Mike Tyson credits his cameo in “The Hangover” for restoring his popularity in pop culture, and the former heavyweight champ has admitted he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the filming of the classic comedy.
During a recent interview, Tyson recalled how he met the film’s cast — including Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper — at a club the night before his scheduled appearance on set for what would become among the most iconic cameos in recent movie history.
“I met the guys in a club, they were in the VIP section and I said ‘This is where I normally sit, nobody’s normally here,” Tyson recalled, via The Sun.
“So I went in there, I’m checking these guys to see what they’re doing in my section.
“It was Zach, the other guy, and he said ‘We’re going to be in a movie with you’ and I said ‘Yeah? When?’ And he said ‘Tomorrow.’
“And I didn’t know as I was drinking and smoking back then, doing drugs so I didn’t know I was involved in the movie.
“So eventually I had to go and do the movie and it was a success.”
Tyson’s cameo, which followed the narrative of how the film’s stars somehow stole his tiger and how he tracks them down to recover his beloved pet, includes the legendary boxer knocking out the character portrayed by Galifianakis.
Tyson of course has been in the news quite a bit recently due to how the boxing legend has been teasing a potential return to the ring in some capacity at the age of 53.
While it may sound somewhat absurd, footage shared by Tyson himself on social media of late establishes how he remains in remarkably good shape and still possesses impressive speed and intimidating power at his advanced age.
What’s more, a Tyson biopic is in the works, with Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx portraying the larger-than-life boxer in the film.
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