Hollywood's bad boy emeritus talks about his ties to John Gotti, blowing his career, and the bitch who split his lip

The first paragraph of any story written about Mickey Rourke since 1990 can be summarized in three words: He fucked up. The actor, whose raw, magnetic performances in films like Rumble Fish, Barfly, Diner, and Angel Heart once drew comparisons to Brando, knows this better than anyone. He fucked up. And he'll let you know it twenty times in the course of an hour. In those dark years, Rourke tormented directors and producers and led the kind of private life that would make your average Serbian gangster feel like a pansy. There were reports of drug abuse and domestic violence, and the constant company of strippers and lowlives—but mostly there were his ties to a criminal underworld most Hollywood actors only experience on camera. Rourke knew John Gotti well enough to attend his murder trial in 1992, but his only statement about their friendship until now has been "No comment." In an interview with Radar, Rourke, 50, finally opens up about the mob ties, tells us how he met his Chihuahua soul mate, and pinpoints the moment he realized he was completely insane.

RADAR: You've said your favorite among your films is The Pope of Greenwich Village. It's kind of like Little Italy's version of
Midnight Cowboy.
MICKEY ROURKE: We shot that back when there was actually a Little Italy. Which, you know, there really isn't anymore.

Since it's become a theme park?
Well, right. The Italians don't live there now. You can have a pizza, but that's about it. It was nice back then because you had all the old timers. Stuart [Rosenberg] was able to capture that ambiance using good old-time actors. Tony Musante and other guys. It was probably the most fun I've had on a movie.

Did you get to know the neighborhood pretty well?
Well, let's put it this way: I made certain associations with people. I met some really interesting, shady characters that I maintained relationships with until I went to therapy. But I don't want to get into that too much.

Understood. You've been very diligent about the therapy though, haven't you?
Yeah. It was something that I was totally against. But, Jesus, I needed to go. I knew I was a little out there, but I didn't realize my shit was crazy till my doctor told me. Listen, I changed. But there is still something inside of me that is never going to change. If those buttons are pushed, all hell is still going to break loose.

Since you returned to acting, there's lots of discussion about whether you're "reformed." Do you ever feel like people just want you to become a boring schlub?
People see that whatever-you-want-to-call-it in me and it scares a lot of them. But if I have that in me and I'm not putting my hand through someone's head, then they should chill the fuck out. The guys who are afraid are the ones who were around when I was just starting out. The younger directors like Rodriguez and Aronofsky that I'm working with now aren't afraid of it. I also just recently got offered a Tarantino movie that I didn't—that I chose not to do.

After turning down Pulp Fiction, why did you pass up the opportunity to work with Tarantino on his latest project, Grindhouse?

You know what? He hasn't made any comments about it. And until he makes a comment about it, I'm not going to say anything. It just didn't work out. And I hope that's what he has to say. I'm just going to wait.

Do you still feel drawn to outlaw characters like Tupac?
Yeah. Tupac and I had a lot in common, even though we were very fucking different. You know, I don't come from the hip-hop world. But we both had a certain upbringing.

Have you heard about John Gotti's prison uniform? Somebody's giving it away in postage-stamp-sized squares.
So, I guess you know that we were friends. Is that right?

There's been speculation.
You know what? I had a relationship with John that was like—if I wanted to do research on that lifestyle, or whatever you want to call it, he was there for me. You know what I'm saying?

Sure.
I'll give you an example. We were watching a soccer game one time during the World Cup, and Italy and Ireland were playing. I said, "John"—because he, you know, liked to gamble—I said, "I'll take Ireland." And Italy was favored up the ass, right? But Ireland ended up winning the fucking game. And before that I said to John, "What do you want to bet? Ten grand? Whatever? Whatever you want to do." He says, "No, no. I'm never going to take your money. Let's bet watches." Right? I'll tell you something. His friends came over three weeks later and brought me the most beautiful fucking watch I've ever seen. Autographed, "To Mick, All the best. JG."

So he was a good friend?
Listen, I don't know what the fuck he did behind closed doors. But the fact that he goes, "I'm not gonna take your money"—see, because I was supposed to lose that fucking bet. I would have bought him a really nice watch, but it probably would have been $10,000 less than the one he bought me.

So that was part of your research?
What I'm trying to say to you is, back when I was a lot younger and doing Pope, I was very, very interested in that lifestyle. You know? Very curious about that whole world. He opened doors you don't fucking want to walk into. Let me tell you something, brother, it wasn't all roses.

It sounds like you got gored by Sammy the Bull.
[Long pause] No.

In any case, you had a Catholic background in common with those guys.
Yeah, I'm Irish and French.