(NewsNation) — An online fundraiser has been launched to prevent Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke from being thrown out of his Los Angeles home.
Recent news reports said Rourke’s landlord was trying to evict him for what the owner said was $60,000 in back rent on the $7,000-a-month residence.
On Sunday, a GoFundMe page for Rourke, 73, asked fans and supporters to help chip in to raise $100,000 to help the actor “cover immediate housing-related expenses.”
“Mickey Rourke is an icon—but his trajectory, as painful as it is, is also a deeply human one,” a message on the page says. “It is the story of someone who gave everything to his work, took real risks, and paid real costs. Fame does not protect against hardship, and talent does not guarantee stability.”
Organizers of the effort say they have Rourke’s permission to launch the fundraiser, which, as of Sunday evening, had amassed more than $37,000.
Rourke, a New York native, was a rising film star in the 1980s with credits that included “Diner,” “Rumble Fish” and “Angel Heart” before reported personal problems and a foray into boxing derailed his career. The actor regained traction in the early 2000s with acclaimed character roles in such films as “Sin City” and “Iron Man 2.”
Rourke was nominated for an Oscar for his lead performance in 2008’s “The Wrestler,” a gritty portrait of a former professional wrestler’s decline.
“The goal is simple: to give Mickey stability and peace of mind during an extremely stressful time—so he can stay in his home and have the space to get back on his feet,” the GoFundMe message said.