Angel Heart features some unusual casting. In 1986, Mickey Rourke's
career was soaring after his role in Nine 1/2 Weeks. His subsequent role in Angel Heart
seems an unusual choice on his part - just as controversial, but with the censor-unfriendly
addition of sexual violence. Moreover, Lisa Bonet's part in the film did more than raise a
few eyebrows. The teenage daughter from the Cosby Show was suddenly to be seen having
spectacularly violent sex, comlplete with blood soaked walls and sheets, with bad boy
Mickey Rourke.
The Casting of Robert De Niro was particularly successful. Indeed, the success the entire
film could have hung on the impact of Louis Cyphre. De Niro's appearence serves to
manipulate the audience perception of him; the viewer may be familiar with his talent and
screen presence, but the beard (possibly left over from the Mission),
long hair and nails render him unrecognisable from the De Niro of Scorsese's films.
Mickey Rourke
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Harold R Angel Robert De Niro
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Louis Cyphre Lisa Bonet
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Epiphany Proudfoot Charlotte Rampling
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Margaret Krusemark Stocker Fontelieu
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Ethan Krusemark Brownie McGhee
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Toots Sweet Michael Higgins
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Dr Albert Fowler Elizabeth Whitcraft
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Connie Eliott Keener
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Sterne Charles Gordone
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Spider Simpson Dann Florek
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Herman Winesap George Buck
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Izzy Judith Drake
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Izzy's wife Gerald Orange
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Pastor John Peggy Severe
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Mammy Carter Kathleen Wilhoite
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Nurse