Mikey Rourke's path downhill was a little different. For whatever reason, he decided to resurrect his pro boxing career at the height of his Hollywood fame. At the same time he opened a bar on Washington Avenue in South Beach. Unfortunately, there is no quality cut in professional boxing; it's easy to get in over your head because you don't work your way up through the minors before stepping in the ring, anyone can cut a hole in a towel and have their face bashed in for a few rounds by someone who is really good at it. Those people are often referred to as "Tomato Cans", and pro boxing in the lower levels has room for an endless supply of Tomato Cans.
That's what happened to Mickey, and his good looks: his cheeks were crushed and his nose flattened. An attempt to correct the problem with cheek implants and plastic surgery left Mickey looking like The Joker without makeup. His film career languished until the surgery was redone and his face healed, and his bar went bankrupt.
If that’s all true, Rourke could have played demons and monsters, just like Brando ended up playing recluses who like to talk to themselves.