Oscar-nominated actor and brooding 1980s heartthrob Mickey Rourke fell thousands of dollars behind on rent and asked fans for money on Sunday to help him “stay in his home” during this “extremely stressful time.”
Rourke’s managers launched a GoFundMe drive on Sunday to help their client get cash to avoid being evicted from his home due to “health challenges, financial strain, and the quiet toll of being left behind.”
“Today, Mickey is facing a very real and urgent situation: the threat of eviction from his home,” according to the online campaign organized by Liya-Joelle Jones, an assistant to Rourke’s manager Kimberly Hines. “This fundraiser is being created with Mickey’s full permission to help cover immediate housing-related expenses and prevent that from happening.”
Jones acknowledged the appeal could be jarring to fans who know Rourke’s long résumé, which includes “9 1/2 Weeks,” “Rumble Fish,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Iron Man 2” and “The Wrestler.”
His work on “The Wrestler” won him a BAFTA for best actor and an Oscar nomination.
“Mickey Rourke is an icon—but his trajectory, as painful as it is, is also a deeply human one,” according to Jones. “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.”
The GoFundMe listing didn’t explain, in detail, how Rourke fell into this economic hardship.
Last year, he was kicked out of the “Celebrity Big Brother UK” house after his use of “inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behaviour,” British broadcaster ITV said.
Jones and Rourke could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday.
“What remains is a person who deserves dignity, housing, and the chance to regain his footing,” according to Jones. “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 fundraising goal is $100,000 and donations topped the $70,000 mark just after noon ET on Monday.