We all enjoyed former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson’s cameo in The Hangover (2008). What some might not know, though, was that this appearance occurred at an incredibly rough point in Tyson’s life. Having retired from boxing years earlier, Tyson was battling addiction, alcoholism, and financial distress.
In fact, Tyson at this point was not living a luxurious lifestyle as indicated by the mansion pictured in the film. The real Tyson merely had a townhouse in Las Vegas, and also crashed with various girlfriends during this time period, having squandered his wealth long ago.
Tyson still had friends looking out for him; but in the film, in which he plays himself, Tyson still seems to be living in the lap of luxury, with yes-men and tigers. That would have represented Tyson’s life during his reign as heavyweight champion–but definitely not after, when he could hardly figure out how to pay his whopping monthly 8,000 dollar child support tab.
On a positive note, his appearance in The Hangover really buoyed Tyson’s spirits and revived his career–not his boxing career, but his career as a public figure, even an actor. Tyson equates boxing with entertainment, and certainly his persona as a boxer did entertain. So stepping into the showbiz limelight in a different context wasn’t such a stretch.
In his autobiography Undisputed Truth, Tyson explains his new mindset after doing The Hangover:
“A whole generation of kids started knowing me as an actor, not a boxer. It just happened within the blink of an eye. I was drugged out on coke, almost suicidal, living the life of a loser, and BOOM […] But I knew I couldn’t blow this opportunity to reinvent myself again.” (527) 
With all due respect to Mr. Tyson, it wasn’t exactly a great acting performance. He was basically being himself–which is a likable and funny guy. There was something funny about Tyson singing Phil Collins with Zach Galafinakas and then punching him; for a moment, one wonders whether people are laughing with Tyson or at him. Yet certainly they are laughing with him because how could we not embrace Iron Mike as a more human and relatable guy?
The Hangover appearance helped Tyson clean up his act and have a more positive life and contribution. He finally got off coke, and started a vegan diet which helped him slim down from a bloated 360 pounds at the time of the shooting for The Hangover.
For the audience, The Hangover was a funny but ultimately silly film. For Mike Tyson, however, it took on much more meaning. As Tyson expressed in his autobiography of the cast and director, “I was so grateful for what they had done for me” (538).
Works Cited
The Hangover. Directed by Todd Phillips, Performances by Zach Galafinakas and Mike Tyson, Warner Bros, 2009.
Tyson, Mike. Undisputed Truth. NY: Penguin Group, 2013.
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