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Mickey Rourke
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Rourke vs NYT: Who Was Conning Whom?
By NIKKI FINKE
December 3, 2008
One of the most time-honored traditions of the Oscars is the redemptive quality of its nominations process. Talent who've hit the the skids over the years through their own bad decisions personally and/or professionally can suddenly find their careers revived because of Academy Award attention from their peers.
Such is the situation this year with Mickey Rourke and Fox Searchlight's The Wrestler. Which is why that recent New York Times Magazine profile of him was so unfair. For a newspaper that rarely examines anything Oscar with a cynical eye, this is usually a slam dunk bit of heartwarming PR: actor squanders great promise, gets written off by the Industry, then gives a wonderful performance, and gets the recognition that was long overdue. Instead, the NYT decided to go a different way: investigate every claim that came out of Rourke's mouth in order to expose him as a kind of whacked-out con man who's "spent his entire adult life playing not fictional characters but an idealized delusional fantasy of himself". It's hard to imagine, say, the NYT writing as negatively about Sean Penn or Frank Langella. But that's because the class-conscious newspaper of record doesn't place Rourke, long a fixture of straight-to-video feature films, in the same thesp elite category. But, worse, the mag went about this bit of character assassination badly.
One of the most controversial aspects of the piece is the treatment of Rourke's claim that he suffered abuse at the hands of his stepfather and the way that it affected his entire life. "Rourke’s eyes teared up again. He didn’t speak for a long moment. Then he said: 'It began before my acting. When my mother divorced my father, she remarried a brutal man... I should have stood up to him more. Not be a victim. But I was only 7 years old.' Thus was born Rourke’s life-long sense of shame that he claimed he tried to expiate through his tough-guy persona both on the screen and in his real life. 'It took my whole life to forgive myself for calling him Daddy,' Rourke said. 'I took it out on everyone else and became hard.'
So the NYT-assigned writer then sought out the stepfather, who denied almost every detail of Rourke's description of his childhood, including the abuse allegations. But the question is, why didn't the NYT explore further? It's now apparant that the paper never went to Rourke's other family members to confirm or deny the abuse. Which is why I've received an exclusive statement from Rourke's sister Patty Rourke and stepsister Janet Smalley whose father is the accused abuser. Both siblings express how distressed they are with The New York Times Magazine article for insinuating that Rourke lied about the abuse.
By NIKKI FINKE
December 3, 2008
One of the most time-honored traditions of the Oscars is the redemptive quality of its nominations process. Talent who've hit the the skids over the years through their own bad decisions personally and/or professionally can suddenly find their careers revived because of Academy Award attention from their peers.
Such is the situation this year with Mickey Rourke and Fox Searchlight's The Wrestler. Which is why that recent New York Times Magazine profile of him was so unfair. For a newspaper that rarely examines anything Oscar with a cynical eye, this is usually a slam dunk bit of heartwarming PR: actor squanders great promise, gets written off by the Industry, then gives a wonderful performance, and gets the recognition that was long overdue. Instead, the NYT decided to go a different way: investigate every claim that came out of Rourke's mouth in order to expose him as a kind of whacked-out con man who's "spent his entire adult life playing not fictional characters but an idealized delusional fantasy of himself". It's hard to imagine, say, the NYT writing as negatively about Sean Penn or Frank Langella. But that's because the class-conscious newspaper of record doesn't place Rourke, long a fixture of straight-to-video feature films, in the same thesp elite category. But, worse, the mag went about this bit of character assassination badly.
One of the most controversial aspects of the piece is the treatment of Rourke's claim that he suffered abuse at the hands of his stepfather and the way that it affected his entire life. "Rourke’s eyes teared up again. He didn’t speak for a long moment. Then he said: 'It began before my acting. When my mother divorced my father, she remarried a brutal man... I should have stood up to him more. Not be a victim. But I was only 7 years old.' Thus was born Rourke’s life-long sense of shame that he claimed he tried to expiate through his tough-guy persona both on the screen and in his real life. 'It took my whole life to forgive myself for calling him Daddy,' Rourke said. 'I took it out on everyone else and became hard.'
So the NYT-assigned writer then sought out the stepfather, who denied almost every detail of Rourke's description of his childhood, including the abuse allegations. But the question is, why didn't the NYT explore further? It's now apparant that the paper never went to Rourke's other family members to confirm or deny the abuse. Which is why I've received an exclusive statement from Rourke's sister Patty Rourke and stepsister Janet Smalley whose father is the accused abuser. Both siblings express how distressed they are with The New York Times Magazine article for insinuating that Rourke lied about the abuse.
"We were shocked and deeply saddened to read Pat Jordan’s overtly biased piece
about our brother Mickey Rourke in The New York Times Magazine. Although our
childhood is searingly painful to discuss, we absolutely needed to speak out to set the record straight.
Tragically, what our brother has said about his abusive childhood barely scratches
the surface of what really happened. If Pat Jordan had tried to contact us, we would've
told him the truth. We love Mickey very much and stand by his account of our early years."
-- Patty Rourke & Janet Smalley
deadline.comabout our brother Mickey Rourke in The New York Times Magazine. Although our
childhood is searingly painful to discuss, we absolutely needed to speak out to set the record straight.
Tragically, what our brother has said about his abusive childhood barely scratches
the surface of what really happened. If Pat Jordan had tried to contact us, we would've
told him the truth. We love Mickey very much and stand by his account of our early years."
-- Patty Rourke & Janet Smalley
Mickey Rourke DOWNSIZES to $13K-a-Month Pad
6/30/2011 12:15 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Mickey Rourke is pocketing an extra $6,300 a month -- because TMZ has learned, the actor just ditched his $19,800-a-month NYC apartment ... for a MUCH cheaper alternative.
The "Wrestler" star was previously living in the Meatpacking district -- where he was renting a 5,000 square foot loft.
His new apartment in the West Village only costs $13,500 -- and features 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a fireplace, and a pretty little garden.
New York prices.
tmz.com
6/30/2011 12:15 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Mickey Rourke is pocketing an extra $6,300 a month -- because TMZ has learned, the actor just ditched his $19,800-a-month NYC apartment ... for a MUCH cheaper alternative.
The "Wrestler" star was previously living in the Meatpacking district -- where he was renting a 5,000 square foot loft.
His new apartment in the West Village only costs $13,500 -- and features 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a fireplace, and a pretty little garden.
New York prices.
tmz.com
Immortals (2011)
Director: Tarsem Singh
Stars: Henry Cavill (Theseus), Luke Evans (Zeus), Mickey Rourke (King Hyperion), John Hurt (Old Zeus), Kellan Lutz (Poseidon), Isabel Lucas (Athena), Freida Pinto (Phaedra), Stephen Dorff (Stavros), ...
Release Date: 11. Nov. 2011 (USA)
Storyline:
Eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares. Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king's hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man's conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion...until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes...
imdb.com
----------------------
aceshowbiz.com
----------------------
Director: Tarsem Singh
Stars: Henry Cavill (Theseus), Luke Evans (Zeus), Mickey Rourke (King Hyperion), John Hurt (Old Zeus), Kellan Lutz (Poseidon), Isabel Lucas (Athena), Freida Pinto (Phaedra), Stephen Dorff (Stavros), ...
Release Date: 11. Nov. 2011 (USA)
Storyline:
Eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares. Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king's hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man's conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion...until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes...
imdb.com
----------------------
aceshowbiz.com
----------------------
^ You're welcome! 
They didn't really get the facts right for parts of the voice over but Mickey and David chatting is still interesting:
David Haye meets up with his friend Actor and former Pro Boxer Mickey Rourke, recently in New York whilst out there doing Promotion for his up coming World Heavweight Boxing Unification fight against Wladimir Klitschko. They discuss both his acting and Boxing careers. They also discuss a drunken 4am race with Usain Bolt. Arm wrestling Rugby Players and learning the Welsh accent.
-----------------
David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko: actor Mickey Rourke advises Briton to 'go out on top'
American actor Mickey Rourke, who boxed for several years while in the Hollywood wilderness, will be ringside on Saturday night in Hamburg and has advised David Haye “to go out on top” with his money safe.
By Gareth A Davies
27 Jun 2011
Haye and Rourke’s close friendship over the past year enabled the British fighter’s conditioning coach, Ruben Tabares, to assist the American actor as he prepared for a part portraying the life of gay rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Rourke was nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Wrestler, playing the role of ‘the Ram’, an ageing star who cannot give up the lights, the performance and the fame until it is too late and his body cannot cope, long after his wife and daughter have deserted him. “The Wrestler is my favourite movie,” Haye revealed to Rourke when they first met.
A Haye camp insider told Telegraph Sport there had been discussions two months ago about the American carrying Haye’s World Boxing Association heavyweight belt into the ring at Hamburg FC’s Imtech Arena on Saturday, but the arrangements could not be made.
Rourke, an admirer of Haye’s bravery and belligerence, had some salutary advice for the younger man, currently bathing in the spotlight of success, when they spent time together in London.
Rourke has seen the lights come and go. He boxed as an amateur (28 wins, two defeats) and then in 1990, having fallen out of favour in Hollywood, took up boxing professionally. He was unbeaten in 14 fights over six years and trained under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym, but said that he “didn’t get to fight everybody”, an admission that he was a level – or even two – below ever reaching championship class.
During that period Rourke was, incidentally, a sparring partner for James Toney and Thomas Hearns, and suffered a broken cheekbone from one, and a knockout by the other. He even sparred with Roberto Duran.
One day Rourke felt ill and had a brain scan, which showed some abnormalities, so decided to call it a day. He believes “Haye has been wise” to name the date that he will retire by: October 13.
“My greatest piece of advice [for David] is this — save your ------- money. Success in boxing depends a lot on your lifestyle and your intelligence, and I think that unfortunately most fighters end up with money trouble at the end of it all. A lot of these guys don’t come from money in the first place, so they really don’t know how to deal with it,” Rourke said.
“They also have to contend with big entourages and people trying to take stuff from them. They’ll employ some guy to go and get them candy bars during the day. It’s nonsense. I remember going to see Roberto Duran and he would always have 12 guys with him. I never had a clue what any of them were doing. That entourage goes from 12 to two when you are broke, and I know about that firsthand. All my friends left when I went broke and I don’t think that I have heard from any of them for 14 years.”
telegraph.co.uk
-----------------
Sunday, July 3, 2011
By The Associated Press
Klitschko dominates Haye, takes WBA title
In a fight that did not live up to its hype, Klitschko dominated from the opening bell Saturday night and won a lopsided unanimous decision at a rain-soaked soccer stadium in Hamburg, Germany.
"He was scared to fight me," Klitschko said. "I was expecting more of a challenge in the ring, but he was super defensive."
Klitschko (56-3, 49 knockouts) won his 14th consecutive bout and improved his record in title fights to 17-2. The 35-year-old Ukrainian also took the 30-year-old Haye's World Boxing Association title, giving him and his brother, Vitali, all the major heavyweight crowns.
They didn't really get the facts right for parts of the voice over but Mickey and David chatting is still interesting:
David Haye meets up with his friend Actor and former Pro Boxer Mickey Rourke, recently in New York whilst out there doing Promotion for his up coming World Heavweight Boxing Unification fight against Wladimir Klitschko. They discuss both his acting and Boxing careers. They also discuss a drunken 4am race with Usain Bolt. Arm wrestling Rugby Players and learning the Welsh accent.
-----------------
David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko: actor Mickey Rourke advises Briton to 'go out on top'
American actor Mickey Rourke, who boxed for several years while in the Hollywood wilderness, will be ringside on Saturday night in Hamburg and has advised David Haye “to go out on top” with his money safe.
By Gareth A Davies
27 Jun 2011
Haye and Rourke’s close friendship over the past year enabled the British fighter’s conditioning coach, Ruben Tabares, to assist the American actor as he prepared for a part portraying the life of gay rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Rourke was nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Wrestler, playing the role of ‘the Ram’, an ageing star who cannot give up the lights, the performance and the fame until it is too late and his body cannot cope, long after his wife and daughter have deserted him. “The Wrestler is my favourite movie,” Haye revealed to Rourke when they first met.
A Haye camp insider told Telegraph Sport there had been discussions two months ago about the American carrying Haye’s World Boxing Association heavyweight belt into the ring at Hamburg FC’s Imtech Arena on Saturday, but the arrangements could not be made.
Rourke, an admirer of Haye’s bravery and belligerence, had some salutary advice for the younger man, currently bathing in the spotlight of success, when they spent time together in London.
Rourke has seen the lights come and go. He boxed as an amateur (28 wins, two defeats) and then in 1990, having fallen out of favour in Hollywood, took up boxing professionally. He was unbeaten in 14 fights over six years and trained under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym, but said that he “didn’t get to fight everybody”, an admission that he was a level – or even two – below ever reaching championship class.
During that period Rourke was, incidentally, a sparring partner for James Toney and Thomas Hearns, and suffered a broken cheekbone from one, and a knockout by the other. He even sparred with Roberto Duran.
One day Rourke felt ill and had a brain scan, which showed some abnormalities, so decided to call it a day. He believes “Haye has been wise” to name the date that he will retire by: October 13.
“My greatest piece of advice [for David] is this — save your ------- money. Success in boxing depends a lot on your lifestyle and your intelligence, and I think that unfortunately most fighters end up with money trouble at the end of it all. A lot of these guys don’t come from money in the first place, so they really don’t know how to deal with it,” Rourke said.
“They also have to contend with big entourages and people trying to take stuff from them. They’ll employ some guy to go and get them candy bars during the day. It’s nonsense. I remember going to see Roberto Duran and he would always have 12 guys with him. I never had a clue what any of them were doing. That entourage goes from 12 to two when you are broke, and I know about that firsthand. All my friends left when I went broke and I don’t think that I have heard from any of them for 14 years.”
telegraph.co.uk
-----------------
Sunday, July 3, 2011
By The Associated Press
Klitschko dominates Haye, takes WBA title
In a fight that did not live up to its hype, Klitschko dominated from the opening bell Saturday night and won a lopsided unanimous decision at a rain-soaked soccer stadium in Hamburg, Germany.
"He was scared to fight me," Klitschko said. "I was expecting more of a challenge in the ring, but he was super defensive."
Klitschko (56-3, 49 knockouts) won his 14th consecutive bout and improved his record in title fights to 17-2. The 35-year-old Ukrainian also took the 30-year-old Haye's World Boxing Association title, giving him and his brother, Vitali, all the major heavyweight crowns.
Wladimir already held the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Organization titles. Vitali is the World Boxing Council champion.
The brothers have long promised their mother they would never fight each other.
Haye (25-2, 23 KOs) had been expected to give Klitschko one of his most difficult challenges, but he didn't fight nearly as well as he talked. The Briton blamed a broken toe suffered three weeks before the fight, taking off his shoe in the ring afterward to show it. "I couldn't give everything I needed to," Haye said. "I had to knock him out, and unfortunately, I couldn't do it."
sacbee.com
The brothers have long promised their mother they would never fight each other.
Haye (25-2, 23 KOs) had been expected to give Klitschko one of his most difficult challenges, but he didn't fight nearly as well as he talked. The Briton blamed a broken toe suffered three weeks before the fight, taking off his shoe in the ring afterward to show it. "I couldn't give everything I needed to," Haye said. "I had to knock him out, and unfortunately, I couldn't do it."
sacbee.com
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