Mickey Rourke faced a gloomy New Year as friends hoped for an A-list bailout
Mickey Rourke is confronted with what sources said RadarOnline.com could be the bleakest new year of his turbulent life, with the former Hollywood heartthrob facing possible eviction in Los Angeles, while friends warn his only chance of survival is an admirer from his glory days who steps in to save him.
The actor, 73, is at risk of losing the Beverly Grove rental home he has occupied since March after reportedly failing to pay nearly $60,000 in rent.
Court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court state that Rourke was served a three-day notice on Dec. 18 demanding the payment of $59,100 or he would vacate the premises.
The filing was filed by landlord Eric T. Goldie and claims Rourke was not home when service was attempted, forcing the notice to be posted outside the home.
Rourke signed the lease for the three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom property on March 30 for $5,200 per month, with the rent later increasing to $7,000 starting in his second month.
The house was built in 1926 and has a rich history. It was occupied by crime novelist Raymond Chandler in the 1940s and is located just south of West Hollywood, near the Grove and the Farmers Market.
This was said by a source familiar with Rourke’s situation RadarOnline.com: “Mickey is in a very precarious position. The money has dried up, work has slowed to a trickle, and his choices are disappearing.”
Another insider added: “Those close to him think the only way out is if a major Hollywood star who respected him in his heyday steps in and secures him a house – just as Jack Nicholson once did for producer Robert Evans. Otherwise, the prospects are bleak.”
Rourke’s housing crisis follows a series of public and professional setbacks.
Earlier this year he was removed from the Famous big brother house after what producers described as “unacceptable” language and behavior toward fellow contestant JoJo Siwa.
During one episode, the actor referenced her sexuality and said he would “vote out the lesbian very quickly.”
He later added: “I need an FG,” before gesturing to Siwa and joking: “I’m not talking to you.”
The incident sparked widespread backlash, with viewers accusing him of homophobia after he also claimed he could ‘make her straight’.
Born Philip Rourke Jr., Rourke was once one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men Dinner (1982), Rumbling fish (1983), 9 1/2 weeks (1986), and Angel heart (1987).
But his career came to a standstill in the early 1990s after a series of box office disappointments, prompting him to pursue professional boxing.
The sport left him with serious injuries that required reconstructive surgery and changed his appearance, effectively ending his time as a romantic lead.
After returning to acting in smaller roles, Rourke made a celebrated comeback in 2008 with The wrestler, earning awards including a BAFTA and Golden Globe, in addition to an Oscar nomination.
He followed it up with a high-profile twist when Whiplash entered Ironman 2but subsequent projects were largely low budget and overlooked.
As the deportation case continues, sources say Rourke is becoming increasingly isolated. One said: “Mickey is painfully aware of how much he has lost.
Friends hope that someone influential will remember his past status and step in with the financial help he needs before it is too late.”
