Mickey Rourke (23 page)

H
E WAS ARRESTED AGAIN IN
M
IAMI IN 2007 ON SUSPICION OF DRIVING A MOTOR SCOOTER WHILE INTOXICATED, A CHARGE LATER REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING AND WHICH, ULTIMATELY, WENT AWAY.

M
ICKEY, WHO HAD BEEN CLUBBING AT HOT SPOT
M
ANSION, WAS PULLED OVER AT 4:11
A.M.
WHEN HIS NEW GREEN
V
ESPA, CARRYING A SEXY PASSENGER ON THE BACK, ALLEGEDLY MADE A
U
-TURN ON A RED LIGHT AND SWERVED IN FRONT OF A POLICE CAR.
A
CCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, HE STARTED SWEARING WHEN HE WAS STOPPED.

M
ICKEY’S BIG MOUTH OFTEN GOT HIM INTO TROUBLE, COST HIM WORK, AND HURT HIS REPUTATION.
S
PEAKING UP AND ASKING FOR HIS DOG TO GET A PART ALONGSIDE HIM IN THE 2000 CRIME MOVIE
LUCK OF THE DRAW
LED TO
M
ICKEY GETTING FIRED FROM THE MOVIE AND MADE HIM A LAUGHING STOCK IN THE FILM WORLD.
I
T ALL STARTED DURING A DISCUSSION OVER HIS DEATH SCENE.
M
ICKEY’S CHARACTER WAS SUPPOSED TO WALK INTO A WAREHOUSE, LISTEN TO DIALOGUE BETWEEN CO-STARS
E
RIC
R
OBERTS,
I
CE-
T
, AND
D
ENNIS
H
OPPER, AND THEN GET SHOT.
B
UT HE WANTED AN ACTIVITY TO DO IN THE SCENE SO HE WOULDN’T JUST BE STANDING AROUND.
S
O HE SUGGESTED TO THE DIRECTOR,
L
UCA
B
ERCOVICI, THAT HE SHOULD BE CARRYING OR STROKING HIS PET
C
HIHUAHUA,
B
EAU
J
ACK.
T
HEY REHEARSED IT LIKE THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES, ONLY FOR
B
ERCOVICI TO TELL
M
ICKEY IT SHOULDN’T BE DONE THAT WAY AFTER ALL BECAUSE THE PRODUCER DIDN’T WANT A DOG IN THE SCENE.
M
ICKEY MADE HIS OBJECTIONS CLEAR AND THEY BROKE FOR LUNCH.
S
HORTLY AFTERWARDS,
M
ICKEY WAS LET GO, APPARENTLY FOR BEING DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH, AND WAS SWIFTLY REPLACED BY
M
ICHAEL
M
ADSEN.

I
T WAS A LOW POINT IN
M
ICKEY’S CAREER, BUT THERE HAD BEEN A MUCH WORSE OCCASION MANY YEARS EARLIER WHEN HIS OUTSPOKEN WAYS HAD MADE HIM, FOR A TIME, THE MOST HATED MAN IN
B
RITAIN.
H
E JUST COULDN’T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT ABOUT HIS DELIGHT AT BEING CAST TO PLAY AN
IRA
GUNMAN IN THE MOVIE
A PRAYER FOR THE DYING
AND MADE SOME ILL-ADVISED STATEMENTS THAT WERE INTERPRETED AS EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE
I
RISH
R
EPUBLICAN
A
RMY’S CAUSE.

J
UST BEFORE THE FILM’S RELEASE IN 1987, HE ISSUED A FURTHER STATEMENT INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING WORDS, “
A
S A CONCERNED
I
RISH-
A
MERICAN
C
ATHOLIC,
I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE
T
ROOPS
O
UT MOVEMENT AND ALL EFFORTS DESIGNED TO ASSURE EQUAL HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL CITIZENS OF
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND.
T
HERE IS NO PLACE IN
I
RELAND FOR
B
RITISH TROOPS OR SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.”

T
HE COMMENTS WERE ESPECIALLY INSENSITIVE BECAUSE FEELINGS WERE RUNNING EXTRA HIGH THAT SAME YEAR FOLLOWING RELENTLESS
IRA
VIOLENCE, INCLUDING MORE MURDERS OF
B
RITISH TROOPS AND THE
R
EMEMBRANCE
S
UNDAY BOMB WHICH KILLED ELEVEN OF THE CIVILIANS WHO HAD GATHERED AT THE CENOTAPH IN
E
NNISKILLEN,
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND, TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO THE WAR DEAD.

W
ITH HIS GRANDPARENTS COMING FROM
C
ORK,
M
ICKEY HAD LONG been interested in the Irish Troubles and had very definite ideas about the economic and sectarian problems which would have motivated his movie character to pick up a gun and join the Provos. His research for the film included reading a biography of IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands and going on a two-day fact-finding mission to Belfast – during which he stayed at the most exclusive hotel in the city.

M
ICKEY CLAIMED TO HAVE MET
IRA
MEMBERS WHO HAD HELPED HIM BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND SITUATION AND SAID AFTER HIS VISIT, “
I
LEARNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM – HOW THE
C
ATHOLIC MINORITY’S CIVIL RIGHTS GET STOMPED ON LIKE THE BLACKS IN
A
MERICA.
H
OW LITTLE BOYS SEE THEIR GRANDFATHERS UNABLE TO GET WORK BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION.
I
SAW THE GRAVEYARDS FILLED WITH GUYS WHO DIED AT 18, 20 OR 22.”

M
EANWHILE, HE WAS SAID TO BE SURPRISED TO FIND THERE WERE A MILLION
U
NIONISTS IN
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND BECAUSE HE HAD ASSUMED EVERYONE THERE WAS FIGHTING TO GET THE
B
RITISH OUT.
A PRAYER FOR THE DYING
HAD BEEN DUE TO OPEN THE 1987
L
ONDON
F
ILM
F
ESTIVAL BUT WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE EVENT DUE TO ONGOING REAL-LIFE
IRA
ATROCITIES.
W
HEN IT DID OPEN, THE FILM FLOPPED AT THE BOX OFFICE.

C
LEARLY,
M
ICKEY HAD LITTLE GRASP OF THE REAL SITUATION IN
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND BUT IT DIDN’T STOP HIM SPEAKING OUT ANYWAY BECAUSE HE FELT SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE SUBJECT.
D
ESPITE ALL THE CONTROVERSY CAUSED THAT TIME, HE FOOLISHLY RETURNED TO THE THEME TWO YEARS LATER, AND GOT INTO EVEN MORE TROUBLE.
A
T THE 1989
C
ANNES
F
ILM
F
ESTIVAL PRESS CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE HIS ROLE AS
S
T.
F
RANCIS OF
A
SSISI IN THE FILM
FRANCESCO
,
M
ICKEY WAS ASKED IF HE WAS AWARE THAT
M
ARGARET
T
HATCHER HAD QUOTED
S
T.
F
RANCIS WHEN SHE WAS FIRST ELECTED
B
RITISH PRIME MINISTER IN 1979.
H
E REPLIED, “
I
REALLY DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.
M
RS.
T
HATCHER SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IN TO THE HUNGER-STRIKERS OF
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND.”

T
HEN HE LET SLIP THAT HE HAD GIVEN AWAY A PERCENTAGE OF HIS FEE FOR
FRANCESCO
TO “CERTAIN CAUSES IN
N
ORTHERN
I
RELAND.”
P
RESSED BY THE
B
RITISH REPORTERS TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT THOSE CAUSES WERE, HE MADE A VAGUE MENTION OF A FUND FOR
J
OE
D
OHERTY, A NOTORIOUS
IRA
GUNMAN WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING
SAS
CAPTAIN
H
ERBERT
W
ESTMACOTT BUT ESCAPED TO THE
U
NITED
S
TATES WHERE HE WAS CURRENTLY FIGHTING EXTRADITION BACK TO
B
RITAIN FOR COMPLETION OF HIS LIFE SENTENCE.

T
HE
B
RITISH PRESS NATURALLY HAD A FIELD DAY WITH THE NAMING OF
M
ICKEY AS ONE OF
D
OHERTY’S HIGH-PROFILE SUPPORTERS AND, THE NEXT MORNING, HEADLINES SUCH AS “
Y
OU
V
ILE
B
RAT” WERE SCREAMING OUT FROM NEWSSTANDS FROM
P
ENZANCE TO
P
ERTH.
I
NCENSED
C
ONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
H
ARRY
G
REENWAY LED CALLS FOR
M
ICKEY TO BE BANNED FROM VISITING THE
UK
EVER AGAIN.
F
ELLOW
T
ORY
MP
I
VOR
S
TANBROOK RAGED, “
H
IS STATEMENT IN
C
ANNES IS PROOF THAT
M
ICKEY
R
OURKE IS HELPING TO FINANCE THE
IRA
.”

T
HE
B
RITISH GOVERNMENT HAD TO ANSWER THE GROWING CLAMOR FOR ACTION AGAINST THE MOVIE STAR BY STATING IT HAD NO POWER TO BAN HIM UNDER THE
P
REVENTION OF
T
ERRORISM
A
CT UNLESS THE MONEY HAD ACTUALLY CHANGED HANDS IN
B
RITAIN.
M
ICKEY WAS STUNNED BY THE OUTCRY AS HE HADN’T GIVEN ANY MONEY TO TERRORISTS, BUT ONLY CLARIFIED HIS REMARKS AFTER HE HAD BEEN BURIED UNDER A TORRENT OF CRITICISM.
I
N A BID TO CALM THE FURY, HE ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING, “
M
Y REMARKS WERE AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE, A LITTLE CONFUSED AND CERTAINLY MISUNDERSTOOD.
I
HAVE NEVER GIVEN FUNDS TO THE IRA, Joe Doherty or anyone connected with the IRA and have no intention of doing so in the future. It is my desire to assist charitable organizations who provide help to the children who are innocent victims of the circumstances in Northern Ireland.”

H
IS MANAGER AND SPOKESPERSON OF THE TIME,
J
ANE
K
ATCHMER, EXPLAINED THAT
M
ICKEY HAD NEVER SPOKEN TO
D
OHERTY BUT HAD RECEIVED SOME CORRESPONDENCE FROM HIM ABOUT CHARITIES THAT HELP POOR AND HOMELESS PEOPLE, AND HAD ASKED HER TO CHECK OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE LEGITIMATE.
W
HEN HE ARRIVED IN
C
ANNES, HE THOUGHT SHE HAD DONE THAT AND THE MONEY HAD BEEN SENT, WHILE, IN ACTUAL FACT, SHE WAS STILL LOOKING INTO IT.
S
HE SAID
M
ICKEY HAD WANTED TO SUPPORT GROUPS THAT TAKE CHILDREN FROM THE FIGHTING AREAS TO THE
U
NITED
S
TATES ON HOLIDAY AND SHOW THEM THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES IN LIFE THAN PICKING UP A GUN.
N
OW, IF HE HAD JUST SAID THAT, HE WOULDN’T HAVE PUT HIS CAREER AND REPUTATION AT RISK.
B
UT THAT’S
M
ICKEY
R
OURKE FOR YOU – HE LIVES ON THE EDGE.

M
ICKEY VOWED NEVER TO SPOUT OFF REGARDING POLITICS AGAIN BUT COULDN’T HELP HIMSELF DURING
G
EORGE
W
.
B
USH’S FINAL YEAR IN THE
W
HITE
H
OUSE.
M
ICKEY WAS ONE OF THE FEW CELEBRITIES TO SPEAK UP FOR THE UNPOPULAR, OUTGOING PRESIDENT AND SAID HE FELT HE HAD DONE A GREAT JOB.
J
UST AHEAD OF THE
N
OVEMBER 2008 ELECTION, HE SAID HOW MUCH HE ADMIRED CONTROVERSIAL VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
S
ARAH
P
ALIN FOR HER PLAIN-SPEAKING WAYS.
J
UST DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION HE USED THE WORD “FAGGOT” AS AN INSULTING TERM AGAINST THAT REPORTER WHO HAD WRITTEN A CRITICAL STORY ABOUT HIM.

E
VEN THOUGH HE LATER APOLOGIZED FOR HIS BEHAVIOR,
M
ICKEY PICKED A LOUSY TIME TO UPSET THE GAY COMMUNITY.
T
HE HOMOPHOBIA DEBATE WAS RAGING AROUND
C
ALIFORNIA THAT MONTH AS THE
S
TATE’S ELECTORATE HAD JUST CONTROVERSIALLY VOTED AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE.
A
FEW MONTHS EARLIER,
TV
ACTOR
I
SAIAH
W
ASHINGTON HAD LOST HIS JOB ON
GREY’S ANATOMY
FOR USING THE SAME GAY SLUR TO CHARACTERIZE ONE OF HIS CO-STARS, AND HIS CAREER HAS STRUGGLED TO HIT THE HEIGHTS EVER SINCE.
A
DDING TO THE LACK OF SENSITIVITY WAS THE FACT THAT
M
ICKEY WAS IN AN
O
SCAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST AN ACTOR PLAYING A CHAMPION OF GAY RIGHTS –
S
EAN
P
ENN AS
H
ARVEY
M
ILK.

T
HINGS GOT WORSE FOR
M
ICKEY WHEN REPORTS EMERGED OF HIM SUPPOSEDLY SENDING A LEAKED TEXT MESSAGE TRASHING
P
ENN’S PERFORMANCE IN THE FILM
MILK
AND CALLING HIM “ONE OF THE MOST HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE
I
KNOW.”
I
T SEEMED UNLIKELY AS THE TWO ARE FRIENDS AND
M
ICKEY HAD PRAISED
P
ENN’S PERFORMANCE IN A NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW AT THE TIME.
M
ICKEY’S PUBLICIST WENT INTO FIRE-FIGHTING MODE, INSISTING, “
T
HERE IS NO
O
SCAR FEUD BETWEEN
M
ICKEY AND
S
EAN.
T
HEY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER AND BEEN FRIENDS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
M
ICKEY ATTENDED THE
N
EW
Y
ORK PREMIERE OF
MILK
TO SUPPORT
S
EAN AND ONLY HAS THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR HIM.”
S
HE DID NOT DIRECTLY CALL THE TEXT A FAKE, BUT OFFERED INSTEAD THAT “
M
ICKEY IS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE TEXT.”

M
ICKEY CALLED UP
P
ENN AFTER THE STORY BROKE TO TRY AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION, BUT
S
EAN SAID HE HADN’T READ IT, DIDN’T WANT TO DO SO, AND IT DIDN’T MATTER ANYWAY.
T
HEY REMAIN ON GOOD TERMS.

M
ICKEY NEEDED TO BE ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOR IN THE RUN-UP TO THE
O
SCARS BECAUSE IT IS WELL KNOWN IN
H
OLLYWOOD THAT CONSERVATIVE
A
CADEMY VOTERS DON’T ALWAYS FILL IN THEIR BALLOTS SOLELY BASED ON WHO GAVE THE BEST PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO CONSIDER HOW THE FRONT RUNNERS CONDUCT THEMSELVES OFF SCREEN.
A
PROFANITY-LADEN SPEECH AT THE
B
RITISH
A
CADEMY
A
WARDS AND OTHER UNFORTUNATE PUBLIC comments didn’t help his cause and may well have cost Mickey some crucial votes.