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.”
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.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
