Actor Mickey Rourke has opened up about the struggles he faced to film The Wrestler and the long-term aftereffects of his work on the project.
The Wrestler came out in 2008 and details Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Rourke), an aging wrestler whose career in the ring can’t go on for much longer.
On Instagram, Rourke said he regrets the intense work he put into the film which left him with years of issues with his body. He wrote,
“Was just finishing up my nightly 2 hr trainning. 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 YRS 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. 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 MESSAGE OUT TO SOME YOUNG DUDE WHO WANTS TO GET BIGGER AND BIGGER. “
Rourke’s foray into the world of wrestling wouldn’t go unnoticed by WWE, who brought Rourke into the fold in early 2009.
Rourke feuded with Chris Jericho and the actor would KO Y2J after Jericho’s victory at WrestleMania 25 in April 2009.
