Curious.....why did Kevin Bacon make it and Mickey Rourke really didn't.

[a kennedy]

Both were teen age actors......but Mickie Rourke really didn’t have the staying power like Kevin Bacon did.

[Skittles]

1. Kevin didn't fuck up his face w/ plastic surgery

ya know?

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. And Kevin didn't decide to be a boxer

so his face would get fucked up in the first place.

[Sneederbunk]

2. Rourke was not a teen age actor.

[a kennedy]

4. Ah, watching him in "DINER"....so, ok, he's 20 something......

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diner

[SergeStorms]

9. Watch...

Rumble Fish and The Pope of Greenwich Village. Two of his best, as far as I'm concerned.

[Blue Owl]

5. Bacon's dancing in Footloose had more universal appeal

[a kennedy]

6. Loved him in Footloose.......❤️

[Blue Owl]

7. And Mickey always seemed like more of a Bukowski/Blue film actor

[SergeStorms]

8. Rourke, although a great actor...

was a failed human being. His ego got in the way, and he decided he could turn his back on Hollywood. Most often that's a fatal (at least in terms of movie making) decision. Mickey wanted to box - not a good choice for someone who depended on his good looks - and be an all around bad boy. He courted trouble, and trouble, which never needs courting, was heaped upon him in abundance.
He then decided he wanted to return to acting, but he was considered a problem child, and his good looks had been pummeled from his face in the boxing ring. He lucked out and found directors who'd take a chance on him, and he once again impressed in the film industry.
Moral of the story: Never bite the hand that feeds you exceedingly well.

[LonePirate]

10. Rourke has an Academy Award nomination whereas Bacon does not.

Also, Rourke (as the villain) starred in Iron Man 2 which was a more successful movie than anything Bacon has starred in during his career.

[a kennedy]

11. I loved Kevin in Mystic River.......

[LonePirate]

13. Yeah Mystic River is probably the best film in which either of them have starred.

[Ferrets are Cool]

12. Barfly is a great, underrated movie.

Rourke is great as the lead.