01:12 AM EDT 04/14/2013
Mickey Rourke
 |
Mickey Rourke's Tough Ab Workout in N.Y.C.
Originally posted 08/12/2011 06:00AM
 |
Mickey Rourke Calls His Girlfriend a 'Gift From Heaven'
Originally posted 01/21/2010 06:20PM
A year after his emotional comeback performance earned him a Golden Globe for The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke was once again on cloud nine at this year's show, thanks to the new love he squired down the red carpet.
Rourke's girlfriend – who has widely been misidentified on the Internet – is Russian-born model Anastassija Makarenko, Rourke reveals exclusively to PEOPLE. "She's a gift from heaven," says the actor, 57, who seemed smitten as he kept a tight grip the stunning blonde throughout the evening.
"Obviously she's a very beautiful woman," says Rourke. "But she's got the biggest heart, she's got a great family, she's really close to her mother and father – they're great people."
 |
Mickey Rourke Scores a Knockout at Wrestlemania
Originally posted 04/06/2009 01:05PM
Mickey Rourke, who earned an Oscar nomination for his work in The Wrestler, stepped into the ring again on Sunday, this time to fight professional wrestler Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 25.
After watching Jericho knock out wrestling legends Ric Flair, Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat, Rourke, 56 climbed into the ring at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, to spar with the 38-year-old Jericho.
Rourke, who took a hiatus from acting in 1991 to resume a boxing career, seemed to remember his training inside the ring. It took a single left-handed punch to subdue Jericho, who laid on the mat in stunned silence.
For several weeks, Jericho and Rourke have taunted each other outside the ring. At one point, Rourke even backed out of the match before agreeing to appear. The crowd was clearly entertained, giving Rourke a standing ovation as he exited the ring.
– Steve Helling
 |
Mickey Rourke Wins, Gives Rambling Speech at Spirit Awards
Originally posted 02/21/2009 11:15PM
Comeback star Mickey Rourke got a standing ovation after giving a riotous, decidedly uncensored acceptance speech for winning the best actor award at the Spirit Awards on Saturday.
The Wrestler star, 56, dedicated the trophy to his beloved Chihuahua, Loki, who passed away last week. "I've just gotten thousands of letters from strangers and people that know me about my dog that died six days ago, Loki. This is for you, baby," said the actor, who has been riding a career resurgence thanks to his role as a washed-up prizefighter in the drama.
He gave an extended shout-out to his friend, actor Eric Roberts, calling Roberts "probably the best actor I have ever worked with. I don't know why in the last 15 years, no one has given him the chance to show his s--- again."
Roberts, the brother of Julia Roberts and father of Emma Roberts, has enjoyed a bit of a career resurgence with appearances in the The Dark Knight and Heroes. He was sitting in the audience and shouted to Rourke, "Accept your award!"
Rourke also thanked the film's director, Darren Aronofsky, and his costar, Marisa Tomei, whose name he momentarily forgot.
"Not many girls can climb the pole," said Rourke, referring to Tomei's role as a stripper in the movie. "She climbed the pole, and she did it well."
 |
How the Bets Are Falling on the Oscars
Originally posted 02/19/2009 03:20PM
Second to the Super Bowl, betting on the Oscars is a gambler's favorite pastime, according to Doc's Sports Service, an online handicapper.
While Las Vegas doesn't post odds on the Oscars, due to Nevada Gaming Commission rules, offline betting services do, according to Doc's.
As for those favored to end up holding Hollywood's most cherished golden boy on Sunday night – ABC broadcasts the Oscars from the Kodak Theater starting at 8 p.m. – the good doctor recommends putting your money on the following:
 |
Mickey Rourke: My Dogs Saved My Life
Originally posted 02/17/2009 04:15PM
Mickey Rourke, who thanked his dogs during his Golden Globes best actor acceptance speech, says his pooches received a shout-out for one simple reason: They were there for him during his darkest hour more than a decade ago.
"I sort of self-destructed and everything came out about fourteen years ago or so ... the wife had left, the career was over, the money was not an ounce," Rourke, 56, reveals during the Oscar night edition of The Barbara Walters Special, of which PEOPLE has an exclusive preview. "The dogs were there when no one else was there."
But the star of The Wrestler says his split from ex-wife, actress-model Carre Otis, 40, further exacerbated his personal turmoil. "What happened was, I was not in a really good place in my head and my heart, and I think when the wife left, it all came down and I didn't want to be here."
 |
Mickey Rourke Expects to Applaud Sean Penn Oscar Night
Originally posted 02/03/2009 11:20AM
Mickey Rourke's dogs may be left in the cold come Oscar night.
Rourke thanked "all his dogs" when he won the Golden Globe Award for best actor last month, saying, "Sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you got is your dog. And they've meant the world to me."
But on Feb. 22, the comeback king doesn't anticipate another shout-out to his beloved pooches.
"I'll probably be up there clapping for Sean Penn," Rourke told PEOPLE Monday at the 81st annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon, in Beverly Hills. "I don't think that far ahead."
Penn, who stars in Milk, is The Wrestler actor's main competition for the Best Actor Academy Award.
 |
PHOTO: Mickey Rourke's New PETA Ad
Originally posted 01/14/2009 06:00PM
First, Mickey Rourke thanked his dogs after his Best Actor win at Sunday's Golden Globes ceremony for his role in The Wrestler.
Now, Rourke is posing with his pup in a new spay and neuter campaign.
Cradling his Chihuahua, Jaws, in PETA's new ad, the actor urges people to "have the cojones to fix your dog. When dogs get knocked up, puppies get put down because there aren't enough homes for them."
 |
Evan Rachel Wood Finds a New Love – A Cat!
Originally posted 12/17/2008 07:30AM
She broke up with Marilyn Manson last month, but Evan Rachel Wood insists she's not ready to wade back into the dating pool.
"I'm not really looking for any kind of guy now," she told PEOPLE Monday night at the premiere of her new film, The Wrestler. "I just got a new boy cat. He's the only man in my life right now."
What's his name? "Nicodemus, after the king of the rats in the Secret of NIMH," said the actress (who recently denied rumors linking her to costar Mickey Rourke). A cat named after the King of the Rats. He's all I need right now."
 |
Evan Rachel Wood Denies Dating Mickey Rourke
Originally posted 11/10/2008 08:00AM
Gossip Web sites are abuzz with sightings of the newly single Evan Rachel Wood and Mickey Rourke, her much older costar in The Wrestler. But the actress – who split from rocker Marilyn Manson last month – wants the world to know that they're just friends.
"Spread the word – I'm not dating Mickey Rourke," Wood told PEOPLE at Sunday's Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards presented by Hollywood Life. "Everybody thinks we're dating and we're not."
That's a sentiment the 21-year-old actress reiterated in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE: "Mickey and I bonded while shooting The Wrestler and we became friends, but nothing more. I guess, because of my recent break up, I will be linked to many people, but I am not interested in pursuing a relationship at this point in my life. Any such rumor should not be taken seriously."
Top 5 Most Voted Stories
-
angry
Mila Kunis's Super-Low Slung Jeans: Sexy Or <em>So</em> 2001?
-
love
Nick and JoAnna Garcia Swisher Introduce Daughter Emerson Jay
-
love
Katy Perry: Russell Brand Said He Was Divorcing Me Via Text
-
angry
Kim Kardashian Tells Ryan Seacrest Motherhood Is 'So Crazy'
-
love
Brittny Gastineau Gushes: Kim Kardashian's 'Baby Is Beyond Beautiful'
Top 10 News Categories
The most buzzed about stars this minute!
Treat Yourself! 4 Preview Issues
More On People.com
Got a News Tip?
Send it to our People.com editors!
News Archive
