Mickey Rourke made a rather chaotic entrance into the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday night.
The actor, 72, made headlines with his ‘creepy’ behaviour towards host AJ Odudu, which sparked a hugely negative reaction from fans on social media.
Some fans questioned if Mickey was ok as he appeared rather disoriented upon his arrival – but his behaviour could possibly be down to his history of health issues that have plague him since his boxing days.
He has notoriously battled addiction – both drugs and alcohol – in the past and has taken blame for his own career decline over the years, as well as having plastic surgery to fix facial injuries.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, viewers were quick to share their concerns about Mickey’s wellbeing, with many observing that the star didn’t appear to know what was going on.’
They penned: ‘Mickey Rourke has absolutely no idea where he is and what he’s doing lmao.
Mickey Rourke made a rather chaotic entrance into the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday night
‘Is that mickey person ok he doesn’t seem like he’s on this planet. what’s wrong with him??’
‘Honestly think that’s the most bizarre entrance ever and let’s face it there’s been some weird ones over the years! Part of me can’t see Mickey Rourke lasting the week to be honest.’
‘How are they letting Mickey Rourke on tv like this,’; ‘Mickey is going to be car crash TV.’
However, despite fans’ concerns, Mickey’s behaviour may be down to his history of health issues that have plague him since his boxing days.
He has notoriously battled addiction – both drugs and alcohol – in the past and has taken blame for his own career decline over the years.
The actor previously embarked on an amateur boxing career between 1964 to 1973.
Mickey’s amateur fighting career stretched from when he was 12 years old until his early 20s, during which time he racked up 27 wins and only three losses.
He then decided to concentrate on his acting, starring in films including Rumble Fish, The Pope Of Greenwich, 9½ Weeks and Angel Heart.
Meanwhile, back in 2022, the retired boxer confessed that he’s had numerous MRIs due to the amount of concussions he’s suffered ‘over the years’
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, viewers were quick to share their concerns about Mickey’s wellbeing, with many observing that the star didn’t appear to know what was going on’
He then returned to professional boxing in 1991, but the stint saw the star suffer with a variety of injuries including a broken nose, split tongue, a compressed cheekbone and memory loss.
Meanwhile, in 2009, he opened up to MailOnline about having cosmetic surgery to fix facial injuries.
He said: ‘Most of it was to mend the mess of my face because of the boxing, but I went to the wrong guy to put my face back together.
‘I had my nose broken twice. I had five operations on my nose and one on a smashed cheekbone.’
He continued: ‘I had to have cartilage taken from my ear to rebuild my nose and a couple of operations to scrape out the cartilage because the scar tissue wasn’t healing properly,’ calling it one of the most ‘painful operations’ he’s had.
In that same year, the Hollywood star told how doctors had previously urged him to stop fighting amid fears over his memory loss.
Speaking to Interview Magazine in 2009: ‘I started having some memory-loss issues. I took a neurological exam, and they said, “Well, you should stop fighting now.”
‘And I kept begging them for one more fight, one more fight, and the doctor said to me, “How much are they going to pay you?” I was supposed to fight three more times, and one would have been for a cruiser belt.
‘So I said, “I just need to fight three more times.” He said, “Listen, you can’t even get hit in the head one more time, your neuro is so bad”.’
Elsewhere, last year Mickey opened up about his regret over taking steroids and eating huge meals six times a day to gain weight for his role in 2008 movie, The Wrestler
The actor previously using the performance enhancing drug to achieve his muscle-bound look in the Oscar-nominated film (Pictured in The Wrestler in 2008)
Mickey got candid with his followers on Instagram over his use of steroids as a warning to other people who want to bulk up their appearance
Meanwhile, back in 2022, the retired boxer confessed that he’s had numerous MRIs due to the amount of concussions he’s suffered ‘over the years.’
‘Gotta make sure “the head isn’t scrambled eggs,”‘ the Man of God actor wisecracked.
Elsewhere, last year Mickey opened up about his regret over taking steroids and eating huge meals six times a day to gain weight for his role in 2008 movie, The Wrestler.
The actor always denied using the performance-enhancing drug to achieve his muscle-bound look in the Oscar-nominated film.
But as he reflected on his role on Instagram, the star finally admitted to using the drug and said it took him four or five years to shift the weight.
Mickey shared a snap of himself in the movie alongside a caption which read: ‘Was just finishing up my nightly 2 hr trainning. [sic] I was thinking back to when I did a film called the Wrestler.’
‘I honestly regret putting on 70 pounds to look the part.. I did not feel comfortable in my own skin and it took almost 4 or 5 years to get back to 180.
‘It was not a great well thought out plan, I of course used steroids and ate enormous amounts of food 6 times a day.
‘Was very stupid on my part my, only real accomplishment was long hrs in gym. I regret it but I’ve made many dumb ass decisions in my life. I cringe when I see photos of myself.
The Hollywood actor was the final star to enter the house on Monday – but he was quickly slammed for being ‘creepy’
‘I never said I was the sharpest pencil in the box. Oh well I was thinking out loud and thought perhaps I could get this mesg out to some young dude who wants to get bigger and bigger.’
The film followed a faded professional wrestler who must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.
For his role in the movie as Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, Mickey earned himself an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
In 2009, Mickey hit back at claims he used growth hormones or controversial sports drugs to enhance his physique.
He told Men’s journal: ‘I did some stuff. You wouldn’t classify it as steroids, but I did some heavy duty supplements… but not the regular stuff.’
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2025: MEET THE LINEUP!
MICKEY ROURKE
AGE: 72
FAMOUS FOR: The actor and former pro boxer is one of the show’s biggest ever signings and after public feuds with Robert De Niro, two marriages and a string of high profile relationships, producers will be hoping he brings plenty of drama.
DALEY THOMPSON
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR: The double Olympic gold-medallist is considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes, and he would no doubt cause a stir with younger celebrities if he entered the house. He broke the decathlon world record four times.
PATSY PALMER
AGE: 52
FAMOUS FOR: It’s an open secret that Patsy is leaving EastEnders, with the actress enjoying a wild leaving party this month. The Bianca Jackson star posted a snap of her character on Instagram with the caption: ‘Bye bye B, always grateful to see her again.’
DONNA PRESTON
AGE: 38
FAMOUS FOR: While Donna has featured in several TV shows and movies, the comedy star is known for hosting Apocalypse and for the role of a circus Compere in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. She plays Den in Coronation Street, has featured in Pants On Fire in 2019 and even wrote and co-produced BBC Three’s Comedy Threesomes.
CHESNEY HAWKES
AGE: 53
FAMOUS FOR: The singer topped the charts for five weeks in 1991 with his hit The One And Only, before making a string of acting and TV appearances. His arrival on CBB has been described by a TV source as ‘perfect timing’, as he’s set to release a comeback album in April.
ANGELLICA BELL
AGE: 49
FAMOUS FOR: The TV presenter is said to have landed a staggering five-figure deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Fans will be keen to see if the CBBC legend spills all on her untimely exit from The Martin Lewis Show – which left fans baffled back in 2023. Angellica currently co-presents Hits Radio while Fleur East is on maternity leave.
DANNY BEARD
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner – whose real name is Daniel Curtis – has signed up as a late entry. Danny previously made headlines after swearing on Big Brother’s Late & Live last March whilst doing an impression of housemate Louis Walsh. The incident saw the guest say the word ‘c***’ before immediately apologising after being informed they weren’t allowed to say that on the show.
CHRIS HUGHES
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: After shooting to fame on Love Island in 2017, Chris went on to become a sports presenter and regularly hosts the horse racing coverage on ITV.
JOJO SIWA
AGE: 21
FAMOUS FOR: The American singer, who shot to stardom on reality show Dance Moms, is expected to draw a big American audience. The hitmaker has made a name for herself in the U.S. pop charts and is known for her outlandish looks and being a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community.
TRISHA GODDARD
AGE: 67
FAMOUS FOR: The talk show host regularly presented on ITV from 1998 to 2004 and then shifted to Channel 5 from 2004 to 2010. Trisha has been suffering horrible side effects of her chemotherapy – but has bravely battled on.
JACK P. SHEPHERD
AGE: 37
FAMOUS FOR: The actor has played David Platt in Corrie since 2000 and is following in his pal Colson Smith’s footsteps by taking part in the popular reality show. He has won a string of awards for the role including Best Actor at the British Soap Awards.
ELLA RAE WISE
AGE: 24
FAMOUS FOR: Producers have been keen to land the TV personality, who previously dated Pete Wicks and has had an on-off romance with Dan Edgar. Bosses are hoping the TOWIE star might reveal all about some of her other famous exes.
MICHAEL FABRICANT
AGE: 74
FAMOUS FOR: The former Conservative politician is understood to have signed a lucrative six-figure deal to take part after political stars were banned from the broadcaster’s other reality show, I’m A Celeb. He served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the party under David Cameron. But he is perhaps best known for his blond mop for which he has been widely ridiculed but repeatedly denies is a wig.
