Mickey Rourke began his career as one of the hottest young actors of the 1980s with roles in Body Heat, Diner, The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9 1/2 Weeks. Among the directors he worked with during that period: Stephen Spielberg, Michael Cimino, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Roeg, Barry Levinson and Alan Rudolph.
While his near 50-year career has had its ups and downs (and ups and downs again), the actor has continued to do remarkable work. That includes playing Charles Bukowski in Barfly, Marv in Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and his Oscar-nominated turn in Darren Aronfosky’s The Wrestler.
Scroll through the photos below to see a selection of photos from Rourke’s extraordinary life and career.
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‘1941’ (1979)
Image Credit: Universal Pictures / Courtesy: Everett Collection Dan Aykroyd, Mickey Rourke, John Candy, Walter Olkewicz, Treat Williams
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‘BODY HEAT’ (1981)
Image Credit: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke, William Hurt
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‘DINER’ (1982)
Image Credit: Everett U.S. poster featuring Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Steve Guttenberg, Kevin Bacon, Timothy Daly
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‘RUMBLE FISH’ (1983)
Image Credit: Universal/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke
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‘THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE’ (1984)
Image Credit: MGM/courtesy Everett Collection Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke
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AT HOME (1984)
Image Credit: Thomas Iannaccone/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images Mickey Rourke and then-wife, actress Debra Feuer
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‘YEAR OF THE DRAGON’ (1985)
Ariane, Mickey Rourke
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‘9 1/2 WEEKS’ (1986)
Image Credit: MGM/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger
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‘ANGEL HEART’ (1987)
Image Credit: Everett Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro
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‘BARFLY’ (1987)
Image Credit: Everett Mickey Rourke
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‘HOMEBOY’ (1988)
Image Credit: 111 Pictures/courtesy Everett collection Mickey Rourke
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‘A PRAYER FOR THE DYING’ (1987)
Image Credit: Samuel Goldwyn Films/courtesy Everett Bob Hoskins, Mickey Rourke
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‘FRANCESCO’ (1989)
Image Credit: Everett Mickey Rourke as St.Francis of Assisi
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‘JOHNNY HANDSOME’ (1989)
Image Credit: TriStar/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke, Morgan Freeman
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‘WILD ORCHID’ (1990)
Mickey Rourke, Carre Otis
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‘HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE MARLBORO MAN’ (1991)
Image Credit: MGM/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke
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‘WHITE SANDS’ (1992)
Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke
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‘BULLET’ (1996)
Image Credit: New Line/courtesy Everett Collection US poster with Tupac Shakur and Mickey Rourke
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‘EXIT IN RED’
Image Credit: Crystal Sky Worldwide / courtesy Everett Collection Carre Otis, Mickey Rourke
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‘DOUBLE TEAM’ (1997)
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke
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‘ANOTHER NINE & A HALF WEEKS’ (1997)
Image Credit: Trimark/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke, Angie Everhart
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‘THE RAINMAKER’ (1997)
Image Credit: Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection Matt Damon, Mickey Rourke
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‘GET CARTER’ (2000)
Image Credit: Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke, Sylvester Stallone
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‘GET CARTER’ Premiere (2000)
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect Mickey Rourke, Rhona Mitra, Rachael Leigh Cook and Sylvester Stallone
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‘THE PLEDGE’ (2001)
Image Credit: Warner Brothers/Courtesy of Everett Collection Mickey Rourke
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‘THE PLEDGE’ Premiere
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Jack Nicholson and Mickey Rourke at the post-premiere party at The Sunset Room
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‘ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO’ (2003)
Image Credit: Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection Mickey Rourke, Willem Dafoe
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Sundance Film Festival (2003)
Image Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Mickey Rourke with his dog on Main Street
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‘SIN CITY’ (2005)
Image Credit: Dimension Films/ Courtesy: Everett Collection Mickey Rourke as Marv
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‘SIN CITY’ UK Premiere Party
Image Credit: Claire Greenway/Getty Images Mickey Rourke and Eve Salvail
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Miramax Distributor Lunch in Cannes (2005)
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/Getty Images Sin City co-stars Benicio Del Toro, Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke attend the Miramax distributor lunch at the Majestic Beach during the 58th International Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2005 in Cannes, France. (Photo by
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Cannes “Sin City” Photocall
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 18: Actress Brittany Murphy and actors Mickey Rourke attend a photocall promoting the film “Sin City” at the Palais during the 58th International Cannes Film Festival May 18, 2005 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
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DOMINO, Edgar Ramirez, Mickey Rourke, Keira Knightley, 2005, (c) New Line/courtesy Everett Collectio
DOMINO, Edgar Ramirez, Mickey Rourke, Keira Knightley, 2005, (c) New Line/courtesy Everett Collection
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Mickey Rourke, Sasha Volkova at arrivals for Domino Premiere, Graumans Chinese Theatre, New York, NY, October 11, 2005. Photo by: Michael Germana/Everett Collection
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Dennis Hopper’s “A Survey” Private Opening
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 30: (L-R) Actor Joe Pesci, artist/actor Dennis Hopper and actor Mickey Rourke attend the private opening of Dennis Hopper’s “A Survey” exhibit held at ACE Gallery on March 30, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
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Cannes – “Paranoid Park” – Premiere
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 21: Actor Mickey Rourke and guest attend the premiere for the film “Paranoid Park” at the Palais des Festivals during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2007 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
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THE WRESTLER, Mickey Rourke (right), 2008. TM and ©Copyright Twentieth Century Fox. All rights reser
THE WRESTLER, Mickey Rourke (right), 2008. TM and ©Copyright Twentieth Century Fox. All rights reserved./Courtesy Everett Collection
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65th Venice Film Festival: The Wrestler – Premiere
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Actors Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood attend the ‘The Wrestler’ premiere at the Sala Grande during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
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Premiere Of Fox Searchlight Pictures’ “The Wrestler” – Arrivals
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 16: Pro wrestler Greg Valentine, pro wrestler Roddy Piper, actor Mickey Roarke and pro wrestler Brutus Beefcake arrive at the premiere of Fox Searchlight’s “The Wrestler” held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 16, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards – Press Room
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 11: Actor Mickey Rourke, winner Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for “The Wrestler,” and musician Bruce Springsteen, winner Best Original Song – Motion Picture for “The Wrestler,” pose in the press room at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – Audience
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 25: Actors Brad Pitt (L) and Mickey Rourke in the audience at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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WrestleMania 25
HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 5: (L-R) Actor Mickey Rourke steps into the ring while WWE Superstar Chris Jericho taunts him into a fight during WrestleMania 25 at Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bill Olive/Getty Images)
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Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger at arrivals for THE INFORMERS Premiere, Arclight Cinerama Dome, Los Angeles, CA April 16, 2009. Photo By: Theresa Gonzales/Everett Collection
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13, l-r: Sam Riley, Ray Winstone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson on US poste
13, l-r: Sam Riley, Ray Winstone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson on US poster art, 2010, ©Anchor Bay/courtesy Everett Collection
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IRON MAN 2, Mickey Rourke, 2010. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
IRON MAN 2, Mickey Rourke, 2010. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
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Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke at arrivals for THE EXPENDABLES Premiere, Grauman”s Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, CA August 3, 2010. Photo By: Michael Germana/Everett Collection
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PASSION PLAY, from left: Megan Fox, Mickey Rourke, 2010. ©Image Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Colle
PASSION PLAY, from left: Megan Fox, Mickey Rourke, 2010. ©Image Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection
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at the induction ceremony for Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony for Mickey Rourke, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, CA October 31, 2011. Photo By: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection
Mickey Rourke at the induction ceremony for Hand and Footprint Ceremony for Mickey Rourke, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, CA October 31, 2011. Photo By: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection
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IMMORTALS, Mickey Rourke, 2011. ph: Jan Thijs/©Relativity Media/courtesy Everett Collection
IMMORTALS, Mickey Rourke, 2011. ph: Jan Thijs/©Relativity Media/courtesy Everett Collection
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at arrivals for IMMORTALS Premiere, Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE, New York, NY November 7, 2011. Photo By: Dee Cercone/Everett Collection
Mickey Rourke at arrivals for IMMORTALS Premiere, Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA November 7, 2011. Photo By: Dee Cercone/Everett Collection
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BLACK NOVEMBER, US poster, from left: Sarah Wayne Callies, Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, Akon, 2012.
BLACK NOVEMBER, US poster, from left: Sarah Wayne Callies, Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, Akon, 2012. ©E1 Entertainment Distribution/Courtesy Everett Collection
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SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR, Mickey Rourke, 2013. ©Dimension Films/courtesy Everett Collection
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR, Mickey Rourke, 2014. ©Dimension Films/courtesy Everett Collection
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WAR PIGS, US poster, from left: Luke Goss, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Liddell, Mickey Rourke, 2015.
WAR PIGS, US poster, from left: Luke Goss, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Liddell, Mickey Rourke, 2015. ©Cinedigm/Courtesy Everett Collection
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at a public appearance for TRIPLE 9 Premiere, Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA February 16, 2016. Photo By: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection
Norman Reedus, Mickey Rourke at a public appearance for TRIPLE 9 Premiere, Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA February 16, 2016. Photo By: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection
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Episode 206
DICE, l-r: Andrew Dice Clay, Mickey Rourke in ‘Fingerless’ (Season 2, Episode 6, aired October 1, 2017). ph: Paul Sarkis/©Showtime/courtesy Everett Collection
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MCDSEEI EC016
SECTION EIGHT, poster, from top: Ryan Kwanten, Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, Dermot Mulroney, Mickey Rourke (left), 2022. © The Exchange / Courtesy Everett Collection
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out and about for Celebrity Candids – THU, , New York, NY February 14, 2019. Photo By: Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection
Mickey Rourke out and about for Celebrity Candids – THU, , New York, NY February 14, 2019. Photo By: Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection
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MCDBEIL EC014
BERLIN, I LOVE YOU, Mickey Rourke, 2019. © Saban Films / courtesy Everett Collection
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‘CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER UK’
Image Credit: ITV Mickey Rourke
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