September 16
Philip Andre Rourke, Jr's
 Birthday
 


Philip Andre "Mickey" Rourke, Jr. started out as a professional boxer in the 1960s. In 1969 he fought former champion Luis "El Feo" Rodriquez and suffered a serious concussion. After several more concussions,  doctors advised Mickey find another career. He was working as a bouncer at a transvestite club when he auditioned for and won the part of the arsonist in Body Heat (1981). Then he appeared in Diner (1982) in which Pauline Kael singled him out from his costars writing "He has a sweet, pure smile that surprises you. He seems to be acting to you, and to no one else." He next starred in Rumble Fish (1983) for which he also received raves and critics started calling him the next James Dean.

Unfortunately, Mickey maintained his combative boxing persona in working with several of his directors and costars which eventually sent his promising career on a downward slope. In the erotic sadomasochistic 9 ½ Weeks (1986), he seduces a married Kim Basinger and eats food off her naked body.

In 1991, Mickey decided to leave acting and return to a professional boxer explaining that “I had to go back to boxing because I was self-destructing. I had no respect for myself being an actor. So I went back to a profession which really humbled me.” His soon sustained a broken nose, toe, ribs, a split tongue, and a compressed cheekbone resulting plastic surgery which left him somewhat unrecognizable. in 1995, doctors warned him that he was incurring irreversible brain damage, and he permanently retired from boxing.

Mickey resumed acting career hit a few speed bumps including the atrocious less-than-well-received sequel to 9½ Weeks, and  several direct-to-video movies. But his attitude problems continued  and walked off the set of straight-to-video movie Luck of the Draw because the producers wouldn't let his pet Chihuahua appear with him in a scene.

But his losing streak ended when he landed the lead role in Sin City (2005),for which he won several awards including one from the Chicago Film Critics Association. To prepare for his part in the The Wrestler (2008) Mickey trained under former WWE wrestler Afa the Wild Samoan for his portrayal of a  past-his-prime wrestler, and won a 2009 Golden Globe award, a BAFTA award, and a nomination for an Academy Award, Mickey gave his beloved dogs credit during his Golden Globe Best Actor acceptance speech, stating : "I'd like to thank all my dogs. The ones that are here, the ones that aren't here anymore because sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you got is your dog. And they've meant the world to me.

So to celebrate Mickey's birthday, let's recall an earlier time when he still had his good looks and watch Angel Heart in which he plays detective Harry Angel who is hired to find a man called Johnny Favourite, and make our favorite Angel's Heart Cookies.

.

Angel's Heart Cookies
(adapted from Sunset Magazine)

Ingredients
 
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup ricotta cheese
1 large egg
3/4 tsp lemon extract
1&1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1&1/4 cups powdered sugar
3 TB milk
Instructions
 
1. In a large bowl, with a mixer, beat 6 TB butter and the granulated sugar until well blended.
    Add ricotta, egg, and 1/2  tsp lemon extract; beat until well mixed.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture, stir to mix,
    then beat until well blended.
3. Butter 14- by 17-inch baking sheets. Drop batter in 1 TB portions about 1&1/2 inches apart on sheets.
4. Bake cookies in a 325°F oven until golden brown,(20 to 25 minutes). If baking more than 1 pan at once,
    switch pan positions every  10 minutes. With a wide spatula, transfer cookies to racks.
5. Melt 2 TB butter. In a deep bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp lemon extract,
    and milk until smooth. One at a time, hold cookies by the edges and dip rounded tops into icing;
    set in a single layer, icing up, on racks and let stand until icing   is firm, about 10 minutes.
    Serve, or store airtight up to 1 day; freeze to store longer.

 

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes