7 essential movies of the enigmatic and once Hollywood’s biggest sex symbol Mickey Rourke who turns 72
Mickey Rourke’s acting roles often reflect the actor’s real life, between boxing, ups, downs, and Hollywood
7 essential movies of the enigmatic and once Hollywood’s biggest sex symbol Mickey Rourke who turns 72
During the 1980’s, Mickey Rourke was the biggest sex symbol in Hollywood, landing in several roles of successful erotic or that featured erotic scenes movies, with some of the most beautiful Hollywood actresses, including Kim Basinger and Carré Otis. Today, he’s one of the most in demand actors, however, a lifetime in the boxing rings left permanent damage to his once beautiful face, and in recent years, his roles have been nothing alike of the ones he got audiences used to back in the 1980’s.
Born in Schenectady, New York on September 16, 1952, Mickey Rourke only started to act in 1973, after trying out for a boxing career. His major film debut was in Steven Spielberg’s 1979 major flop “1941” where he played a small role. But during the 1980’s his popularity rocketed, requested by directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, with whom he filmed the cult classic “Rumble Fish.” With the 1985 action flick and blockbuster “Year of The Dragon,” Rourke begun to solidify his status as one of Hollywood’s biggest promises. In 1986 he appeared in one of the most memorable 1980’s movies and reference to erotic cinema, “9 1/2 Weeks” alongside Kim Basinger, playing a mysterious, enigmatic wealthy and attractive man who breaks Basinger character’s life and sex routine, featuring some of movie history most memorable scenes ever. The acclaimed “Angel Heart” directed by Alan Parker in 1987 became one of Rourke’s signature movies, followed by hit movies such as “Barfly”, the erotic “Wild Orchid,” “Johnny Handsome” and the 1991 cult classic “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man” alongside Don Johnson. It was after that last movie Rourke quit acting for boxing again. But his boxing career damaged his face badly, so much that a succession of reconstructive surgery to mend his injuries made his once well-known face become unrecognizable. After returning to acting in the mid 1990’s the actor appeared in several small roles, until finally re-launched his acting career as a lead actor in the 2000’s, where he played often villain roles or hard men, such as in the 2005 “Sin City” and in the 2008 “The Wrestler” that earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. On the day he celebrates 72 years old, here’s 7 essential Mickey Rourke movies and roles.
7 – “The Year of the Dragon” 1985
6 – “Johnny Handsome” 1989
5 – “Sin City” 2005
4 – “Barfly” 1987
3 – “9 1/2 Weeks” 1986
2 – “The Wrestler” 2008
1 – “Angel Heart” 1987
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