Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke asks fans for help paying US$60,000 in owed rent
The Wrestler star launched a GoFundMe account to avoid eviction from his Los Angeles home, saying ‘fame does not protect against hardship’
Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke has started a GoFundMe account to pay back nearly US$60,000 in rent arrears and avoid eviction.
He was ordered last month to pay back rent or vacate the three-bedroom bungalow in Los Angeles and his landlord sued him last week. Rourke began leasing the home, where author Raymond Chandler is said to have lived in the 1940s, in March.
“Mickey Rourke is currently facing a very difficult and urgent situation: he is at risk of being evicted from his home,” the description reads. “Life doesn’t always move in a straight line and despite everything Mickey has given through his work and his life, he is now dealing with a challenging financial moment that has put his housing at risk.
“Fame does not protect against hardship, and talent does not guarantee stability,” the description continues. “What remains is a person who deserves dignity, housing and the chance to regain his footing.”
The fundraiser, which was started by a member of the actor’s management team, had raised more than US$75,000 of its US$100,000 target as of Monday afternoon.
“The goal is to give Mickey some stability and peace of mind during a stressful time so he can stay in his home and have the space to get back on his feet,” the fundraiser explains. “Any donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference.”