Rourke Finds Comeback Light at End of Dark Tunnel

After the collapse of his career—admittedly his own fault—Mickey Rourke has found his way back up the Hollywood ladder with his recent Golden Globe for The Wrestler. Despite many promising turns during the 1980s, CNN reports, self-destructive behavior and problems with authority—which Rourke attributes to childhood abuse—culminated in his ditching acting for professional boxing (and taking some literal hits along the way).

Rourke’s acclaimed performance in The Wrestler was not without its costs, however. The role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a wrestler past his prime, bears some resemblance to the actor's own ups and downs. "I knew [director Darren Aronofsky would] want me to revisit some very dark painful places,” said Rourke. But this time, he says, he’s here to stay. (More Mickey Rourke stories.)