Fans of Celebrity Big Brother are eagerly awaiting the latest batch of famous faces ready to entertain on the small screen. Among this year’s roll call is EastEnders icon Patsy Palmer, musician Chesney Hawkes, and former Love Island star Chris Hughes.
However, it’s a Hollywood star that producers will be hoping will produce his usual uncensored opinion and prove to be a big hit on the ITV series. Step forward Mickey Rourke. The US actor, 72, may look unrecognisable as he enters the abode thanks to his new hair, but bosses will be hoping his personality won’t have changed.
On a number of occasions, the ’80s film star – who featured in films such as Rumble Fish, Angel Heart and The Wrestler – hasn’t been afraid to speak his mind. Here, we look at some of his most glaring outbursts.
Speaking to Piers Morgan in 2022, Mickey branded Top Gun star Tom Cruise “irrelevant”. He answered the former Good Morning Britain’s man’s question on his thoughts about Tom Cruise making so much on the Top Gun sequel.
Mickey said: “That does mean s*** to me. The guy’s been doing the same effing part for thirty-five years. I’ve got no respect for that.”
He went on the fume: “I don’t care about money and power, I care about — when I watch Al Pacino work, and Chris Walken, and De Niro’s early work, and Richard Harris’ work, and Ray Winstone’s work… those are the actors I wanna be like…” before branding Tom “irrelevant, in my world“.
As well as Top Gun’s Tom, Mickey made has feelings known about the Marvel franchise. He boldly labelled the hugely successful movies “s***,” despite previously appearing in Iron Man 2. However, he had praise for long-running crime drama, Law & Order.
He said: “Respect to all of you, the work that you all do is real acting, not like that crap that all on Marvel s***.”
Despite earning a living from his reputation in Hollywood, the actor previously accused some in the movie industry from prioritising personal lives over talent.
In 2006, the Sin City star questioned how some people were picked for roles. “It’s not really about acting,” he said. “It’s about the publicity. It’s about which idiot is going out with this one, which idiot had a baby.
“In real life, people have babies all the time and it’s no big deal. But that’s what the movie business has turned into.”
Mickey’s heated feud with Robert De Niro can be traced as far back as 1987. Prior to that, it’s thought Mickey had referred to Robert as a role modal.
However, it’s thought that their time together on 1987 flick Angel Heart promptly changed his opinion. Robert is said to have told Mickey: “I think it’s better if we don’t talk because of characters in the movie. It’s better if we don’t say hello, talk or anything.”
Mickey said the comment came after he had “schooled” him. “Before that, no other actor took him to school,”he told reporters.
Publicly attacking the famous actor, Mickey added: “It hurt my feelings a little bit ’cause I looked up to him. I don’t look up to him no more; I look through him. I came up from the s***. He doesn’t know that life. I lived that f***ing life, so every time I look him in the face, I look right through his a**hole.”
He went on to allege their had also been occasions Robert had “refused to work with me in a movie”.
Robert then issued a statement through his representative Stan Rosenfeld where he clarified that The Irishman’s producers and casting director never considered Rourke.
However, Mickey again took aim and promised his fellow actor he was “embarrass” him if they ever met again.
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