Mickey Rooney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor, vaudevillian, comedian, producer, and radio personality. In a career spanning nine decades and continuing until shortly before his death, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the silent film era. At the height of a career that was marked by declines and comebacks, Rooney performed the role of Andy Hardy in a series of 16 films in the 1930s and 1940s that epitomized American family values. A versatile performer, he became a celebrated character actor later in his career. Laurence Olivier once said he considered Rooney "the best there has ever been". Clarence Brown, who directed him in two of his earliest dramatic roles, National Velvet and The Human Comedy, said he was "the closest thing to a genius I ever worked with". Rooney first performed in vaudeville as a child and made his film debut at the age of six. At 14, he played Puck in the play and later the 1935 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Critic David Thomson hailed his performance as "one of the cinema's most arresting pieces of magic". In 1938, he co-starred in Boys Town. At 19, he was the first teenager to be nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in Babes in Arms, and he was awarded a special Academy Juvenile Award in 1939. At the peak of his career between the ages of 15 and 25, he made 43 films, which made him one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's most consistently successful actors and a favorite of MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer. Rooney was the top box-office attraction from 1939 to 1941 and one of the best-paid actors of that era, but his career would never again rise to such heights. Drafted into the Army during World War II, he served nearly two years entertaining over two million troops on stage and radio and was awarded a Bronze Star for performing in combat zones. Returning from the war in 1945, he was too old for juvenile roles but too short to be an adult movie star, and was unable to get as many starring roles. Nevertheless, Rooney's popularity was renewed with well-received supporting roles in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and The Black Stallion (1979). In the early 1980s, he returned to Broadway in Sugar Babies and again became a celebrated star. Rooney made hundreds of appearances on TV, including dramas, variety programs, and talk shows, and won an Emmy in 1982 plus a Golden Globe for his role in Bill (1981).
Filmography
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
as (archive footage)
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
as (archive footage)
Sid & Judy
as Self (archive footage)
Sid & Judy
as Self (archive footage)
Marilyn and I
as Self (archive footage)
Marilyn and I
as Self (archive footage)
Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Mr. Louis
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Mr. Louis
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
as Gus
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
as Gus
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker
as Self
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker
as Self
The Voices from Beyond
as Johnny O'Hara
The Voices from Beyond
as Johnny O'Hara
Driving Me Crazy
as Mr. Cohen
Driving Me Crazy
as Mr. Cohen
The Muppets
as Smalltown Resident
The Muppets
as Smalltown Resident
Night Club
as Jerry Sherman
Night Club
as Jerry Sherman
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
as Self
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
as Self
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
as (archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
as (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
as Self (archive footage)
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
as Self (archive footage)
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
as Santa Claus (voice)
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
as Santa Claus (voice)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
as Self
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
as Self
Empire State Building Murders
as Mickey Silver
Empire State Building Murders
as Mickey Silver
Lost Stallions: The Journey Home
as Chief
Lost Stallions: The Journey Home
as Chief
A Christmas Too Many
as Grandpa
A Christmas Too Many
as Grandpa
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
as Self
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
as Self
Night at the Museum
as Gus
Night at the Museum
as Gus
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
as Self (archive footage)
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
as Self (archive footage)
Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star
Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star
The Thirsting
as Savy
The Thirsting
as Savy
The Happy Elf
as Santa Claus
The Happy Elf
as Santa Claus
The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams
as David McCord
The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams
as David McCord
Judy Garland Duets
as Self (archive footage)
Judy Garland Duets
as Self (archive footage)
Silent Hollywood: Cult, Stars, Scandals
as Self
Silent Hollywood: Cult, Stars, Scandals
as Self
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self - Actor (voice)
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self - Actor (voice)
Hollywood Legenden
as Self
Hollywood Legenden
as Self
To Kill a Mockumentary
as Max
To Kill a Mockumentary
as Max
Illusion Infinity
as Simon / Henry, Sr.
Illusion Infinity
as Simon / Henry, Sr.
Broadway's Lost Treasures
as Mickey (segment "Sugar Babies")
Broadway's Lost Treasures
as Mickey (segment "Sugar Babies")
Cleavage
Cleavage
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
as Sparky (voice)
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
as Sparky (voice)
Phantom of the Megaplex
as Movie Mason
Phantom of the Megaplex
as Movie Mason
The First of May
as Boss Ed
The First of May
as Boss Ed
Boys Will Be Boys
as Wellington
Boys Will Be Boys
as Wellington
Babe: Pig in the City
as Fugly Floom, the Speechless Man in Hotel
Babe: Pig in the City
as Fugly Floom, the Speechless Man in Hotel
Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy (archive footage)
Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy (archive footage)
Internet Love
as Self
Internet Love
as Self
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
as Griffith
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
as Griffith
Animals with the Tollkeeper
as Tollkeeper
Animals with the Tollkeeper
as Tollkeeper
Conan
as Gobe
Conan
as Gobe
Sunset Boulevard - 27 Meilen Amerika
as Self - Actor
Sunset Boulevard - 27 Meilen Amerika
as Self - Actor
Killing Midnight
as Professor Mort Sang
Killing Midnight
as Professor Mort Sang
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self
Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
as O.B. Taggart
Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
as O.B. Taggart
Brothers' Destiny
as Father Flanagan
Brothers' Destiny
as Father Flanagan
Revenge of the Red Baron
as Grandpa Spencer
Revenge of the Red Baron
as Grandpa Spencer
That's Entertainment! III
as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
That's Entertainment! III
as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
The Our Gang Story
as Self (archive footage)
The Our Gang Story
as Self (archive footage)
Making Waves
as Gabriel
Making Waves
as Gabriel
Liberation
as Self (archive footage)
Liberation
as Self (archive footage)
The Milky Life
as Barry Reilly
The Milky Life
as Barry Reilly
Maximum Force
as Chief of Police
Maximum Force
as Chief of Police
The Legend of Wolf Mountain
as Pat Jensen
The Legend of Wolf Mountain
as Pat Jensen
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
as Joe Petto
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
as Joe Petto
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
as The Director
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
as The Director
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
as Junion
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
as Junion
Sweet Justice
as Zeke
Sweet Justice
as Zeke
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
as Self
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
as Self
Home for Christmas
as Elmer
Home for Christmas
as Elmer
Adventures of the Black Stallion
as Henry Dailey
Adventures of the Black Stallion
as Henry Dailey
Anthony Quinn: An Original
as Self (archive footage)
Anthony Quinn: An Original
as Self (archive footage)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
as Self (archive footage)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
as Self (archive footage)
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen
as Self
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen
as Self
Erik the Viking
as Erik's Grandfather
Erik the Viking
as Erik's Grandfather
Lightning, the White Stallion
as Barney Ingram
Lightning, the White Stallion
as Barney Ingram
Little Spies
as James Turner
Little Spies
as James Turner
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
as Jack Bergan
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
as Jack Bergan
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
as Self
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
as Self
The Care Bears Movie
as Mr. Cherrywood (voice)
The Care Bears Movie
as Mr. Cherrywood (voice)
That's Dancing!
as Self (archive footage)
That's Dancing!
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
as Mike Halligan
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
as Mike Halligan
Bill: On His Own
as Bill Sackter
Bill: On His Own
as Bill Sackter
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
O’Malley
as Mickey O’Malley
O’Malley
as Mickey O’Malley
Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler
as Self
Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Hollywood’s Children
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood’s Children
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
Senior Trip
as Self
Senior Trip
as Self
Bill
as Bill Sackter
Bill
as Bill Sackter
The Fox and the Hound
as Tod (voice)
The Fox and the Hound
as Tod (voice)
Leave 'Em Laughing
as Jack Thum
Leave 'Em Laughing
as Jack Thum
Creole
as Narrator
Creole
as Narrator
From Raquel with Love
as Paradise Cab Company cabbie
From Raquel with Love
as Paradise Cab Company cabbie
The Black Stallion
as Henry Dailey
The Black Stallion
as Henry Dailey
Arabian Adventure
as Daad El Shur
Arabian Adventure
as Daad El Shur
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
as Santa Claus (voice)
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
as Santa Claus (voice)
Donovan's Kid
as Bailey
Donovan's Kid
as Bailey
Mickey's 50
as Self
Mickey's 50
as Self
The Magic of Lassie
as Gus
The Magic of Lassie
as Gus
The Domino Principle
as Spiventa
The Domino Principle
as Spiventa
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
Rachel's Man
as Laban
Rachel's Man
as Laban
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
as Narrator
Hooray for Hollywood
as Narrator
Ace of Hearts
as Papa Joe
Ace of Hearts
as Papa Joe
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
The Intruder
as Capt. Jenkins
The Intruder
as Capt. Jenkins
The Year Without a Santa Claus
as Santa Claus (voice)
The Year Without a Santa Claus
as Santa Claus (voice)
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
Thunder County
as Gas Station Attendant
Thunder County
as Gas Station Attendant
Journey Back to Oz
as Scarecrow (voice)
Journey Back to Oz
as Scarecrow (voice)
Pulp
as Preston Gilbert
Pulp
as Preston Gilbert
Richard
as Guardian Angel
Richard
as Guardian Angel
Evil Roy Slade
as Nelson L. Stool
Evil Roy Slade
as Nelson L. Stool
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
as Mickey Rooney (uncredited)
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
as Mickey Rooney (uncredited)
The Manipulator
as B.J. Lang
The Manipulator
as B.J. Lang
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
as Kris Kringle (voice)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
as Kris Kringle (voice)
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
as Indian Tom
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
as Indian Tom
80 Steps to Jonah
as Wilfred Bashford
80 Steps to Jonah
as Wilfred Bashford
The Comic
as Cockeye
The Comic
as Cockeye
Skidoo
as George 'Blue Chips' Packard
Skidoo
as George 'Blue Chips' Packard
Lionpower from MGM
as Self - Cook 3 / Self - C W. J. Oglethorpe (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lionpower from MGM
as Self - Cook 3 / Self - C W. J. Oglethorpe (archive footage) (uncredited)
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
as Peachy Keane
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
as Peachy Keane
The Secret Invasion
as Terence Scanlon
The Secret Invasion
as Terence Scanlon
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Ding 'Dingy' Bell
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Ding 'Dingy' Bell
Requiem for a Heavyweight
as Army
Requiem for a Heavyweight
as Army
Everything's Ducky
as Kermit 'Beetle' McKay
Everything's Ducky
as Kermit 'Beetle' McKay
Breakfast at Tiffany's
as Mr. Yunioshi
Breakfast at Tiffany's
as Mr. Yunioshi
Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Mike Zampini
Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Mike Zampini
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Johnny Burke
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Johnny Burke
Platinum High School
as Steven Conway
Platinum High School
as Steven Conway
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
as Nick Lewis / The Devil
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
as Nick Lewis / The Devil
The Big Operator
as Little Joe Braun
The Big Operator
as Little Joe Braun
The Last Mile
as John Mears
The Last Mile
as John Mears
Andy Hardy Comes Home
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy Comes Home
as Andy Hardy
A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
as Gus Harris
A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
as Gus Harris
Baby Face Nelson
as Lester M. 'Baby Face Nelson' Gillis
Baby Face Nelson
as Lester M. 'Baby Face Nelson' Gillis
Pinocchio
as Pinocchio
Pinocchio
as Pinocchio
Operation Mad Ball
as MSgt. Yancy Skibo
Operation Mad Ball
as MSgt. Yancy Skibo
Mr. Broadway
Mr. Broadway
The Comedian
as Sammy Hogarth
The Comedian
as Sammy Hogarth
Magnificent Roughnecks
as Frank Sommers
Magnificent Roughnecks
as Frank Sommers
Francis in the Haunted House
as David Prescott
Francis in the Haunted House
as David Prescott
The Bold and the Brave
as Willie Dooley
The Bold and the Brave
as Willie Dooley
The Twinkle In God's Eye
as Rev. William Macklin II
The Twinkle In God's Eye
as Rev. William Macklin II
The Atomic Kid
as Barnaby 'Blix' Waterberry
The Atomic Kid
as Barnaby 'Blix' Waterberry
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
as Mike Forney
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
as Mike Forney
Drive a Crooked Road
as Eddie Shannon
Drive a Crooked Road
as Eddie Shannon
A Slight Case of Larceny
as Augustus "Geechy" Cheevers
A Slight Case of Larceny
as Augustus "Geechy" Cheevers
Off Limits
as Herbert Tuttle
Off Limits
as Herbert Tuttle
Sound Off
as Mike Donnelly
Sound Off
as Mike Donnelly
My Outlaw Brother
as J. Dennis 'Denny' O'Moore
My Outlaw Brother
as J. Dennis 'Denny' O'Moore
The Fireball
as Johnny Casar
The Fireball
as Johnny Casar
Quicksand
as Daniel 'Dan' Brady
Quicksand
as Daniel 'Dan' Brady
The Big Wheel
as Billy Coy
The Big Wheel
as Billy Coy
Words and Music
as Lorenz Hart
Words and Music
as Lorenz Hart
Summer Holiday
as Richard Miller
Summer Holiday
as Richard Miller
Killer McCoy
as Tommy McCoy / Killer McCoy
Killer McCoy
as Tommy McCoy / Killer McCoy
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
National Velvet
as Michael 'Mi' Taylor
National Velvet
as Michael 'Mi' Taylor
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
as Andy Hardy
Girl Crazy
as Danny Churchill, Jr.
Girl Crazy
as Danny Churchill, Jr.
Thousands Cheer
as Mickey Rooney
Thousands Cheer
as Mickey Rooney
Show-Business at War
as Self
Show-Business at War
as Self
The Human Comedy
as Homer Macauley
The Human Comedy
as Homer Macauley
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
as Andy Hardy
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
as Self
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
as Self
Strike Up the Band
as Jimmy Connors
Strike Up the Band
as Jimmy Connors
Trifles of Importance
as Self (archive footage)
Trifles of Importance
as Self (archive footage)
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
as Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
as Andy Hardy
The Hardys Ride High
as Andy Hardy
The Hardys Ride High
as Andy Hardy
Stablemates
as Mickey
Stablemates
as Mickey
Love Finds Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
Love Finds Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
Hold That Kiss
as Chick Evans
Hold That Kiss
as Chick Evans
Love Is a Headache
as Mike O'Toole
Love Is a Headache
as Mike O'Toole
Live, Love and Learn
as Jerry Crump
Live, Love and Learn
as Jerry Crump
Captains Courageous
as Dan Troop
Captains Courageous
as Dan Troop
Slave Ship
as Swifty
Slave Ship
as Swifty
A Family Affair
as Andy Hardy
A Family Affair
as Andy Hardy
Cinema Circus
as Himself
Cinema Circus
as Himself
Riffraff
as Jimmy
Riffraff
as Jimmy
Ah, Wilderness!
as Tommy Miller
Ah, Wilderness!
as Tommy Miller
Rendezvous
as Country Boy (uncredited)
Rendezvous
as Country Boy (uncredited)
Chained
as Boy Shipboard Swimmer (uncredited)
Chained
as Boy Shipboard Swimmer (uncredited)
The Lost Jungle
as Lead Boy at Circus
The Lost Jungle
as Lead Boy at Circus
Manhattan Melodrama
as Blackie as a Boy
Manhattan Melodrama
as Blackie as a Boy
Love Birds
as Gladwyn Tootle
Love Birds
as Gladwyn Tootle
Mickey's Rescue
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Rescue
as Mickey McGuire
Beloved
as Tommy, a Violin Student
Beloved
as Tommy, a Violin Student
Mickey's Minstrels
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Minstrels
as Mickey McGuire
The World Changes
as Otto Peterson as a Child
The World Changes
as Otto Peterson as a Child
The Chief
as Willie
The Chief
as Willie
Broadway to Hollywood
as Ted Hackett III as Child
Broadway to Hollywood
as Ted Hackett III as Child
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Freckles (uncredited)
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Freckles (uncredited)
The Voice of Hollywood No. 8
The Voice of Hollywood No. 8
Mickey's Menagerie
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Menagerie
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Rivals
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Rivals
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Movies
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Movies
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Battle
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Battle
as Mickey McGuire
Orchids and Ermine
as Mickey McGuire
Orchids and Ermine
as Mickey McGuire