Charismatic, outspoken tough guy Mickey Rourke is the perfect example of art imitating life and vice versa. Raised in the primarily black Liberty City section of Miami, where "I had to be fast and fight," he showed early promise for both baseball and boxing but, lacking discipline, quit both in favor of "hanging out" and getting in trouble. Catching the acting bug, he journeyed to NYC and studied with Sandra Seacat, appearing without distinction in some off-off-Broadway plays and leaving others during rehearsals over disagreements with directors. His luck changed when he landed in Los Angeles