8. Mickey Rourke - Boxer
No, it wasn't just a movie. Ever wonder why old Mickey Rourke looks so incredibly different from young Mickey Rourke, who could have been Die hard Bruce Willis' brother? While growing up in Miami Rourke decided at a very young age to become an amautuer boxer. He would fight thirty times in all, winning twenty-seven of his fights mainly by knockout. During his stint in the ring he received two concussions the second of which forced him to try his hands at something different. He became an actor. By the 90s Rouke was a big movie star, but he has said that personally he felt like an absolute failure. He had no more respect for himself so he went back to the ring this time as a professional. He would fight in eight matches with six wins and two draws. Once more most of his wins were by knockout and once more he was forced out of the ring by injuries, primarily, a broken nose and destroyed cheek bone. Everyone in the boxing world was blown away by his success. When asked why he wanted to return to boxing with the knowledge of being too old to have a great career, Rourke stated that he wanted to prove to himself that he could still do it. Make no mistake about it; Mickey Rourke is easily one of the toughest men to ever walk in Hollywood.