I don’t know what I love most about these Mickey Rourke photos. Is it that Rourke is barely recognizable these days? Is it the fact that he’s wearing too-tight capri leggings and he’s not even going to the gym? Is it the bulge? Or is it the tiny little dog being carried like a clutch? I don’t even know. These photos are of Rourke over the summer, where he was spotted often in LA, carrying around his little dog Ronaldo. Mickey Rourke has long had affection for tiny little dogs. Several years ago, his favorite animal was a little Chihuahua named Beau Jack, and Rourke has long credited Beau Jack and his other dogs with “saving” him from himself. Rourke talked about it more at a screening over the weekend:
Mickey Rourke owes his life to one of his beloved dogs. The “Wrestler” star, 63, on Sunday night attended the LA screening of the documentary film “Eating Happiness,” where he opened up about how important his six pooches are to him.
“I was going through a really rough time,” he told reporters. “I was hurting myself and I was sitting in the closet one day. I couldn’t take it anymore and picked up a gun.”
Becoming visibly emotional, the actor continued: “I was deciding what part of my head to put it on and my dog, Beau Jack, he [cried] and I looked over and he looked up at me like this and … he said [with his eyes], ‘Who’s going to look after me?’ And it made me put the gun down. I was ready to go.”
The former professional boxer — who has spoken about struggling with drugs and alcohol — found comfort in his canine friends, admitting, “I get along better with dogs than I do with people.”
Rourke has been a troubled person for a long time. I can believe that his dogs “saved” him and they are his best friends and his whole world. Even though Rourke has major issues – issues that I cannot really forgive – I think his dogs are some kind of therapy for him and they likely make him a better person overall. Plus, Ronaldo is AMAZING.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Lord, his face. I just don’t understand it.
I don’t either. I don’t see how he can have a much larger nose than he started out with! He looks like he’s wearing the fake nose that comes with sunglasses. Hmmm…. he is always wearing glasses.
I feel bad for him, for what he has done to himself.
I’d feel bad for him if he wasn’t such an awful person. There’s a reason why this man only had a dog to worry about him.
I’d say he’s more damaged than awful. He was badly abused himself as a child, some people never overcome childhood trauma and repeat the cycle. He’s pretty much kept to himself these days and lives a life of solitude, except for his dogs.
I would also argue that at least he owns his stuff.. most people don’t.
He crossed from damaged to awful when he started abusing other people. He is a truly awful guy.
Tammy, he’s WAY past the age where his behaviour could’ve been excused by a rough childhood.
And he used to be so HOT
Just wanted to take this opportunity to send hugs to anyone who has/suffers from depression or suicidal feelings. We’re not alone, even if we don’t all have adorable dogs.
Same. I read this last night on another site and cried. I’ve come so close to suicide myself and thanks to awesome friends, family, therapy and my pets I pulled thru. However depression is an ongoing struggle and I admire him so much for telling his story.
Thankyou.
He does seem to really love his dogs.
ha ha that little dog is everything. The expression on his face is amazing
It is. Dogs are the best thing in the world!
I agree , dogs are the best! I was touched by this post. My dogs ( over the years, some now gone to Rainbow Bridge) have saved me from many a thing…
They have saved others as well…
I wouldnt have recognized him, without you saying who it is! I understand his live for dogs because they love you unconditionally, unlike fickle humans.
I get what he says completely. My beloved dachshund kept me alive too. I hadn’t even consider suicide until he died. Not that his death was a reason, I have been depressed for years before that, but him being alive, being always there and needing love and care suppressed my suicide thoughts. But then he died and I moved away, I was alone and didn’t feel like I’m needed anymore and that now was the time I could go without any damage. That no one would care or miss me. I was like he says – liking animals more than humans, but then something happened, which made me realize that there are some humans who need me too, like my parents and I try to live for them. Although I still have some worse days when I’m close to returning to that deep black hole, especially considering that all those people who love me live in another country and I will have to spend Christmas all alone.
*sending hugs and lots of sunshine*
Hugs to you….maybe you could consider doing something enjoyable, like volunteer in an animal shelter, and through this you would also be around people who share your interest and are probably very nice? Being alone doesn’t help anyone suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, but meeting a few safe people could be a step closer to feeling better.
Foster a dog. You nurse them back to health, get to know them and find them a forever home, plus some/most? foundations where I live pay for everything. It’s been lifechanging for me, and I met lots of people.
He told the same story on a Barbara Walters special a few years ago. Little Beau Jack passed away right after Rourke had his success with “The Wrestler” At that time Mickey said Beau had saved his life, and realized (as he was an older dog) that it was ok to “go”. I cried watching that segment of the special.
Yep, this is old news.
His love for his dogs is touching. His beating of women is not. I feel sorry for anyone who suffers from depression, but taking it out on another human being is inexcusable. I hope he has gotten some help for his violent anger issues.
@GNAT Yes, the close bond with his dogs mixed with long-standing body dysmorphia and abusive anger had me curious…. I just googled him and he finally realized he had issues to face, and sought help from both a priest and regular therapy to deal with extreme childhood abuse.
He credits his dogs with forcing him to “man up” in a good way, to be responsible and take care of them, and stop behaviors that weren’t healthy. I think it’s sweet he has a family of small rescues, who rescued him as much as he rescued them. Sad how messed up some parents leave their kids, who become abusive adults, etc.
GNAT, he didn’t beat his partner because of depression.
Beautiful, beautiful dog. Does anybody recognize the breed?
Does anybody recognize Rourke? I look at his face from Diner and I look at his face here and…I…just…can’t. All the surgeries–some to deal with boxing injuries–made him into somebody else. Which is what I suspect he wanted.
Pretty sure it’s a Pom
Agree it’s a Pomeranian. They look like little teddy bears.
Yes, he looks like a completely different person now.
I’m not really sure that’s actually him. I keep wondering if it’s someone else pretending to be Mickey Rourke. It’s as if he had a face transplant.
I agree. I understand that plastic surgery can dramatically change ones appearance, but there is no semblance at all left of MR in that face. I just find it hard to believe that is really him.
Mickey is definitely one of a kind. He has demons that are probably unfathomable to most. Even with his shady history you have to sympathise with a man who loves his pooches the way he does, he can’t be all bad. His choice of pants, however, leaves a lot to be desired.
To those who struggle with the black dog, I commiserate whole heartedly. For myself, I have a history of depression and suicides in all parts of my family. It is an ongoing fight, and everyone deals with it in their own way. I wish peace and healing to those who are in pain.
He’s definitely had more work done since The Wrestler, but even though he is unrecognisable, I think aesthetically, it’s an improvement. He had already wrecked his looks so much. Maybe a little bit of the “pixie ear” going on there…(when the ear lobes are pulled down and attached to the side of the face), but overall he looks a bit less rough. A bit. My heart goes out to him however, the story with the dogs is very touching, regardless of what he may have done in the past, and I think he probably pays penance by having to face his demons every single day when he looks in the mirror. Hollywood is a brutal place to be if you are struggling with identity or depressive issues.
He was so beautiful in Diner and Body Heat- it is very sad he went off the rails as badly as he did. It is so true about animals and the trust-once you’ve earned it- and the love they can give that is so sustaining.
Oh wasn’t he. Seriously even to this day I think Mickey Rourke in Diner was the sexiest man I have ever seen in my life. I had posters of him all over my bathroom at the time – then he said or did something I really objected to (can’t even remember what) I tore them down, stuffed them down the loo and blocked it up. It cost me £147 to sort it out which I couldn’t afford in the late eighties. I have found forgiveness hard but these pictures make me sad. His friend looks equally strange.
I can empathize with that. I’m pretty sure my cat saved my life when I was going through one of my worst depressive periods, during an abusive marriage. When you’re depressed, it can be easy to tell yourself that the people around you would be better off without you. I find it less common with animals, who have simpler needs and can be so dependent. At any rate, even my depression jerkbrain couldn’t convince me that a shy, elderly, black cat would have a better life searching for a new home.