Mickey Rourke wins Best Actor at Golden Globes and thanks his dogs (Updated with VIDEO)

Mickey Rourke. (AP Photo)

Mickey Rourke won the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama at the Golden Globes this evening for his lead role in The Wrestler.

He gave a surprisingly eloquent and heartfelt speech, noting that he is not used to speaking in public and that he was almost "out of the business" (Hollywood) a few years ago. (The critics are calling his speech "interesting.")

Rourke thanked his agent, director, producers, co-stars, etc. and then he told the audience he'd like to thank his dogs--both the ones that are still with him now, and those that had passed on.

Sometimes when a man's alone, all you got is your dog and they meant the world to me.  
--Mickey Rourke, during his acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.

I bet nobody's ever thanked their dog before at the Golden Globes, and I admire that Mickey Rourke did. He expressed the immense love and gratitude we feel towards our dogs who give us unconditional love, companionship and loyalty. (Not to mention regular laughs.)

Watch video of Rourke's Golden Globes acceptance speech--complete with director, Darren Aronofsky's affectionate, yet profane, hand gesture...Rourke seems to choke up when he talks about his dogs.

Honestly, I hadn't planned on seeing The Wrestler, but since Rourke just won for Best Actor and Bruce Springsteen (who wrote the theme song for the movie) won for Best Song, I am definitely going to see it.

Below, watch another video of Mickey Rourke at the Venice Film Festival last year. He brought his 16 year-old Chihuahua terrier mix, Loki with him onto the red carpet.

"My dog is very old, she is 16 and she is not going to be around for long so I want to spend every moment with her," he told Reuters. 

One reporter wrote that Rourke brought Loki with him to a press interview at the Chateau Marmont and asked the waitress (nicely) for a little bowl of water for his dog. According to another report by contactmusic.com, Rourke's pet Chihuahua, Beau Jack, passed away in 2002. Rourke is quoted as saying, "I gave him mouth-to-mouth for 45 minutes before they peeled me off. Depressed? He died at my home, and I didn't go back for two weeks."

Loki is the daughter of Beau Jack. Rourke now owns seven chihuahuas.

Rourke has been quoted as saying about Loki:

She’s like a giant Xanax, you know? I’m not going to get religious on your ass, but I truly believe God created dogs for a cause. They are the greatest companions a man could ever have. 

 Yes, we do know, Mickey. Congratulations on your win.