Introduction to the Mickey Rourke Fundraiser
A fundraiser aimed at keeping Mickey Rourke housed has hit the brakes temporarily after the Oscar-nominated actor rejected more than $100,000 from fans and supporters earlier this week.
The Current Status of the Fundraiser
On Thursday, the GoFundMe page had a “donations paused” tag on it while Kimberly Hines, Rourke’s manager of nine years, addressed the situation in an update. “Thank you so much for your generosity and for standing with Mickey during this time,” she wrote. “Your support truly means a great deal to us, and we are grateful for every donation. We remain committed to finding a resolution and are working with Mickey to determine the next steps.”
Background on the Fundraiser
Rourke, 73, said in a video posted Monday that he didn’t know who set up the campaign. The effort, ostensibly aimed at keeping Rourke in his home when he faced eviction because of nearly $60,000 in unpaid rent, was set up Sunday by members of his management team and raised more than its $100,000 goal by Tuesday morning. Dozens of the more than 2,700 people who donated also posted messages about how much the actor’s films had meant to them over the years.
Rourke’s Reaction to the Fundraiser
“I wouldn’t know what a GoFund foundation is in a million years,” said Rourke, who was a leading man in the 1980s with movies including “Barfly” and “Angel Heart” and was Oscar-nominated for his work in 2008’s “The Wrestler.” “My life is very simple and I don’t go to outside sources like that.” He said later in the video that he “would never ask strangers or fans for a nickel. That’s not my style. You ask anyone who knows me. It’s humiliating and it’s really f— embarrassing.”
The Reason Behind the Eviction
Rourke said that he wound up in “a really bad situation” with the house he had been renting for years in Beverly Grove. New owners bought the place, wouldn’t fix anything, he said, and raised the rent to $7,000 a month from $5,200. He alleged that the floors were rotted, there was no running water in a couple of places there should have been and the place was infested with rodents.
The Eviction Process
Rourke was served with notice of eviction in December, with the landlords also looking to recapture $59,100 in unpaid rent for 2025. Ricardo Villalobos, the attorney representing owner Eric Goldie in the eviction case, did not reply to The Times’ request for comment about Rourke’s allegations. The eviction paperwork, reviewed by The Times, was filed Dec. 29.
The Management Team’s Involvement
Hines did not respond to The Times’ request for comment but spoke with the Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, telling the trade that it wasn’t true that Rourke didn’t know the origins of the fundraiser. She validated some of the things he said about the condition of the property and added a few details of her own. In her GoFundMe update Thursday, she included a link where donors who wanted a refund could submit a claim. The fundraiser lists Hines as the beneficiary.
The Future of the Fundraiser
She told the trade outlet that she and her assistant ran the fundraiser idea past Rourke’s assistant and everyone thought it might be helpful. Hines and her assistant arranged for movers and a U-Haul to help Rourke, got the “Iron Man 2” villain and his three dogs out and into a nearby hotel and secured an apartment for him to move into soon in Koreatown, she said, before his landlords were to change the locks that day on what she called an “uninhabitable” house.
Conclusion
The situation with Mickey Rourke’s fundraiser is complex, with both the actor and his management team working to find a resolution. While Rourke has expressed his gratitude for the support, he has also made it clear that he does not want to accept donations from fans. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the actor and his living situation.
FAQs
Q: Why was Mickey Rourke facing eviction?
A: Rourke was facing eviction due to nearly $60,000 in unpaid rent.
Q: How much was raised by the GoFundMe campaign?
A: The campaign raised over $100,000 before donations were paused.
Q: What is the current status of the fundraiser?
A: The fundraiser is currently paused, with donations no longer being accepted.
Q: What has Mickey Rourke said about the fundraiser?
A: Rourke has expressed his gratitude for the support but has stated that he does not want to accept donations from fans.
Q: What is the next step for Rourke and his management team?
A: Rourke and his team are working to determine the next steps and find a resolution to the situation.
