Award-winning actor Mickey Rourke has built a storied career in Hollywood, with acting credits dating back to the late 1970s. Not only has he taken on a wide variety of roles, but he’s also reinvented his own image many times. Over the years, fans have seen the star rock many different looks, and his appearance has undergone a significant transformation since his early roles.
Some of Rourke’s evolution is a matter of style, but there’s more to the story. Due to boxing injuries and personal preference, the actor has also undergone multiple cosmetic surgery procedures, which have further altered his look. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and see Rourke’s changing looks from the start of his career until now.
Young Rourke Kept it Simple for a ‘Year of the Dragon’ Premiere
GettyMany young actors keep their style simple, and Rourke appears to have taken that same path for some of his early public appearances. Photos of him at a 1985 “Year of the Dragon” film screening show the star rocking a relatively clean-cut look, with tousled hair and a classic white tee. Although he would go on to adopt much bolder looks later in life, the then-thirty-something wasn’t focused on making a big statement with his outfit.
The Early ’90s Saw Him Adopt an Edgier Look
GettyWhen “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man” hit theaters in the early ’90s, Rourke had undergone a full style transformation for the role. Most notably, Rourke said goodbye to the loose waves he rocked in 1985, instead sporting a short, spiky haircut.
Getty“Iâve had some great moments in some of my movies, moments that most of the actors who are around now couldnât touch in another lifetime,” he told the Los Angeles Times in a 1991 interview. “But Iâve made some mistakes, too.” Still, Rourke had many more decades of acting to come — and many more style transformations.
The Actor Went Bright Blonde in the Early 2000s
GettyRourke rang in the new millennium with grown-out hair, but he also opted for a bright blonde hue. He stepped out for the premiere of “The Pledge” in a shimmery ensemble with matching blue glasses that complemented his hair.
Blonde is nothing new for Rourke, whose hair color has shifted between several shades of blonde and brown over the years. However, the color was particularly striking when paired with a cut of this length, and was a huge shift from the close-cut style fans saw him with in some of his ’90s roles.
Boxing Led Rourke to Have Reconstructive Surgeries
GettyRourke isn’t just a typical actor; he’s also a boxer. The star has actually been boxing for longer than he’s been acting, and he has continued to participate in matches well into his 60s.
GettyUnfortunately, his first love has also led to several facial injuries over the years, and subsequent reconstructive surgeries haven’t always yielded great results. “Most of it was to mend the mess of my face because of the boxing,” the star told DailyMail of his plastic surgery experiences. “But I went to the wrong guy to put my face back together.” As Rourke explained, breaking his nose twice led to a whopping five operations, and he also went under the knife to repair one of his cheekbones.
His Style (and Face) Continued to Change in the 2010s
GettyThe 2010s saw Rourke embracing bolder fashion choices for some events, such as the “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” premiere. His checkered outfit made him stand out from the crowd at the event, and he looked great alongside his co-stars.
However, it was also getting harder to ignore how much cosmetic procedures had changed the actor’s look, and fan speculation continued to rise. As The US Sun reported, the actor underwent an additional rhinoplasty in 2017, and it’s likely he had at least one facelift in the 2010s. Both of these procedures would have been responsible for his changed appearance during this decade.
Rourke is Virtually Unrecognizable Now
GettyRourke has been very open about having plastic surgery and about not consistently loving the results. However, that doesn’t appear to have dissuaded him from additional procedures later in life. As The US Sun shared, the actor has embraced using Botox and other fillers to keep wrinkles at bay.
GettyAs the publication also notes, reports suggest the actor may have undergone procedures to correct some of his earlier plastic surgery. Dr. Christopher Balinger, a plastic surgeon, also examined photos of the actor and shared his theories about what may be behind his ever-changing appearance.
Dr. Balinger noted that Rourke’s jawline looks “totally different” in recent photos, among other features. Although the actor may look unrecognizable to fans of his early work now, he is nevertheless an icon, with an incredible Hollywood legacy that goes far beyond his physical appearance.
The post PHOTOS: Award-Winning Mickey Rourke Over the Years – Then & Now appeared first on EntertainmentNow.