Hollywood hardman Mickey Rourke is currently storming box offices around the world with his portrayal of the vengeful tough Marv in Sin City. In real life the actor seems to have a rather more sensitive side, however, as he's clearly not averse to public displays of affection when it comes to his beloved pet dogs. The 48-year-old was photographed giving his four-legged friend a cuddle at a restaurant in London this week. Since he arrived in the UK Mickey has been spotted with a series of female companions, but on Tuesday afternoon it was one of his pet Chihuahuas that was enjoying his attention.
In recent years the performer, who's fought his way back from a lengthy career slump, has developed a special fondness for the tiny canines. "I live alone and little dogs live twice as long as bigger ones," he explained. "So if they're my family, I want them around as long as possible. When I come home there's seven cheerful things waiting. It's like you have a happy family that you just can't wait to see every day."
Mickey was at the peak of his fame when he became disillusioned with the movie industry and decided to return to his first love, boxing. He came close to making his name as a pugilist, but a handful of tough defeats and a penchant for fast living left him with permanent damage to his face and a career in ruins. "You wake up one day and everything is gone," he admits. "Your respectability, your money, everyone you care about. You're alone."
It was around this time that the Angel Heart star first came across the dog home Chihuahua Rescue. And since then he has adopted seven of the centre's most "anti-social" residents because he knows they, like him, deserve another chance.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
