Mickey Rourke's Pet Chihuahua Passes Away

Wonderwall, Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 12:41pm (PST)

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke called Loki, the tiny Chihuahua who acted as his best friend and sometimes his red carpet date, "the love of my life." The 18-year-old pup died at 5 a.m. yesterday morning.

Dogs have played an important role in Rourke's life. The actor has often spoken about how beloved pets helped him weather bleak periods. In a recent interview with Barbara Walters, Rourke remembered gathering strength from his dogs during a particularly tough time. "I sort of self-destructed," he remembered. "The wife had left, the career was over, the money was not an ounce... The dogs were there when no one else was there."

Last month when Mickey accepted the Golden Globe for his performance in "The Wrestler," he gave another shout-out to Loki and the pooches who came before him saying "Sometimes, when a man is alone, that's all you got is your dog. And they've meant the world to me."

Our thoughts are with you, Mickey!