10 Actors Who Made Real-Life Changes AFTER Movie Roles

10. Mickey Rouke Quits Acting To Become A Boxer After Homeboy

Now it's pretty common knowledge that actor Mickey Rourke found a lot of success as an amateur boxer long before he set foot in the world of make believe. However, he would eventually find himself back in the ring on a number of occasions in a professional capacity after starring in a project very close to his heart.

After writing his first screenplay for the movie Homeboy, the story of down-and-out brain-damaged boxer Johnny Walker, Rourke would star in the feature. Seemingly rediscovering his passion for the sport after appearing in the film and feeling as though he "was self destructing" at this point in his life, a few years later the actor would return to the world of boxing.

The star would remain undefeated across his eight professional fights, winning six times and drawing twice. However, the facial injuries he suffered during his 1991-1994 run led to the actor requiring reconstructive surgery and left him looking notably different to the Rourke we'd seen in the late '80s.

Not content with calling time on his in-ring career, though, Rourke would return once again to boxing in 2014, besting a 29-year-old at the age of 62 in an exhibition match in Moscow.