Exclusive photographs obtained by the Daily Mail reveal Hollywood icon Mickey Rourke was still enjoying lavish nights out in Los Angeles even as serious financial troubles mounted behind the scenes. The 73-year-old actor was seen in high spirits, dining at the fashionable Little Door Italian restaurant in West Hollywood in December, sporting a cream-coloured jacket and matching cowboy hat.
Mounting Debts and Eviction Notices
This stylish outing came just days before the actor would resurface looking gaunt and bald, amid revelations of severe money woes. Court filings show Rourke was served with a three-day notice on December 18, demanding nearly $60,000 (approximately £47,000) in unpaid rent for a three-bedroom home he began renting on March 30. The monthly rent was initially $5,200 but was raised to $7,000 from his second month of occupancy.
The plaintiff, Eric T. Goldie, is seeking not only the back rent but also legal fees and to terminate the lease, which could see Rourke evicted even if he pays the outstanding amount. This marks a stark contrast to images from August 2025, where the actor appeared markedly less polished at the same property, suggesting the financial strain was taking a visible toll.
A Controversial GoFundMe and Public Denial
In a bid to address the debt, a GoFundMe campaign was launched on January 4 by Liya-Joelle Jones, who claimed to work as an assistant to Rourke's manager, Kimberly Hines. The fundraiser quickly met its $100,000 goal, indicating strong fan support for the troubled star. However, the situation quickly unravelled.
The very next day, Rourke posted an Instagram video vehemently denying any knowledge of the fundraiser and refusing to accept what he called "charity." Clad in a pink T-shirt, the 'Sin City' star stated, "If I needed money, I wouldn't ask for no f*****g charity. I'd rather stick a gun up my a** and pull the trigger." He urged supporters not to donate and to seek refunds if they had. Following this, GoFundMe confirmed the campaign was deleted and all donations were refunded.
A Career of Highs and Lows
This financial drama caps a turbulent period for the Oscar-nominated actor, who was removed from Big Brother UK last year for inappropriate behaviour. Rourke, once a top Hollywood heartthrob in the 1980s, left acting in the early 90s to pursue boxing, a career that led to facial injuries requiring reconstructive surgery.
Reflecting on his career management, Rourke admitted he has "done a really terrible job," citing a lack of diplomacy and the need for extensive therapy. Despite his current predicament, he insisted he would "never ask strangers or fans or anybody for a nickel," claiming he had borrowed money from a friend instead. His manager, Kimberly Hines, noted a silver lining, revealing the publicity had generated four new movie offers for the actor, who has been largely absent from screens in recent years.
