he steadily developed his acting skills, gaining widespread fame in 1986 with the erotic drama 9½ Weeks, in which he starred opposite Kim Basinger. The film turned him into an international sex symbol and was followed by acclaimed performances in Barfly, Angel Heart, and Year of the Dragon.

Despite his rising success, personal struggles involving alcohol, drugs, and a turbulent private life began to overshadow his career. In 1991, Rourke announced that he was leaving acting and returned to professional boxing. Between 1991 and 1994, he fought competitively, but repeated injuries forced him to retire. Severe facial injuries led to reconstructive surgery, which was unsuccessful and resulted in permanent changes to his appearance.

In the late 1990s, Rourke returned to acting but struggled to regain his former status. During this period, his most notable films included Bullet, Double Team, and Animal Factory. His major comeback came with Sin City, adapted from Frank Miller’s graphic novel and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Sharing the screen with Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, and Jessica Alba, Rourke’s performance earned him multiple critics’ awards, including Saturn and Chicago Film Critics honors.

Following Sin City, Rourke appeared in Domino (2005) and Stormbreaker (2006). His career reached a new pinnacle in 2008 with The Wrestler, where he portrayed a washed-up professional wrestler seeking redemption. The role earned him thirteen major awards, including a Golden Globe, and secured his place in the IMDb Top 250 films list.

Afterward, he continued appearing in high-profile productions such as Iron Man II, 13, and the ensemble action film The Expendables, where he acted alongside Jet Li, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis.

Rourke has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Debra Feuer in 1981, ending in divorce in 1989 after the completion of 9½ Weeks. He later married supermodel Carré Otis in 1992; the marriage ended in 1998.

Source: Biyografiler.com