Mickey Rourke Unrecognizable As Troubled Star Retreats Into Hiding

Hollywood’s fallen rebel Mickey Rourke has finally been spotted again, but fans could barely recognize the once-golden star.

At 72, the former Hollywood heartthrob, known for his rugged good looks and unforgettable roles in “9 1⁄2 Weeks” and “Angel Heart,” cut a heartbreaking figure outside his Beverly Hills home.

With his career in ruins and his appearance drastically altered by years of boxing injuries and surgery, Rourke looked more like a man retreating from the world than the star he once was.

On August 11, exclusive photos obtained by the Daily Mail showed Mickey Rourke stepping outside his Beverly Hills home for the first time in months.

However, instead of the confident Hollywood heavyweight fans remember, what appeared was a fragile man dressed in a baggy gray hoodie, unzipped to reveal a heavily tattooed chest, loose green sweatpants, and worn white sneakers.

His hair, once thick and dark, was now thin and stark white, and his face looked deeply aged, marked by years of boxing injuries and surgery.

The home itself told its own story. Once a glamorous residence, it now showed signs of neglect, featuring overgrown grass, dead vines, and a front door in need of repair.

On this rare outing, he spoke with a pest control technician for over an hour before retreating inside.

This sighting comes just months after the actor’s dramatic removal from the UK’s “Celebrity Big Brother.”

His time in the house ended in disgrace after his offensive remarks left fellow contestants, including JoJo Siwa, in tears.

Rourke allegedly targeted Siwa with homophobic comments, claiming he could “turn her straight” and repeatedly calling her “the lesbian.”

The singer, while visibly hurt, stood her ground and later said she saw him as a “hurt man” lashing out. But the fallout didn’t end there.

Rourke also left Ella Rae Wise in tears with a crude sexual joke and clashed with Chris Hughes, hurling insults that forced “Big Brother” producers to step in.

After repeated warnings for offensive language, “Big Brother” finally removed Rourke from the house.

The embarrassing exit reminded fans of his long history of explosive temper and self-destructive behavior.

Following his exit from the show, reports revealed that Mickey Rourke might be taking legal action against the show.

Speaking to PEOPLE Magazine in a statement, the star’s manager, Kimberly Hines, revealed that the producers knew exactly what they were signing up for when they cast Rourke, given his reputation as a Hollywood rebel.

“In our discussions, Big Brother was made fully aware of Mickey Rourke’s background and lifestyle," the statement continued.

She said they failed to handle the situation professionally and instead turned his removal into a publicity stunt.

Hines directly criticized ITV, saying, “They took it too far — publicly embarrassing him and using his removal as a marketing tool.”

Hines also revealed that the network was refusing to pay Rourke the full fee he was promised, which his team found both disrespectful and damaging.

According to her, the actor was considering legal options, including possible claims for breach of contract and defamation.

Amid the drama, Siwa pulled back the curtain on what really went down with Rourke inside the “Celebrity Big Brother” UK house.

During an appearance on Nick Viall’s “The Viall Files” podcast, the 22-year-old star called the actor’s behavior “bizarre,” explaining that what fans saw on TV was only a fraction of what happened.

According to the dancer, Rourke constantly targeted her sexuality, often referring to her as “the lesbian,” and even boasted, “I knew what I was saying and that’s why I said it. I wanted to offend you… I like poking at a bear.”

She said his words “shook [her] up,” especially when he told her, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.”

Siwa also revealed that some of his comments were sexually inappropriate.

While Rourke eventually apologized, she admitted the unsettling encounters stuck with her long after filming ended.

Mickey Rourke’s encounter with Siwa isn’t the only thing that has landed him in hot water in recent months.

In April, the former professional boxer made the headlines after Bella Thorne opened up about her encounter with him on set.

In an Instagram Story post, she described working with Rourke on the 2020 thriller “Girl” as “one of the all-time worst experiences of my life.”

The 27-year-old claimed that during a scene where she was kneeling with her hands zip-tied behind her back, Rourke swung a metal grinder near her kneecap, but instead used it against her genitals through her jeans, leaving painful bruises on her pelvic bone.

She added he “revved his engine so he could cover [her] completely in dirt,” seemingly as a cruel act of humiliation in front of the entire crew.

Thorne said she was forced to go into his trailer alone and beg him to finish filming, because he refused to talk to the director or producers.