The boxer-turned-Hollywood-star made a divisive first impression on Celebrity Brother this week – as fans blasted his ‘creepy’ behaviour with presenter AJ Odudu.
But Mickey Rourke, 72, has for years attracted mixed reactions from fans, after a tumultuous past both in and out of the spotlight – and one of the hottest topics discussed is his ever-changing appearance.
Part of the 80s action star’s turbulent history is his martial arts background, and the injuries he endured as a result of years in the ring – and he has openly discussed many of the cosmetic procedures he has had since.
The New-York born athlete was only 12 when he won his first ever match – and in 1991, after he fell foul of Hollywood, he re-entered the ring as a professional at the age of 39.
‘I went back because of shame,’ he told the Daily Mail in 2009. ‘I was a good amateur and took a year off due to concussion. I grew up in a gym in Miami, the one where Muhammad Ali trained. I had 142 amateur fights and lost three.’
He had intended to return to the ring for just one bout, but that spiralled into eight, until he was advised to stop because of neurological problems.
‘I didn’t lose any pro fights, but I got properly kicked every day in the gym,’ he says.
‘I sparred with James Toney, who kicked my a** for 18 months, but now I look at him as the guy who beat Evander Holyfield and think: ‘Hey! I’m not so bad.’
1986: Part of the 80s action star’s turbulent history is his martial arts background, and the injuries he endured as a result of years in the ring – and he has openly discussed many of the cosmetic procedures he has had since
1988: The New-York born athlete was only 12 when he won his first ever match – and in 1991, after he fell foul of Hollywood, he re-entered the ring as a professional at the age of 39
1996: Mickey Rourke has for years attracted mixed reactions from fans, after a tumultuous past both in and out of the spotlight – and one of the hottest topics discussed is his ever-changing appearance
2002: For years, Mickey’s face has attracted speculation, as many wondered if his varying looks were down to years of boxing or ‘bad surgery’
‘I had my nose broken twice. I had five operations on my nose and one on a smashed cheekbone.
‘I had to have cartilage taken from my ear to rebuild my nose and a couple of operations to scrape out the cartilage because the scar tissue wasn’t healing properly. That was one of the most painful operations, but the worst was haemorrhoids.’
For years, Mickey’s face has attracted speculation, as many wondered if his varying looks were down to years of boxing or ‘bad surgery’.
‘Most of it was to mend the mess of my face because of the boxing, but I went to the wrong guy to put my face back together,’ he explained.
That same year, his first wife Debra Feuer claimed, while speaking to the Mirror, that Mickey’s bouts of procedures were largely because he was ‘so insecure’.
‘He got worse when he met his second wife, Carre Otis,’ the former actress – who was married to him from 1981 to 1989 – told the outlet.
2011: Mickey, pictured in 2011, has been open about his past with cosmetic procedures following a career in boxing
2016: The Hollywood star pictured in 2016. Mickey has also discussed how he prepared for roles
2021: Mickey, pictured in 2021, has discussed about needing cosmetic procedures in past interviews
2025: Mickey, who is now on Celebrity Big Brother, has spoken about procedures and even documented some on social media
‘She had issues with drugs but she was so beautiful that Mickey wanted to be a part of her world. That’s when the plastic surgery started. He’ll kill me for saying this but he wanted the part in one film so badly that he got cheek implants.
‘He told me he was swollen because he’d had his molar teeth removed. But I knew that was untrue – he didn’t have any molars to take out.’
In 2017 – eight years on – Mickey took to Instagram once again to share that he had had a ‘nose job’.
‘Moments after ‘ nose surgery with Dr. Dhir,’ he penned, along with a picture of himself bandaged up in a hospital bed. ‘Now i am ‘pretty again ‘:(lol)…one more to go. ‘I don’t know what day it is don’t even realize operation is over.’
The actor has also attracted speculation about his hair, after being spotted wearing wigs.
Experts at Belgravia Centre, a hair loss clinic in London, suggested it’s possible that Mickey may have had a ‘hair transplant’ some time between 2005 -2008, and likely was doing so to conceal signs of ‘male pattern balding’.
‘Around two-thirds of men will have experienced significant hair loss by the time they are the same age as Mickey Rourke, so it is no surprise to see his hairline echoing that of the majority,’ a post on the treatment centre’s site read.
‘Whilst some men opt for a hair loss treatment programme to regrow lost hair, or shave their heads and accept their balding, Rourke appears to have taken the route of wearing a hair piece.
In 2017 – eight years on – Mickey took to Instagram to once again to share that he had had a ‘nose job’
Mickey has also in past shared his cuts and scrapes on social media; in April 2022, he shared a wince-worthy photo of a forehead injury after skateboarding
And the star has also recently reflected on his own feelings about changing his appearance. Pictured left in 1980, and right, now on Celebrity Big Brother
‘Extensions and weaves are bonded to the wearer’s existing hair, as close as possible to the scalp. The weight of these new additions places the hair follicles under constant strain, which can eventually stretch them out of shape. This deformation, known as Traction Alopecia, may eventually cause the attached hair to fall out and can prevent future regrowth.’
Mickey has also in past shared his cuts and scrapes on social media; in April 2022, he shared a wince-worthy photo of a forehead injury after skateboarding.
And the star has also recently reflected on his own feelings about changing his appearance.
In October, he opened up about his regret over taking steroids and eating huge meals six times a day to gain weight for his role in 2008 movie, The Wrestler.
The actor always denied using the performance-enhancing drug to achieve his muscle-bound look in the Oscar-nominated film. But as he looked back on the role on Instagram, he finally admitted to using the drug and said it took him four or five years to shift the weight.
Mickey shared a snap of himself in the movie alongside a caption which read: ‘Was just finishing up my nightly 2 hr trainning. [sic] I was thinking back to when I did a film called the Wrestler.’
‘I honestly regret putting on 70 pounds to look the part.. I did not feel comfortable in my own skin and it took almost 4 or 5 years to get back to 180.
‘It was not a great well thought out plan, I of course used steroids and ate enormous amounts of food 6 times a day.
In October, he opened up about his regret over taking steroids and eating huge meals six times a day to gain weight for his role in 2008 movie, The Wrestler
Mickey got candid with his followers on Instagram over his use of steroids as a warning to other people who want to bulk up their appearance
‘Was very stupid on my part my, only real accomplishment was long hrs in gym. I regret it but I’ve made many dumb ass decisions in my life. I cringe when I see photos of myself.
‘I never said I was the sharpest pencil in the box. Oh well I was thinking out loud and thought perhaps I could get this mesg out to some young dude who wants to get bigger and bigger.’
The film followed a faded professional wrestler who must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.
For his role in the movie as Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, Mickey earned himself an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
In 2009, Mickey hit back at claims he used growth hormones or controversial sports drugs to enhance his physique.
He told Men’s journal: ‘I did some stuff. You wouldn’t classify it as steroids, but I did some heavy duty supplements… but not the regular stuff.’
Mickey’s Hollywood career reached its peak in 1986 when he won the leading male role in the erotic drama 9 1/2 Weeks opposite Kim Basinger.
But the lead roles faded away as he dipped in and out of the movie business and boxing until he got a second shot at a meaty part with Sin City in 2005, a role he has reprised for the sequel with Jessica Alba.
The star admitted that at one point, he was blacklisted in Hollywood for being too difficult to work with but thanked younger directors for the reason his acting career was resurrected.
‘The young guys are cool. They don’t care about what they hear. They judge me by my acting ability, not my old reputation,’ the eighties action star explained to Fox News .
‘I have a love/hate relationship with acting. I enjoy what I’m doing at the moment because I can give everything that I’m taught. I have my confidence.’
