The ‘Jewish Dude’ Who Trained Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke had much to look forward to while filming “The Wrestler”: a serious career comeback, Oscar buzz, and getting to do back flips and build a buff physique. But each week, the actor could not wait for an entirely different indulgence — the Sabbath. To prepare for the grueling task of developing a fighter’s body, Rourke enlisted a former Israeli soldier and an ex-cage fighter to whip him into shape. “It was basic training. His mentality was coming from the army and Israel,” Rourke told the entertainment site Deadbolt.com in a recent interview.
His coach mixed cardio and weightlifting by day and enforced strict curfews by night. But come sundown Friday, Rourke, who took home a Golden Globe for his performance in the film, knew his aching muscles would finally get a rest. “I had one night a week that was mine. Here’s this dude that’s all tattooed and he’s a cage fighter, and yet he was very religious. He’s that kind of Jewish dude that can’t work on Saturdays,” the actor explained. “Friday night, whatever it is. Man, I couldn’t wait for that day to come along.”
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
