Famous for his tough-guy persona onscreen, 73-year-old actor Mickey Rourke is nearly $60,000 behind on rent and facing eviction, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday.
Rourke, whose real name is Philip Andre Rourke Jr., was served a notice on Dec. 18 giving him three days to pay the back rent or leave the premises, the Los Angeles Times reported, and when he failed to comply, the property owner, Eric Gold, turned to the courts, asking for lawyer fees and damages.
He reportedly signed a lease for the three-bedroom, 2.5 bath home, described on Zillow as a “nicely upgraded Spanish bungalow,” in March.
Rent was initially $5,200 a month but was later raised to $7,000 a month, according to the court filing.
The former boxer turned actor began his film career in 1980, getting small roles in “Heaven’s Gate” and later “Body Heat.” It was his role in the 1982 film “Diner” that launched a career as a leading man in movies like “9 1/2 Weeks,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village” and “Rumble Fish.”
The actor’s off-screen behavior, though, ultimately derailed his ambitions. In a 2008 interview with The Times, Rourke said the way he’d behaved frightened people and that led to the loss of a marriage, a home, his credibility and career.
Rourke reemerged in the 2005 film “Sin City” alongside Bruce Willis, Clive Owen and Jessica Alba, but it wasn’t until director Darren Aronofsky tapped him for the role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a wounded has-been professional wrestler, for the 2008 film “The Wrestler,” which also starred Marisa Tomei, that Rourke was back in the spotlight.
The film earned Rourke a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination for best lead actor.
More recently, Rourke was asked to leave “Celebrity Big Brother UK” after what producers of the reality show said were “inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior,” The Times reported.
His manager has since announced possible legal action against the show, citing a pay dispute and alleged disrespect of the actor.