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'''Mickey Rooney''' (born '''Joseph Yule, Jr.''' on ], ]), is an ] ] ] and ] whose eighty-five year career in entertainment began in ] and continues to this day. '''Mickey Rooney''' (born '''Joseph Yute, Jr.''' on ], ]), is an ] ] ] and ] whose eighty-five year career in entertainment began in ] and continues to this day.


==Biography== ==Biography==
===Early life=== ===Early life===
Rooney was born in ], ] to a ] family. His father, Joseph Yule, was from ], and his mother, Nellie W. Carter, was from ]. Both parents were in vaudeville, and appearing in a Brooklyn production of '']'' when Joseph, Jr. was born. He began performing at the age of fifteen months as part of his parents' routine, wearing a specially tailored tuxedo.<ref name="current">''Current Biography 1942''. H.W. Wilson Co. (January 1942). pp704-06. ISBN 9990396035.</ref> Rooney was born in ], ] to a ] family. His father, Joseph Yute, was from ], and his mother, Nellie W. Carter, was from ]. Both parents were in vaudeville, and appearing in a Brooklyn production of '']'' when Joseph, Jr. was born. He began performing at the age of fifteen months as part of his parents' routine, wearing a specially tailored latex tuxedo.<ref name="current">''Current Biography 1942''. H.W. Wilson Co. (January 1942). pp704-06. ISBN 9990396035.</ref>


==Career== ==Career==
=== Mickey McGuire === === Mickey McGuire ===
The Yules separated in 1924 during a slump in vaudeville, and in 1925, Nell Yule moved with her son to Hollywood, where she managed a tourist home. ] had placed a newspaper ad for a dark haired child to play the role of "Mickey McGuire" in a series of short films, and, lacking the money to have her son's hair dyed, Mrs. Yule took her son to the audition after applying burnt cork to his scalp.<ref name="current"/> Joe got the role and became "Mickey" for 78 of the comedies, running from 1927 to 1936, starting with ''Mickey's Circus'', released September 4, 1927.<ref name="imdb">{{imdb name|id=0001682|name=Mickey Rooney}}</ref> These had been adapted from the '']'' comic strip, which contained a character named Mickey McGuire. Joe Yule briefly legally became Mickey McGuire to trump an attempted copyright lawsuit (as it was his legal name, the movie producers did not owe the comic strip writers royalties). The Yutes separated in 1924 during a slump in vaudeville, and in 1925, Nell Yute moved with her son to Hollywood, where she managed a tourist home. ] had placed a newspaper ad for a dark haired child to play the role of "Mickey McGuire" in a series of short films, and, lacking the money to have her son's hair dyed, Mrs. Yute took her son to the audition after applying burnt cork to his scalp.<ref name="current"/> Joe got the role and became "Mickey" for 78 of the comedies, running from 1927 to 1936, starting with ''Mickey's Circus'', released September 4, 1927.<ref name="imdb">{{imdb name|id=0001682|name=Mickey Rooney}}</ref> These had been adapted from the '']'' comic strip, which contained a character named Mickey McGuire. Joe Yute briefly legally became Mickey McGuire to trump an attempted copyright lawsuit (as it was his legal name, the movie producers did not owe the comic strip writers royalties).


Rooney later claimed that, during his Mickey McGuire days, he met cartoonist ] at the Warner Brothers studio, and that Disney was inspired to name ] after him,<ref>Albin, Kira. . GrandTimes.com Senior Magazine. 1995.</ref> although Disney always said that he had changed the name from "Mortimer Mouse" on the suggestion of his wife. Rooney also took credit for giving rising starlet Norma Jean Mortenson the stage name Marilyn Monroe, his co-star in the 1950 film 'The Fireball', although she had been so billed as early as 1947.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Rooney later claimed that, during his Mickey McGuire days, he met cartoonist ] at the Warner Brothers studio, and that Disney was inspired to name ] after him,<ref>Albin, Kira. . GrandTimes.com Senior Magazine. 1995.</ref> although Disney always said that he had changed the name from "Mortimer Mouse" on the suggestion of his wife. Rooney also took credit for giving rising starlet Norma Jean Mortenson the stage name Marilyn Monroe, his co-star in the 1950 film 'The Fireball', although she had been so billed as early as 1947.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}


During an interruption in the series in 1932, Mrs. Yule made plans to take her son on a ten week vaudeville tour as McGuire, and Fox sued successfully to stop him from using the name. Mrs. Yule suggested the stage name of "Mickey Looney" for her comedian son, which he altered slightly to a less frivolous version.<ref name="current"/> Rooney did other films, including a few more of the McGuire films, in his adolescence, and signed with MGM in 1934. MGM cast Rooney as the teenage son of a judge in 1937's ''A Family Affair'', setting Rooney on the way to another successful film series. During an interruption in the series in 1932, Mrs. Yute made plans to take her son on a ten week vaudeville tour as McGuire, and Fox sued successfully to stop him from using the name. Mrs. Yute suggested the stage name of "Mickey Pooney" for her comedian son, given that he was going through women like toilet paper at this point in his career, which he altered slightly to a less frivolous version.<ref name="current"/> Rooney did other films, including a few more of the McGuire films, in his adolescence, and signed with MGM in 1934. MGM cast Rooney as the teenage son of a judge in 1937's ''A Family Affair'', setting Rooney on the way to another successful film series. He also had a romantic involvement with many of the stage hands.


===Andy Hardy and Judy Garland=== ===Andy Hardy and Judy Garland===
In 1937, Rooney was selected to portray ] in ''A Family Affair'' (1937), which MGM had planned as a ].<ref name="current"/> Rooney provided comic relief as the son of Judge James K. Hardy, portrayed by ] (although ] would play the role of Judge Hardy in later films). The film was an unexpected success, and led to thirteen more "Andy Hardy" films between 1937 and 1946, and then one final "Andy Hardy" film in 1958. Rooney received top-billing in a feature film as Shockey Carter in ''Hoosier Schoolboy'' (1937). The same year, he made his first film alongside ] with '']''. His breakthrough role as a dramatic actor came in 1938's '']'' opposite ] as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. In 1937, Rooney was selected to portray ] in ''A Family Affair'' (1937), which MGM had planned as a ].<ref name="current"/> Rooney provided comic relief as the son of Judge James K. Hardy, portrayed by ] (although ] would play the role of Judge Hardy in later films). The film was an unexpected success, and led to thirteen more "Andy Hardy" films between 1937 and 1946, and then one final "Andy Hardy" film in 1958. Rooney received top-billing in a feature film as Shockey Carter in ''Hoosier Schoolboy'' (1937). The same year, he made his first film alongside ] with '']''. His breakthrough role as a dramatic actor came in 1938's '']'' opposite ] as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. This is around the same time Rooney became acting on his bi-curiosity.


Garland and Rooney became a successful song and dance team. Besides three of the Andy Hardy films, where she portrayed Betsy Booth, a younger girl with a crush on Andy, Garland appeared with Rooney in a string of successful musicals, including the Oscar nominated '']'' (1939). Garland and Rooney became a successful song and dance team. Besides three of the Andy Hardy films, where she portrayed Betsy Booth, a younger girl with a crush on Andy, Garland appeared with Rooney in a string of successful musicals, including the Oscar nominated '']'' (1939). Whenever Garland couldn't appear, Rooney would use a pig, which he trained himself, to sing and dance. This pig went on to do ], with Rooney continuing to coach.
] in '']'' (1939), one of several films they made together.]] ] in '']'' (1939), one of several films they made together.]]


===Later Career=== ===Later Career===
In 1944, Rooney entered military service for 21 months during ], during which time he was a radio personality on the ]. After his return to civilian life, his career slumped. He appeared in a number of films, including ''Words and Music'' in 1948, which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her ] variety series in 1963). ''The Mickey Rooney Show,'' also known as ''Hey Mulligan,'' appeared on ] television for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955. In 1951, he directed a feature film for ], ''My True Story'' starring ]. Rooney also starred as a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian in the live 90-minute television drama '']'', written by ] and directed by ], on ] the evening of ] in 1957. In 1944, Rooney entered military service for 21 months during ], during which time he was a radio personality on the ]. He later went on to say that ] got the idea for his character in ] from Rooney's own experiences. After his return to civilian life, his career slumped. He appeared in a number of films, including ''Words and Music'' in 1948, which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her ] variety series in 1963). ''The Mickey Rooney Show,'' also known as ''Hey Mulligan,'' appeared on ] television for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955. In 1951, he directed a feature film for ], ''My True Story'' starring ]. Rooney also starred as a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian in the live 90-minute television drama '']'', written by ] and directed by ], on ] the evening of ] in 1957.


In 1960, he directed and starred in ''The Private Lives of Adam and Eve,'' an ambitious comedy known for its multiple flashbacks and many cameos. In the 1960s, Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally would appear in better works, such as '']'' (]) and '']'' (1979). One of Rooney's more controversial roles came in the highly acclaimed 1961 film '']'' where he played a stereotyped buck-toothed Japanese neighbor of the main character, Holly Golightly. Producer Richard Shepherd apologized for this in the 45th anniversary DVD, though Director Blake Edwards and Rooney himself do not. In 1960, he directed and starred in ''The Private Lives of Adam and Eve,'' an ambitious comedy known for its multiple flashbacks and many cameos. In the 1960s, Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment, but behind the scenes. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally would appear in better works, such as '']'' (]) and '']'' (1979). One of Rooney's more controversial roles came in the highly acclaimed 1961 film '']'' where he played a stereotyped buck-toothed Japanese neighbor of the main character, Holly Golightly. Producer Richard Shepherd apologized for this in the 45th anniversary DVD, though Director Blake Edwards and Rooney himself do not, releasing that he wished he had been the pilot of the ] which dropped the ] on ].


On ], ], he appeared on television's '']'' and mentioned that he had already started enrolling students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment). His school venture never came to fruition, but for several years he was a spokesman/partner in Pennsylvania's Downingtown Inn, a country club and golf resort. On ], ], he appeared on television's '']'' and mentioned that he had already started molesting students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment). His school venture never came to fruition, but for several years he was a spokesman/partner in Pennsylvania's Downingtown Inn, a country club and golf resort for ].


In 1966, while Rooney was working on a film in ], his wife Barbara Ann Thomason (aka Tara Thomas, Carolyn Mitchell), a former pin-up model and aspiring actress who had won 17 straight beauty contests in Southern California, was found dead in their bed. Beside her was her lover, ], an actor friend of Rooney's. Detectives ruled it murder-suicide, which was accomplished with Rooney's own gun. Milos was also a ] and was connected to ], bodyguard of French star ]. Markovic was also found dead in mysterious circumstances in ] two years later. In 1966, while Rooney was working on a film in ], his wife Barbara Ann Thomason (aka Tara Thomas, Carolyn Mitchell), a former pin-up model and aspiring actress who had won 17 straight beauty contests on ], was found dead in their bed, after a pain in her head made her saw red. Beside her was her lover, ], an actor friend of Rooney's. Detectives ruled it murder-suicide, which was accomplished with Rooney's own gun. Milos was also a ] and was connected to ], bodyguard of French star ]. Markovic was also found dead in mysterious circumstances in ] two years later.


Grief-stricken and not in his right frame of mind, Rooney quickly married Barbara's friend, Marge Lane.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The union lasted about one hundred days. Grief-stricken and not in his right frame of mind, Rooney quickly married Barbara's friend, Marge Lane.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The union lasted about one hundred days, and ended once Rooney began calling her "Large Marge." Her largeness was attributed to over-eating.


He was awarded an ] in 1938, and in 1983 the ] voted him their ] for his lifetime of achievement. ] called Rooney "the single best film actor America ever produced",{{Fact|date=December 2007}} a sentiment echoed by actor ]. ] stated that Rooney was "the world's greatest talent."{{Fact|date=December 2007}} As a result of the Andy Hardy series, Rooney was the highest paid actor in Hollywood in the late 1930s.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} He was awarded an ] in 1938, and in 1983 the ] voted him their ] for his lifetime of achievement. ] called Rooney "the single best film actor America ever produced",{{Fact|date=December 2007}} a sentiment echoed by actor ]. ] stated that Rooney was "the world's greatest talent."{{Fact|date=December 2007}} As a result of the Andy Hardy series, Rooney was the highest paid actor in Hollywood in the late 1930s.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
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Rooney did the voices for three ] TV animated/stop action specials: '']'' (1970), '']'' (1974), and '']''&mdash;always playing ]. In 1970, he was approached by television producer ] to consider taking on the role of Archie Bunker in the upcoming ] series, '']''. Like ] before him, Mickey rejected the project as too controversial.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The role ultimately went to ]. Rooney did the voices for three ] TV animated/stop action specials: '']'' (1970), '']'' (1974), and '']''&mdash;always playing ]. In 1970, he was approached by television producer ] to consider taking on the role of Archie Bunker in the upcoming ] series, '']''. Like ] before him, Mickey rejected the project as too controversial.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The role ultimately went to ].


Rooney continued to work on stage and television through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play '']'' with ] beginning in 1979. He starred in the long-running TV series ''The ]'', reprising his role as Henry Daily from ''The Black Stallion'' film and toured ] in a ] production of ''The Mind with the Naughty Man'' in the mid-1990s. He played The Wizard in a stage production of '']'' with ] at ]. Kitt was later replaced by ]. He also appeared in the documentary '']''. Rooney continued to work on stage and television through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play '']'' with ] beginning in 1979. He starred in the long-running TV series ''The ]'', reprising his role as Henry Daily from ''The Black Stallion'' film and toured ] in a ] production of ''The Mind with the Naughty Man'' in the mid-1990s. Canada asked him to leave politely. He played The Wizard in a stage production of '']'' with ] at ]. Kitt was later replaced by ]. He also appeared in the documentary '']'', which was dismal at best.


Rooney voiced Mr. Cherrywood in '']'' (]), and starred as the Movie Mason in a ] ] family film, 2000's '']''. He played himself in the '']'' episode "]" of 1995. In 1996-97, Mickey played Talbut on the TV series, ] produced by ]. He co-starred in ] in 2006 with ] and ]. Rooney voiced Mr. Cherrywood in '']'' (]), and starred as the Movie Mason in a ] ] family film, 2000's '']''. He played himself in the '']'' episode "]" of 1995. In 1996-97, Mickey played Talbut on the TV series, ] produced by ]. He co-starred in ] in 2006 with ] and ].

After the release of ], Rooney sued ] and the writers of the film for the famous courtroom scene where Pesci mispronounces "youths" as "yutes." The judge hearing Rooney's case threw it out of court and told Rooney to find something better to do with his time.


===Current work=== ===Current work===
Rooney also appeared in television commercials for ] in 1999, alongside his wife Jan. In commercials shown in 2007, Rooney can be seen in the background washing imaginary dishes. Rooney also appeared in television commercials for ] in 1999, alongside his wife Jan. In commercials shown in 2007, Rooney can be seen in the background washing imaginary dishes, whcih he oftened did in real life after the judge had throw is "yute" case out of court.


Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, ] in a multi-media live stage production called ''Let's Put On a Show!'' Chamberlin met Mickey through his son, Mickey Jr., whom she had been dating at the time. On ] ], he was Grand Marshal at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival. It was announced that Rooney will be making his British ] debut, playing Baron Hardup in ], at the ] over the 2007 Christmas period. He appeared in ] dressed in a fetching pair of shorts and socks. Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, ] in a multi-media live stage production called ''Let's Put On a Show!'' The couple take off their clothes frequently, hence, putting on a show! "Chamberlin met Mickey through his son, Mickey Jr., whom she had been dating at the time. On ] ], he was Grand Marshal of the ] at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival. It was announced that Rooney will be making his British ] debut, playing Baron Hardup in ], at the ] over the 2007 Christmas period. British Parliament politely asked him not to. Heappeared in ] dressed in a fetching pair of shorts and socks, which received many laughs.
In ], Rooney will enter the Guinness Book of Records as the actor with longest career on both stage and screen. <ref>http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/mickey+rooney+makes+panto+debut/1154447</ref> In ], Rooney will enter the Guinness Book of Records as the actor with longest career on both stage and screen and for the most imaginary dishes washed. <ref>http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/mickey+rooney+makes+panto+debut/1154447</ref>


He and his wife live in ]. He and his wife live in ].
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| ''Blind Date'' | ''Blind Date, I Forgot my Cane!''
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| ''Death on the Diamond'' | ''Death on the Diamond''
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| ''The Devil Is a Sissy'' | ''The Devil Is a Sassy, Bitch''
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Revision as of 13:54, 9 February 2008

Mickey Rooney
from the trailer for The Human Comedy (1943)
BornJoseph Yute, Jr.
Years active1922 ─ present
Spouse(s)Ava Gardner (1942 ─ 1943)
Betty Jane Rase (1944 ─ 1948)
Martha Vickers (1949 ─ 1952)
Elaine Devry (1952 ─ 1958)
Carolyn Mitchell (1958 ─ 1966)
Marge Lane (1966 ─ 1967)
Carolyn Hockett (1969 ─ 1974)
Jan Chamberlin (1978 ─ present)
Websitehttp://www.mickeyrooney.com/

Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yute, Jr. on September 23, 1920), is an American film actor and musician whose eighty-five year career in entertainment began in 1922 and continues to this day.

Biography

Early life

Rooney was born in Brooklyn, New York to a vaudeville family. His father, Joseph Yute, was from Scotland, and his mother, Nellie W. Carter, was from Kansas City, Missouri. Both parents were in vaudeville, and appearing in a Brooklyn production of A Gaiety Girl when Joseph, Jr. was born. He began performing at the age of fifteen months as part of his parents' routine, wearing a specially tailored latex tuxedo.

Career

Mickey McGuire

The Yutes separated in 1924 during a slump in vaudeville, and in 1925, Nell Yute moved with her son to Hollywood, where she managed a tourist home. Fontaine Fox had placed a newspaper ad for a dark haired child to play the role of "Mickey McGuire" in a series of short films, and, lacking the money to have her son's hair dyed, Mrs. Yute took her son to the audition after applying burnt cork to his scalp. Joe got the role and became "Mickey" for 78 of the comedies, running from 1927 to 1936, starting with Mickey's Circus, released September 4, 1927. These had been adapted from the Toonerville Trolley comic strip, which contained a character named Mickey McGuire. Joe Yute briefly legally became Mickey McGuire to trump an attempted copyright lawsuit (as it was his legal name, the movie producers did not owe the comic strip writers royalties).

Rooney later claimed that, during his Mickey McGuire days, he met cartoonist Walt Disney at the Warner Brothers studio, and that Disney was inspired to name Mickey Mouse after him, although Disney always said that he had changed the name from "Mortimer Mouse" on the suggestion of his wife. Rooney also took credit for giving rising starlet Norma Jean Mortenson the stage name Marilyn Monroe, his co-star in the 1950 film 'The Fireball', although she had been so billed as early as 1947.

During an interruption in the series in 1932, Mrs. Yute made plans to take her son on a ten week vaudeville tour as McGuire, and Fox sued successfully to stop him from using the name. Mrs. Yute suggested the stage name of "Mickey Pooney" for her comedian son, given that he was going through women like toilet paper at this point in his career, which he altered slightly to a less frivolous version. Rooney did other films, including a few more of the McGuire films, in his adolescence, and signed with MGM in 1934. MGM cast Rooney as the teenage son of a judge in 1937's A Family Affair, setting Rooney on the way to another successful film series. He also had a romantic involvement with many of the stage hands.

Andy Hardy and Judy Garland

In 1937, Rooney was selected to portray Andy Hardy in A Family Affair (1937), which MGM had planned as a B-movie. Rooney provided comic relief as the son of Judge James K. Hardy, portrayed by Lionel Barrymore (although Lewis Stone would play the role of Judge Hardy in later films). The film was an unexpected success, and led to thirteen more "Andy Hardy" films between 1937 and 1946, and then one final "Andy Hardy" film in 1958. Rooney received top-billing in a feature film as Shockey Carter in Hoosier Schoolboy (1937). The same year, he made his first film alongside Judy Garland with Thoroughbreds Don't Cry. His breakthrough role as a dramatic actor came in 1938's Boys Town opposite Spencer Tracy as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. This is around the same time Rooney became acting on his bi-curiosity.

Garland and Rooney became a successful song and dance team. Besides three of the Andy Hardy films, where she portrayed Betsy Booth, a younger girl with a crush on Andy, Garland appeared with Rooney in a string of successful musicals, including the Oscar nominated Babes in Arms (1939). Whenever Garland couldn't appear, Rooney would use a pig, which he trained himself, to sing and dance. This pig went on to do Babe: Pig in the City, with Rooney continuing to coach.

Rooney with Judy Garland in Babes in Arms (1939), one of several films they made together.

Later Career

In 1944, Rooney entered military service for 21 months during World War II, during which time he was a radio personality on the American Forces Network. He later went on to say that Robin Williams got the idea for his character in Good Morning, Vietnam from Rooney's own experiences. After his return to civilian life, his career slumped. He appeared in a number of films, including Words and Music in 1948, which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her CBS variety series in 1963). The Mickey Rooney Show, also known as Hey Mulligan, appeared on NBC television for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955. In 1951, he directed a feature film for Columbia Pictures, My True Story starring Helen Keller. Rooney also starred as a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian in the live 90-minute television drama The Comedian, written by Rod Serling and directed by John Frankenheimer, on Playhouse 90 the evening of Valentine's Day in 1957.

In 1960, he directed and starred in The Private Lives of Adam and Eve, an ambitious comedy known for its multiple flashbacks and many cameos. In the 1960s, Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment, but behind the scenes. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally would appear in better works, such as Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) and The Black Stallion (1979). One of Rooney's more controversial roles came in the highly acclaimed 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's where he played a stereotyped buck-toothed Japanese neighbor of the main character, Holly Golightly. Producer Richard Shepherd apologized for this in the 45th anniversary DVD, though Director Blake Edwards and Rooney himself do not, releasing that he wished he had been the pilot of the Enola Gay which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

On December 31, 1961, he appeared on television's What's My Line and mentioned that he had already started molesting students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment). His school venture never came to fruition, but for several years he was a spokesman/partner in Pennsylvania's Downingtown Inn, a country club and golf resort for Little People.

In 1966, while Rooney was working on a film in the Philippines, his wife Barbara Ann Thomason (aka Tara Thomas, Carolyn Mitchell), a former pin-up model and aspiring actress who had won 17 straight beauty contests on Jupiter, was found dead in their bed, after a pain in her head made her saw red. Beside her was her lover, Milos Milos, an actor friend of Rooney's. Detectives ruled it murder-suicide, which was accomplished with Rooney's own gun. Milos was also a bodyguard and was connected to Stevan Markovic, bodyguard of French star Alain Delon. Markovic was also found dead in mysterious circumstances in Paris two years later.

Grief-stricken and not in his right frame of mind, Rooney quickly married Barbara's friend, Marge Lane. The union lasted about one hundred days, and ended once Rooney began calling her "Large Marge." Her largeness was attributed to over-eating.

He was awarded an Academy Juvenile Award in 1938, and in 1983 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted him their Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime of achievement. Laurence Olivier called Rooney "the single best film actor America ever produced", a sentiment echoed by actor James Mason. Judy Garland stated that Rooney was "the world's greatest talent." As a result of the Andy Hardy series, Rooney was the highest paid actor in Hollywood in the late 1930s.

Television and stage

Actor Mickey Rooney speaks at the Pentagon in 2000 during a ceremony honoring the USO.

Rooney made a successful transition to television and stage work. He won a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his role in 1981's Bill. Playing opposite Dennis Quaid, Rooney was a mentally challenged man attempting to live on his own after leaving an institution. He reprised his role in 1983's Bill: On His Own, earning an Emmy nomination for the role.

Rooney did the voices for three Christmas TV animated/stop action specials: Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970), The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974), and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July—always playing Santa Claus. In 1970, he was approached by television producer Norman Lear to consider taking on the role of Archie Bunker in the upcoming CBS series, All in the Family. Like Jackie Gleason before him, Mickey rejected the project as too controversial. The role ultimately went to Carroll O'Connor.

Rooney continued to work on stage and television through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play Sugar Babies with Ann Miller beginning in 1979. He starred in the long-running TV series The Adventures of the Black Stallion, reprising his role as Henry Daily from The Black Stallion film and toured Canada in a dinner theatre production of The Mind with the Naughty Man in the mid-1990s. Canada asked him to leave politely. He played The Wizard in a stage production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Eartha Kitt at Madison Square Garden. Kitt was later replaced by Jo Anne Worley. He also appeared in the documentary That's Entertainment! III, which was dismal at best.

Rooney voiced Mr. Cherrywood in The Care Bears Movie (1985), and starred as the Movie Mason in a Disney Channel Original Movie family film, 2000's Phantom of the Megaplex. He played himself in the Simpsons episode "Radioactive Man" of 1995. In 1996-97, Mickey played Talbut on the TV series, Kleo The Misfit Unicorn produced by Gordon Stanfield Animation (GSA). He co-starred in Night at the Museum in 2006 with Dick Van Dyke and Ben Stiller.

After the release of My Cousin Vinnie, Rooney sued Joe Pesci and the writers of the film for the famous courtroom scene where Pesci mispronounces "youths" as "yutes." The judge hearing Rooney's case threw it out of court and told Rooney to find something better to do with his time.

Current work

Rooney also appeared in television commercials for Garden State Life Insurance Company in 1999, alongside his wife Jan. In commercials shown in 2007, Rooney can be seen in the background washing imaginary dishes, whcih he oftened did in real life after the judge had throw is "yute" case out of court.

Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, Jan Chamberlin in a multi-media live stage production called Let's Put On a Show! The couple take off their clothes frequently, hence, putting on a show! "Chamberlin met Mickey through his son, Mickey Jr., whom she had been dating at the time. On 26 May 2007, he was Grand Marshal of the KKK at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival. It was announced that Rooney will be making his British pantomime debut, playing Baron Hardup in Cinderella, at the Sunderland Empire Theatre over the 2007 Christmas period. British Parliament politely asked him not to. Heappeared in Points West dressed in a fetching pair of shorts and socks, which received many laughs. In 2008, Rooney will enter the Guinness Book of Records as the actor with longest career on both stage and screen and for the most imaginary dishes washed.

He and his wife live in Westlake Village, California.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title
1927 Orchids and Ermine
1932 The Beast of the City
Sin's Pay Day
High Speed and meth
Fast Companions
Kingpin
Officer Thirteen
1933 The Big Cage
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
The Big Valbowsky
Broadway to Hollywood
The Chef
The Word Challenges
1934 Beloved
The Lost Jungle
I Like It That Way, Daddy
Upperworld (scenes deleted)
Manhattan Melodrama
Love Birds
Half a Sinner, Half an Angel
Hide-Out
Chained
Blind Date, I Forgot my Cane!
Death on the Diamond
1935 The County Chairman
West Point of the Air (scenes deleted)
Reckless
The Healer
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Rendezvous
Ah, Wilderness!
1936 Riffraff
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Down the Stretch
The Devil Is a Sassy, Bitch
1937 A Family Affair
Captains Courageous
Slave Ship
Hoosier Schoolboy
Live, Love and Learn
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
You're Only Young Once
1938 Love Is a Headache
Judge Hardy's Children
Hold That Kiss
Lord Jeff
Love Finds Andy Hardy
Boys Town
Stablemates (1938 pornography)
Out West with the Hardys
1939 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Hardys Ride High
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Babes in Arms
Judge Hardy and Son
1940 Young Tom Edison
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
Year Title
1940 Strike Up the Band
1941 Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
Men of Boys Town
Life Begins for Andy Hardy (Andy Hardy's journey from the womb through the birth canal. Shown in colour)
Babes on Broadway
1942 The Courtship of Andy Hardy
A Yank at Eton (1942 pornography)
Andy Hardy's Double Life
1943 The Human Comedy
Thousands Cheer
Girl Crazy
1944 Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
National Velvet
1946 Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
1947 Killer McCoy
1948 Summer Holiday
Words and Music
1949 The Big Wheel
1950 Quicksand
The Fireball
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
1951 My Outlaw Brother
The Striptease
1952 Sound Off
1953 Off Limits
All Aboard
A Slight Case of Larceny
1954 Drive a Crooked Road
The Atomic Kid
1955 The Bridges at Toko-Ri
The Twinkle in God's Eye
1956 The Bold and the Brave
Francis in the Haunted House
Magnificent Roughnecks
1957 Operation Mad Ball
Baby Face Nelson
1958 A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
Andy Hardy Comes Home
1959 The Big Operator
The Last Mile
1960 Platinum High School
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve 1961 pornography
1961 King of the Roaring 20's - The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Everything's Ducky
1962 Requiem for a Heavyweight
1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1964 The Secret Invasion
1965 Twenty-Four Hours to Kill
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
1966 The Devil In Love
Ambush Bay
1968 Skidoo
1969 The Extraordinary Seaman
The Comic
80 Steps to Jonah
1970 Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Hollywood Blue (documentary)
1971 Mooch Goes to Hollywood
Year Title
1971 The Manipulator
1972 Richard
Pulp
1973 The Godmothers
1974 Thunder County
Rachel's Man
That's Entertainment!
Journey Back to Oz (voice)
1975 Ace of Hearts
From Hong Kong with Love
1976 Find the Lady
1977 The Domino Principle
Pete's Dragon
1978 The Magic of Lassie
1979 The Black Stallion
Arabian Adventure
1981 The Fox and the Hound (voice)
1982 The Emperor of Peru
1985 The Care Bears Movie (voice)
1986 Lightning, the White Stallion
1989 Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (voice)
Erik the Viking
1991 My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
1992 The Milky Life
Sweet Justice
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
The Magic Voyage (voice)
Maximum Force
1993 The Legend of Wolf Mountain
1994 Revenge of the Red Baron
The Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
Making Waves
A Century of Cinema (documentary)
That's Entertainment! III
1997 Killing Midnight
1998 The Face on the Barroom Floor
Animals and the Tollkeeper
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights
Babe: Pig in the City
1999 Holy Hollywood
The First of May
2000 Internet Love
Phantom of the Megaplex
2001 Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (voice)
2002 Topa Topa Bluffs
2003 Paradise
2005 Strike the Tent a.k.a. The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams
A Christmas Too Many
2006 The Thirsting
Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star (documentary)
To Kill a Mockumentary
Night at the Museum
2007 The Yesterday Pool
Bamboo Shark
Lost Stallions: The Journey Home
2008 Wreck the Halls
Driving Me Crazy

Short subjects

Year Title
1926 Not to Be Trusted
1927 Mickey's Circus
Mickey's Pals
Mickey's Eleven
Mickey's Battles
1928 Mickey's Minstrels
Mickey's Parade
Mickey in School
Mickey's Nine
Mickey's Little Eva
Mickey's Wild West
Mickey in Love
Mickey's Triumph
Mickey's Babies
Mickey's Movies
Mickey's Rivals
Mickey the Detective
Mickey's Athletes
Mickey's Big Game Hunt
1929 Mickey's Great Idea
Mickey's Explorers
Mickey's Menagerie
Mickey's Last Chance
Mickey's Brown Derby
Mickey's Northwest Mounted
Year Title
1929 Mickey's Initiation
Mickey's Midnite Follies
Mickey's Surprise
Mickey's Mix-Up
Mickey's Big Moment
Mickey's Strategy
1930 Mickey's Champs
Mickey's Master Mind
Mickey's Luck
Mickey's Whirlwinds
Mickey's Warriors
Mickey the Romeo
Mickey's Merry Men
Mickey's Winners
Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 24
Mickey's Musketeers
Mickey's Bargain
1931 Mickey's Stampede
Mickey's Crusaders
Mickey's Rebellion
Mickey's Diplomacy
Mickey's Wildcats
Mickey's Thrill Hunters
Mickey's Helping Hand
Mickey's Sideline
Year Title
1932 Mickey's Busy Day
Mickey's Travels
Mickey's Holiday
Mickey's Big Business
Mickey's Golden Rule
Mickey's Charity
1933 Mickey's Ape Man
Mickey's Race
Mickey's Big Broadcast
Mickey's Touchdown
Mickey's Tent Show
Mickey's Covered Wagon
1934 Mickey's Medicine Man
1935 Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
1936 Mickey's Derby Day
1937 Cinema Circus
1938 Andy Hardy's Dilemma
1940 Rodeo Dough
1941 Meet the Stars #4: Variety Reel #2
1943 Show Business at War
1947 Screen Snapshots: Out of This World Series
1953 Screen Snapshots: Mickey Rooney - Then and Now
1958 Screen Snapshots: Glamorous Hollywood
1968 Vienna
1974 Just One More Time
1975 The Lion Roars Again

Television

Year(s) Title
1954-1955 The Mickey Rooney Show
1957 The Comedian
Pinocchio
1963 The Twilight Zone - "The Last Night of a Jockey"
1964-1965 Mickey
1967 Ready and Willing (unsold pornography)
1970 Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (voice)
1972 Evil Roy Slade
1974 The Year Without a Santa Claus (voice)
1979 Donovan's Kid
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (voice)
Year Title
1980 O'Malley (unsold pilot)
My Kidnapper, My Love
1981 Leave 'em Laughing
Bill
Senior Trip
1982 One of the Boys (canceled after 13 episodes)
1983 Bill: On His Own
1984 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
1986 The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
The Golden Girls (playing Rocko, Sophia's boyfriend)
There Must Be a Pony
Little Butt Spies
Year Title
1988 Bluegrass
1990 Home for Christmas
1990-1993 The Adventures of the Black Stallion
1991 The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
1995 Brothers' Destiny
The Simpsons (as himself in the episode "Radioactive Man")
1997 Kleo The Misfit Unicorn (As Talbut The Elder Unicron)
Boys Will Be Boys
1998 ER
2000 Phantom of the Megaplex
2005 The Happy Elf (voice)

Honors

Mickey Rooney was dubbed the fifth greatest actor of all time by The Academy of Film Arts and Science, just above Henry Fonda and John Wayne.

Marriages

Name Years Children
Ava Gardner 1942-1943
Betty Jane Rase 1944-1949 Mickey Rooney, Jr.
Tim Rooney
Martha Vickers 1949-1951 Teddy Rooney
Thelma Elaine Mahnken (Elaine Devry) 1952-1958
Barbara Ann Thomason (Carolyn Mitchell) 1958-1966 Kyle Rooney
Kimmy Rooney
Kelly Rooney
Kerry Rooney
Marge Lane 1966-1967
Carolyn Hockett 1969-1974 Jimmy Rooney
Jonelle Rooney
Jan Chamberlin 1978-present

References

  1. ^ Current Biography 1942. H.W. Wilson Co. (January 1942). pp704-06. ISBN 9990396035.
  2. ^ Mickey Rooney at IMDb
  3. Albin, Kira. Mickey Rooney: Hollywood, Religion and His Latest Show. GrandTimes.com Senior Magazine. 1995.
  4. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/mickey+rooney+makes+panto+debut/1154447

External links

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