This post is contributed by Connie Corcoran Wilson. She is the author of five books (Training the Teacher As A Champion, Performance Learning Systems, Inc.; Both Sides Now, AuthorHouse; Ghosts of Route 66: Vol. I, Quixote Press; It Came from the ‘70s, Baer Press; Out of Time, Lachesis Publishing).

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“I thought my talent would transcend my outspokenness. I was wrong. I’m willing to give them 100% this time. I just want a second chance at Hollywood.” So said Mickey Rourke in 1994. He is now back and giving 100% in the Darren Aronofsky-directed film “The Wrestler,” which echoes Rourke’s life story. The film has already won the top award at the Venice Film Festival and there is buzz about Rourke’s Oscar prospects.

Rourke is truly an example of a second coming in life and in his career, and it’s been a long time coming.

http://www.mickeyrourkeonline.com/He said, in an interview with Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune conducted in Toronto, Canada at the Toronto Film Festival (Sunday, October 12, 2008, Arts&Entertainment section of the Chicago Tribune): “For a while there (in the dark years before ‘The Wrestler’) I needed to get away to just...I had too much crap going on in my life. I just needed to step away and the boxing helped, and I continued with the therapy and cleaning house, let’s say. And starting over again. I didn’t know it was going to take me 13 years, but what are you going to do? I was really bad for a long time, and it wasn’t anybody’s fault except mine.” (The 13-years refers to his break-up with second wife Carre Otis.)

The “housecleaning” that Rourke references includes extensive therapy with a psychiatrist. In an earlier interview, Rourke said, “I lost the house, the wife, the credibility, the entourage. I lost my soul. I was alone...I’m sort of OK with it now, but the first time I’m in there, pushing a f****** cart, getting my supper. I used to go to the 24- hour place in gay town, so no one would recognize me. The only thing I could afford was a shrink, so that’s where my money went. Three times a week for the first two years. The year after that, two times a week and now I’m down to one time a week. I’ve only missed two appointments in six years.”

Some of the issues that the 52-year-old actor had to face involved physical abuse from his stepfather, Gene Addes, who married Mickey’s mom in 1963. Mickey was born on September 16, 1953 in Schenectady, New York. Following his parents’ divorce, he moved to Florida’s Liberty City with his mother at age 10. Born Phillip Andre Rourke, when he began boxing at age 12, he sometimes boxed under the name Andre Rourke. Of his early years, Mickey has said, “I didn’t have a childhood, really, because I worked my whole life and...other reasons. So, when I had some success, I went ballistic.” Indeed. And then some.

Mickey had “some success”, all right. He could have had more success, but for poor judgment. He turned down the role of Axel Foley in “Beverley Hills Cop” which eventually went to Eddie Murphy (after Sylvester Stallone was considered). He was offered the role of Jack Crawford in 1991’s “Silence of the Lambs.” Mickey turned down Bruce Willis’ role in “Pulp Fiction” (1994) He was cast as Stuntman Mike in “Grindhouse” (2007). His role in “The Thin Red Line” was cut after filming.

Rourke has a quality of toughness and dangerous unpredictability mixed with seedy vulnerability that audiences came to appreciate early on, beginning with a small part in 1979’s Steven Spielberg film “1941” and moving on to a stunning turn as a low-life arsonist in “Body Heat” opposite Kathleen Turner, William Hurt and Ted Danson.

After “Body Heat” Rourke made “Diner” with Barry Levinson directing. His role as Robert “Boogie” Sheftell, a hairdresser lothario, made female hearts beat faster. The film was loaded with actors with talent (Daniel Stern, Steve Guttenberg, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser), but no one’s star potential shone more brightly than Mickey Rourke’s. He went on to make “The Outsiders” and to play Motorcyle Boy in “Rumble Fish,” as Matt Dillon’s older brother with Francis Ford Coppola directing, as well as appearing in what he says is his favorite movie of all time, “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” with Eric Roberts and Darryl Hannah, which was critically panned at the time, but has now achieved cult status.

Mickey’s film “9 and ½ Weeks” with Kim Basinger is revered by the French. Adrian Lyne’s sexy film played for 2 years on the Champs Elysee and screened continuously in France thereafter. Europe was also taken with “Angel Heart” (1987). Rourke made at least three films with Michael Cimino, including the infamous “Heaven’s Gate” and “Year of the Dragon” in 1985, which the French also loved. (Of his 7 tattoos, one is a Chinese symbol on his left shoulder).

The third outing with Cimino, a remake of the Humphrey Bogart role in “The Dangerous Hours” in 1990 was critically panned, but Mickey’s star potential showed in his role as Charles Bukowski in 1987’s “Barfly,” a Barbet Schroder film co-starring Faye Dunaway. (Ironically, when the real Charles Bukowski died, Mickey Rourke’s picture appeared in one of his obituaries.)

Things became a bit murky after this point, with “Homebody” which he helped write, in 1988; “Francesco” in 1989, which caused controversy when Mickey announced that he had donated part of his salary to the Irish Republican Army; and, in 1990, “Wild Orchid,” the film that would co-star his future wife (and former model) Carre Otis.

The big controversy with “Wild Orchid” involved the sex scenes: simulated or real? Rourke was married to Carre Otis from 1992 to 1998 and to Debra Feuer from 1981 to 1989. The mix of Otis and Rourke was always incendiary and a report of spousal abuse was filed with the LAPD in 1994 (charges were later dropped).

When asked about the last 13 years of his career following their break-up, which seem to have put him on a downward spiral aimed at obscurity, Mickey says (Nov. 7, 2008, Entertainment Weekly, “Mickey Roars” by Chris Nashawaty), ...”I f***ed up real bad. I knew nothing about business or politics. I didn’t even know they were in the equation! But it’s a game, and we all have to kiss a** in life. I didn’t know it then. A lot of the actors who are successful, you look around; these guys are college boys---Ben Affleck, Matt Dillon. Me, I just thought you’re either great or you suck! I’m not saying I was great, but I knew I was on my way to being great!”