Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney Born September 23, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA Died April 6, 2014 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (natural causes) Birth Name Joseph Yule Jr. Nicknames The Mick The Mickster Height 5' 2" (1.57 m) Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr. on September 23, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. He first took the stage as a toddler in his parents vaudeville act at 17 months old. He made his first film appearance in 1926. The following year, he played the lead character in the first Mickey McGuire short film. It was in this popular film series that he took the stage name Mickey Rooney. Rooney reached new heights in 1937 with A Family Affair, the film that introduced the country to Andy Hardy, the popular all-American teenager. This beloved character appeared in nearly 20 films and helped make Rooney the top star at the box office in 1939, 1940 and 1941. Rooney also proved himself an excellent dramatic actor as a delinquent in Boys Town (1938) starring Spencer Tracy. In 1938, he was awarded a Juvenile Academy Award. Teaming up with Judy Garland, Rooney also appeared in a string of musicals, including Babes in Arms (1939) the first teenager to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a leading role, Strike Up the Band (1940), Babes on Broadway (1941), and Girl Crazy (1943). He and Garland immediately became best of friends. "We weren't just a team, we were magic," Rooney once said. During that time he also appeared with Elizabeth Taylor in the now classic National Velvet (1944). Rooney joined the service that same year, where he helped to entertain the troops and worked on the American Armed Forces Network. He returned to Hollywood after 21 months in Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946), did a remake of a Robert Taylor film, The Crowd Roars (1932) called Killer McCoy (1947) and portrayed composer Lorenz Hart in Words and Music (1948). He also appeared in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. Rooney played Hepburn's Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yunioshi. A sign of the times, Rooney played the part for comic relief which he later regretted feeling the role was offensive. He once again showed his incredible range in the dramatic role of a boxing trainer with Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962). In the late 1960s and 1970s Rooney showed audiences and critics alike why he was one of Hollywood's most enduring stars. He gave an impressive performance in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film The Black Stallion (1979), which brought him an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He also turned to the stage in 1979 in Sugar Babies with Ann Miller, and was nominated for a Tony Award. During that time he also portrayed the Wizard in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Eartha Kitt at New York's Madison Square Garden, which also had a successful run nationally. Rooney's personal life, including his frequent trips to the altar, has proved to be just as epic as his on-screen performances. His first wife was one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, actress Ava Gardner. Mickey permanently separated from his eighth wife Jan in June of 2012. Rooney requested through the Superior Court to permanently reside with his son Mark Rooney, who is a musician and Marks wife Charlene, an artist, in the Hollywood Hills. He legally separated from his eighth wife in June of 2012. Ironically, after eight failed marriages he never looked or felt better and finally found happiness and peace in the single life. Mickey, Mark and Charlene focused on health, happiness and creative endeavors and it showed. Mickey Rooney had once again landed on his feet reminding us that he was a survivor. Rooney died on April 6th 2014. He was taking his afternoon nap and never woke. One week before his death Mark and Charlene surprised him by reunited him with a long lost love, the racetrack. He was ecstatic to be back after decades and ran into his old friends Mel Brooks and Dick Van Patten. Spouse (8) Jan Rooney (28 July 1978 - 6 April 2014) ( his death) Carolyn Hockett (27 May 1969 - 24 January 1975) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Margaret Lane (10 September 1966 - 14 December 1967) ( divorced) Carolyn Mitchell (1 December 1958 - 31 January 1966) ( her death) ( 4 children) Elaine Devry (18 November 1952 - 18 May 1958) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Martha Vickers (3 June 1949 - 25 September 1952) ( divorced) ( 1 child) B.J. Baker (30 September 1944 - 3 June 1949) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Ava Gardner (10 January 1942 - 21 May 1943) ( divorced) Father of Tim Rooney and Mickey Rooney Jr., from his marriage to Betty Jane Rase (B.J. Baker). Father of Jonelle Rooney (born January 11, 1970) from his marriage to Carolyn Hockett. He also adopted Carolyn's son from a previous marriage, Jimmy Rooney (born 1966). Was nominated for Broadway's 1980 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Sugar Babies." With a film career that lasted from 1926 to 2015, he has the longest career in cinema history, surpassing Lillian Gish. Rooney's 339 film credits span ten decades: 1920s-2010s. Laemmle's 17 film credits include a break from 1939 to 2010 (except for a video short in 2001). Father of Kelly Ann Rooney (born September 13, 1959), Kerry Yule Rooney (born December 30, 1960), Michael Rooney (VI) (born April 2, 1962) and Kimmy Sue Rooney (born September 13, 1963), from his marriage to Carolyn Mitchell. At age 19 became the first teenager to be Oscar-nominated in a leading role for Babes in Arms (1939). His first of eight marriages was to Ava Gardner but his marriage to Jan Rooney was longer than those of all his other seven wives combined. Had 19 grandchildren, including Shannon Rooney and Dominique Rooney by his son Timothy Rooney, and several great-grandchildren among whom Kaitlyn Rooney and Hunter Rooney. He was most proud of his film The Black Stallion (1979). With the death of James Stewart on July 2, 1997, Rooney was the last surviving entertainer of the 46 caricatured in Hollywood Steps Out (1941). His hobbies included listening to music, football, golfing, dancing, horse racing, painting, getting together with old friends and watching classic movies. Graduated from Hollywood High School in 1938. His future The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (1990) co-star, Richard Ian Cox, was a childhood movie hero of his. Began his career as a contract player for MGM in 1934. Was an animal rights activist. He chose to permanently reside with stepson Mark Rooney and Mark's wife Charlene Rooney. Release of his autobiography, "Life is too Short". [1991] He has been quoted as saying he was proud of President Barack Obama and his policies. Mickey Rooney had passed away on April 6, 2014, just four months before Robin Williams committed suicide. They both starred in the movie: Night at the Museum (2006) and its sequel Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014). His third son, Teddy Rooney, died on July 2, 2016, at age 66, just two years after the death of his father. Interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA. When he passed away in 2014, at the age of 93, he had at least three future projects that he was going to perform in. When he died his eight surviving children said in a statement that they were barred from seeing Rooney during his final years.