Mickey Rourke has turned to crowdfunding after being threatened with eviction from his Los Angeles home over unpaid rent. The 73-year-old actor, who was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for his role in The Wrestler, owes US$59,100 (£44,000) after his landlord filed a lawsuit, with court documents showing he had failed to comply with an eviction notice issued in December.
A GoFundMe page, set up with Rourke's full permission by Liya-Joelle Jones, a friend and member of his management team, has so far raised more than US$33,000 towards a US$100,000 target. Jones told the Hollywood Reporter: "Mickey is going through a very difficult time right now, and it's been incredibly touching to see how many people care about him and want to help."
The fundraising page describes Rourke as "an icon" whose "trajectory, as painful as it is, is also a deeply human one". It adds: "Fame does not protect against hardship, and talent does not guarantee stability." The goal, it says, is to give Rourke "stability and peace of mind" so he can stay in his home and "get back on his feet".
Court documents filed in Los Angeles superior court show Rourke signed the lease in March, agreeing to pay $5,200 a month, which was later raised to $7,000. The property was once home to Raymond Chandler, author of The Big Sleep, in the 1940s.
Rourke, known for 1980s films such as Diner and 9½ Weeks, and later Sin City and Iron Man 2, last year was ejected from Celebrity Big Brother UK after multiple instances of inappropriate language and behaviour, including remarks about fellow contestant JoJo Siwa's sexuality. He later said: "I'm ashamed of myself." His manager subsequently announced legal action against the show, claiming producers had refused to pay his full agreed fee after his exit.
