Mickey Rourke: Wrestling With Demons

by Sandro Monetti

This talented but troubled star who first came to fame in ’80s hits like 9 1/2 Weeks and Angel Heart, spectacularly fell from grace in an orgy of self-destruction. As an actor, he gained a trouble-maker reputation, often fighting with producers, showing up late to sets and not learning lines, raising hell and turning down star-making lead roles. Rourke’s acting career eventually became overshadowed by his personal life and career decisions.
In 1991, Rourke decided to go back to his first love: boxing. During his boxing career, he suffered a number of injuries that resulted in a dramatic physical change. Too beaten-up to carry on boxing, Mickey tried to make a return to movies, but only found work in a succession of low budget, low quality flops. What was Rourke’s problem? What personal demons drove him to sabotage his acting career, drawing him steadily down into his own private hell?
Mickey Rourke: Wrestling with Demons chronicles the star’s extraordinary adventure through life, from his nightmare childhood, broken marriages, arrests, and brain damage to a suicidal visit to a New York Church, the death of his brother in his arms, and to his Academy award nomination for The Wrestler. Written with passion, insight and expertise by respected show business reporter, Sandro Monetti, this is a very human and compelling story.

Genres: Biography, Biography Memoir

Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2009

About the author

Ultimate Hollywood insider Sandro Monetti is a respected leading entertainment journalist who has interviewed all of the biggest stars in the world, including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Madonna and Paul McCartney.
His acclaimed books (biographies of Mickey Rourke and Colin Firth), articles and radio and TV reports whisk readers from Tinseltown parties to set visits and red carpet award shows around the world, capturing compelling celebrity stories told with pace, power and passion.
This Los Angeles based Brit has worked for leading media organisations such as the BBC, Sky TV and Express Newspapers and recently helped create and teach the world's first BA university degree course in celebrity journalism.
He has performed his hit one man stage show 'Clooney, Cowell, Pitt and Me: Amuing Encounters with the A-List'around the world including in London's West End and Off Broadway in New York.
Sandro moderates Q&As with movie stars for BAFTA/LA as well as the American Cinematheque and movie studios, makes frequent TV appearances as a showbiz expert is an event host.
He wrote and directed the short film spoof of Les Msierables, Miserable Lesbians, which won a record 8 Toscars (parody awards) and became a You Tube favorite. He has now adapted Mis Les for the stage in a full length musical which will be performed internationally from summer 2013.
Sandro loves 80s movies, underdog sports teams and is a licensed exorcist...seriously.
Learn more at www.sandromonetti.com

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i know he's a strange bird, but i think thats why i like him so much!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could easily be entitled” Everything Mickey Rourke.” It discusses his marriages with Debra Feuer and then Carre Ottis, who he met while filming “Wild Orchid” in 1989. This book discusses Rourke’s childhood. His mother and father got divorced. Mickey’s mother remarried, and Mickey and his stepfather did not get along. In fact, Mickey claims that his stepfather bullied him and beat him. Mickey has been in therapy for years which has helped calm him down. When he was a young actor in Hollywood, he was very rebellious and difficult for others to work with as he did not care for authority and did not have a lot of trust, must of this due to his difficult childhood. This book describes many of the movies he has been in including his come back film, “The Wrestler.” I thoroughly enjoyed this biography. It was well written and informative and fun to read.

[Etienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very well written and with all the anecdotes I kind of feel like we pass through lot of thing but we miss the essential. There is also the fact that mot of it is based on memory from Mickey, who have a tendency to exaggerate thing a little, even the author say so... so we're not even sure if what we read is entirely true.

[Julie Rautio smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, the author loves Mr. Rourke. Quick read. I learned a few things I didn't know about Mr. Rourke and his career choices. Sad to see someone with his talent throw away all those years --boxing? He was awesome in "The Wrestler" -- and he's a dog lover, (albeit little ankle biting chihuahuas) so he's got a few things going for him. I hope in the future someone writes a better bio of his life.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was definitely an interesting read about one of Hollywood's quirkier stars, however it is glaringly obvious that the biographer has a huge man-crush on Mickey Rourke. You would think he walks on water based on this author's opinion.

[Sharon Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, which I purchased after watching the Wrestler. I appreciate that Mr. Rourke had a crap childhood, but then, so do a lot of other people and they rise above it and don’t behave like spoilt entitled brats. He had too much, too soon and couldn’t handle it, hence he activated the self destruct button.
After losing everything, at least he had the humility to admit to his mistakes and claw his way back from obscurity. I admire and applaud him for getting back on track with his life, and what really endears me to him is his obvious love for animals and his beloved dogs. As he says, when he was so low he couldn’t see a way out, he just couldn’t abandon his dogs, he had to keep trying. I think the author did a great job with this book and I was sorry when I reached the last page.

[Margie Pearson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It makes a good sleeping pill.

[dizzy pickles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love him so much his great

[Dee Kendall · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNR I just couldn't. This was stuff you would read in a trashy magazine.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a chance on this book when I saw it in Poundland and needed something to read on a long bus journey. I loved The Wrestler (How could you not?) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (although Mickey didn't think much of this film). This book is written in a very tabloid newspaper style which is unlike any other autobiography I've ever read. I got used to the style and begin to enjoy its gossipy bits. Here are a few to whet your appetites; Rourke called Tom Cruise a very rude word indeed because he expressed anti-psychiatry opinions, Rourke rarely wears underwear and Rourke admired Bush and Palin (I mean George W. Bush and Sarah Palin, rather than the band Bush and Michael Palin). There is a chapter of this book in which a psychologist (not his own actual therapist) gives an assessment of Mickey. This chapter felt like a segment on The Ricki Lake Show when she invites an expert on. This book felt more like a magazine I was reading at the hairdressers but was none the worse for that.

[Mcvalens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always thought Mickey Roark was kind of an interesting character. This was a nice peek into a creative and interesting man. It made me want to search out some of his work and watch with a new perspective.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would have been more personable. It talked more about his movies than the true person he is.

[Dani Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Bad written

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3-3.5*