Iconic Hollywood Actor Using GoFundMe to Settle Tens of Thousands in Unpaid Rent

Mickey Rourke is facing the uncomfortable reality of possibly losing his home—but it seems he has a plan.

The Oscar-nominated actor has turned to crowdfunding after falling deeply behind on rent at his Los Angeles residence. According to court filings that were released last week, Rourke, 73, allegedly owes nearly $60,000 in unpaid rent and was formally served an eviction notice late last month. The notice reportedly gave him just three days to pay the outstanding balance or vacate the property.

With the clock ticking, a GoFundMe campaign launched on Sunday, January 4 is now asking fans to step in. The fundraiser, titled “Help Mickey Rourke Stay in His Home,” was organized by a woman named Liya-Joelle Jones, described by The Hollywood Reporter as both a friend and part of Rourke’s management team. The goal is set at $100,000, and the campaign raised almost $6,000 within its first few hours online.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

The fundraiser describes the situation as urgent, stating that Rourke is navigating “a challenging financial moment” that has placed his housing in jeopardy. “This fundraiser is being created with Mickey’s full permission to help cover immediate housing-related expenses and prevent that from happening,” the description read, hoping to get the actor “back on his feet.”

Legal documents indicate that Rourke signed the lease for the three-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot property in March 2025. The monthly rent reportedly began at $5,200 before later increasing to $7,000. The landlord is now seeking not only the back rent but also attorney fees and termination of the lease. 

The eviction dispute lands amid a long and uneven career arc for Rourke, whose Hollywood rise in the 1980s made him a recognizable leading man of the era. He broke through with performances in films like Diner and Angel Heart, before stepping away from the spotlight for years as personal struggles and boxing injuries derailed his momentum.

Rourke later staged a critically acclaimed comeback with 2008’s The Wrestler, earning an Academy Award nomination and some renewed industry respect. In more recent years, he became a prominent figure in pop culture through reality television, most notably his controversial stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK. That appearance ended abruptly after repeated incidents prompted producers to intervene. “Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behaviour,” an ITV spokesperson said at the time. 

Since then, Rourke has kept a relatively low profile, and he has not publicly addressed his current housing or financial situation.