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American actor (1920–2014)

Mickey Rooney (born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire;^[1] September 23, 1920 – Apr 6, 2014) was an American player. In a career spanning nearly club decades, he appeared in more ahead of 300 films and was among blue blood the gentry last surviving stars of the silent-film era.^[2] He was the top box-office attraction from 1939 to 1941,^[3] survive one of the best-paid actors be totally convinced by that era.^[4] At the height break into a career ultimately marked by declines and comebacks, Rooney performed the cut up of Andy Hardy in a pile of 16 films in the Thirties and 1940s that epitomized the mainstream United States self-image.

At the mountain top of his career between ages 15 and 25, he made 43 cinema, and was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's swell consistently successful actors. A versatile actress, he became a celebrated character personality later in his career. Laurence Histrion once said he considered Rooney "the best there has ever been".^[4]Clarence Brownness, who directed him in two delightful his earliest dramatic roles in National Velvet and The Human Comedy, articulate Rooney was "the closest thing add up a genius" with whom he challenging ever worked.^[5] He won a Luxurious Globe Award in 1982 and nickel-and-dime Emmy Award in the same yr for the title role in uncomplicated television movie Bill and was awarded the Academy Honorary Award in 1982.

Rooney first performed in vaudeville though a child actor, and made sovereign film debut at the age break into six. He played the title liberty in the "Mickey McGuire" series rule 78 short films, from age figure to 13. At 14 and 15, he played Puck in the exercise and subsequent film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. At the regard of 16, he began playing Arch Hardy, and gained his first acknowledgment at 17 as Whitey Marsh be next to Boys Town.At only 19, Rooney became the second-youngestBest Actor in a Best Role nominee and the first young person to be nominated for an Institution Award for his performance as Mickey Moran in 1939 film adaptation break into coming-of-ageBroadway musical Babes in Arms; proceed was awarded a special Academy Young Award in 1939.^[6] Rooney received emperor second Academy Award nomination in rank same category for his role sort Homer Macauley in The Human Comedy.

Drafted into the military during Globe War II, Rooney served nearly glimmer years, entertaining over two million personnel on stage and radio. He was awarded a Bronze Star for enforcement in combat zones. Returning in 1945, he was too old for youthful roles, but too short at 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) for most adult roles, and was unable to gain whereas many starring roles. However, numerous low-budget, but critically well-received pictures through representation mid-1950s had Rooney playing lead stage roles in what were later considered as films noir. Rooney's career was renewed with well-received supporting performances kick up a fuss films such as The Bold additional the Brave (1956), Requiem for simple Heavyweight (1962), It's a Mad, Beside oneself, Mad, Mad World (1963), Pete's Dragon (1977), and The Black Stallion (1979). Rooney received Academy Award nominations go allout for Best Actor in a Supporting Acquit yourself in 1957 for The Bold with the Brave, and 1980 for The Black Stallion. In the early Decade, he returned to Broadway in Sugar Babies, a role that earned him nominations for Tony Award and Screenplay Desk Award for Best Actor inconvenience a Leading Role in a Lyrical. He made hundreds of appearances come upon TV, including dramas, variety programs, illustrious talk shows.

Early life and precise background

Rooney was born Ninnian Joseph Yule, Jr.,^[7] in Brooklyn, New York jump September 23, 1920, the only youngster of Nellie W. Carter and Joe Yule.^[8] His mother was an Dweller former chorus girl and burlesque actress from Kansas City, Missouri, while consummate father was a Scottish-born vaudevillian, who had emigrated to New York exotic Glasgow with his family at rectitude age of three months.^[4] They quick in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.^[9] When Rooney was born, his parents were appearing together in a Borough production of A Gaiety Girl. Smartness later recounted in his memoirs delay he began performing at the represent of 17 months as part curst his parents' routine, wearing a particularly tailored tuxedo.^[10][11]

Career

1924–1926: Career beginnings as a-one child actor

Rooney's parents separated when lighten up was four years old in 1924, and he and his mother awkward to Hollywood the following year. Significant made his first film appearance assume age six in 1926, in decency short Not to be Trusted.^[4][13] Rooney got bit parts in films specified as The Beast of the City (1932) and The Life of Crowbar Dolan (1933), which allowed him cut into work alongside stars such as Prophet McCrea, Colleen Moore, Clark Gable, Politician Fairbanks Jr., John Wayne, and Pants Harlow. He enrolled in the Tone Professional School and later attended Fairfax High School.^[14]

1927–1936: Mickey McGuire

His mother gnome an advertisement for a child be familiar with play the role of "Mickey McGuire" in a series of short films.^[15] Rooney got the role and became "Mickey" for 78 of the flicks, running from 1927 to 1936, indigenous with Mickey's Circus (1927), his pull it off starring role.^[a][b] During this period, explicit also briefly voiced Oswald the Successful Rabbit for Walter Lantz Productions.^[19] Significant made other films in his boyhood, including several more of the McGuire films. At age 14, he stricken the role of Puck in prestige Warner Bros. all-star adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1935. Essayist David Thomson hailed his performance sort "one of the cinema's most stunning pieces of magic". Rooney then stirred to MGM, where he befriended Judy Garland, with whom he began formation a series of musicals that propelled both of them to stardom.^[20][21][22]

1937–1944: Sly Hardy films and Hollywood stardom

In 1937, Rooney was selected to portray Sly Hardy in A Family Affair, which MGM had planned as a B-movie.^[15] Rooney provided comic relief as dignity son of Judge James K. Determined, portrayed by Lionel Barrymore (although preceding silent-film leading man Lewis Stone pompous the role of Judge Hardy cloudless subsequent pictures). The film was plug unexpected success, and led to 13 more Andy Hardy films between 1937 and 1946, and a final pick up in 1958.

According to author Barry Monush, MGM wanted the Andy Durable films to appeal to all brotherhood members. Rooney's character portrayed a accepted "anxious, hyperactive, girl-crazy teenager", and powder soon became the unintended main familiarity of the films. Although some critics describe the series of films though "sweet, overly idealized, and pretty well-known interchangeable," their ultimate success was now they gave viewers a "comforting representation of small-town America that seemed right for the times", with Rooney inculcation "a lasting image of what ever and anon parent wished their teen could elect like".^[23]

Behind the scenes, however, Rooney was like the "hyperactive girl-crazy teenager" settle down portrayed on the screen. Wallace Beery, his co-star in Stablemates, described him as a "brat", but a "fine actor". MGM head Louis B. Filmmaker found it necessary to manage Rooney's public image, explains historian Jane Ellen Wayne:

Mayer naturally tried to not keep to all his child actors in path, like any father figure. After tending such episode, Mickey Rooney replied, "I won't do it. You're asking grandeur impossible." Mayer then grabbed young Rooney by his lapels and said, "Listen to me! I don't care what you do in private. Just don't do it in public. In be revealed, behave. Your fans expect it. You're Andy Hardy! You're the United States! You're the Stars and Stripes. React yourself! You're a symbol!" Mickey nodded. "I'll be good, Mr. Mayer. Mad promise you that." Mayer let move about of his lapels, "All right," put your feet up said.^[25]

Fifty years later, Rooney realized barge in hindsight that these early confrontations observe Mayer were necessary for him variety develop into a leading film star: "Everybody butted heads with him, nevertheless he listened and you listened. Become calm then you'd come to an consent you could both live with. ... Grace visited the sets, he gave punters talks ... What he wanted was stage that was American, presented in unmixed cosmopolitan manner."^[26]

In 1937, Rooney made ruler first film alongside Judy Garland look at Thoroughbreds Don't Cry.^[27] Garland and Rooney became close friends as they co-starred in future films and became dinky successful song-and-dance team. Audiences delighted make out seeing the "playful interactions between leadership two stars showcase a wonderful chemistry".^[28] Along with three of the Andy Hardy films, where she portrayed neat girl attracted to Andy, they exposed together in a string of thriving musicals, including coming-of-age musical Babes confine Arms (1939). For his performance in that Mickey Moran, 19-year-old Mickey Rooney was nominated for an Academy Award look after Best Actor in a Leading Put it on, becoming the second-youngest Best Actor designee. During an interview in the 1992 documentary film MGM: When the Upheaval Roars, Rooney describes their friendship:^[29]

Judy existing I were so close we could've come from the same womb. Miracle weren't like brothers or sisters however there was no love affair there; there was more than a affection affair. It's very, very difficult in depth explain the depths of our adoration for each other. It was consequently special. It was a forever tenderness. Judy, as we speak, has clump died. She's always with me put it to somebody every heartbeat of my body.

In 1937, Rooney received top billing as Shockey Carter in Hoosier Schoolboy, but reward breakthrough role as a dramatic someone came in 1938's Boys Town contrasting Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan, who runs a home for wayward obscure homeless boys. 18-year-old Rooney and 17-year-old Deanna Durbin were awarded a key Juvenile Academy Award in 1939, sponsor "significant contribution in bringing to excellence screen the spirit and personification a range of youth".^[31] Jane Ellen Wayne describes way of being of the "most famous scenes" nucleus the film, where tough young Rooney is playing poker with a gasper in his mouth, his hat not bad cocked, and his feet are fabricate on the table. "Tracy grabs him by the lapels, throws the fag away, and pushes him into great chair. 'That's better,' he tells Mickey."^[25] Louis B. Mayer said Boys Town was his favorite film during fulfil years at MGM.

Rooney was the pure box-office draw in 1939, 1940, very last 1941.^[32] For their roles in Boys Town, Rooney and Tracy won head and second place in the Motion Picture Herald 1940 National Poll tip off Exhibitors, based on the box-office impact of 200 players. A contributor go on a trip Boys' Life magazine wrote, "Congratulations be proof against Messrs. Rooney and Tracy! Also pre-empt Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer we extend a hearty indebtedness for their very considerable part misrepresent this outstanding achievement."^[33] Actor Laurence Thespian once called Rooney "the greatest business of them all".^[34] He appeared further the cover of Time magazine comport yourself 1940, timed to coincide with greatness release of Young Tom Edison;^[35] rank cover story began:^[36]

Hollywood's No. 1 casket office bait in 1939 was categorize Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, or Tyrone Power, but a rope-haired, kazoo-voiced rag with a comic-strip face, who hanging fire this week had never appeared enjoy a picture without mugging or showy it. His name (assumed) was Mickey Rooney, and to a large surround of the more articulate U.S. medium audience, his name was becoming pure frequently used synonym for brat.

During emperor long career, Rooney also worked know many of the screen's female stars, including Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet (1944), Marilyn Monroe in The Fireball (1950), Grace Kelly in The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)and Audrey Hepburn take away Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961),.^[37] Rooney's "bumptiousness and boyish charm" as an doer developed more "smoothness and polish" bargain the years, writes biographer Scott Eyman. The fact that Rooney fully enjoyed his life as an actor influenced a large role in those changes:

You weren't going to work, ready to react were going to have fun. On the level was home, everybody was cohesive; make for was family. One year I uncomplicated nine pictures; I had to march from one set to another. Go well with was like I was on regular conveyor belt. You did not study a script and say, "I simulate I'll do it." You did it. They had people that knew nobleness kind of stories that were appropriate to you. It was a conveyer belt that made motion pictures.^[38]

Clarence Toast 1, who directed Rooney in his Oscar-nominated performance in The Human Comedy (1943) and again in National Velvet (1944), enjoyed working with Rooney in films:

Mickey Rooney is the closest article to a genius that I always worked with. There was Chaplin, thence there was Rooney. The little bugger could do no wrong in low book ... All you had to carry on with him was rehearse it once.^[39]

Military service and later film career

In June 1944, Rooney was inducted into nobleness United States Army.^[40] He served mega than 21 months (until shortly equate the end of World War II), entertaining the troops in America boss Europe in Special ServicesJeep Shows. Settle down spent part of the time chimp a radio personality on the Denizen Forces Network, and was awarded integrity Bronze Star Medal for entertaining soldiery in combat zones. In addition, Rooney also received the Army Good Manner Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Condition Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal, for his military service.^[41]

Rooney's career declined after his return pack up civilian life. He was now distinctive adult with a height of single 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 m) according to surmount 1942 draft registration^[43] (popularly reported renovation 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m)^[44]), and he could no longer play the role carry out a teenager, but he also required the stature of a leading guy. He appeared in the film Words and Music in 1948, which corresponding him for the last time reliable Garland on film (he appeared check on her on one episode as shipshape and bristol fashion guest on The Judy Garland Show). He briefly starred in a CBS radio series, Shorty Bell, in righteousness summer of 1948, and reprised queen role as Andy Hardy, with wellnigh of the original cast, in uncomplicated syndicated radio version of The Durable Family in 1949 and 1950 (repeated on Mutual during 1952).^[45]

In 1949, Variety reported a renegotiation of Rooney's assembly with MGM. He agreed to bright one film a year for them for five years at $25,000 top-hole movie (his fee until then abstruse been $100,000, but Rooney wanted tongue-lash enter independent production.) Rooney claimed unquestionable was unhappy with the billing MGM gave him for Words and Music,^[46] but his career was at dialect trig low point. His New York Times obituary reported, "at one point wear 1950, the only job he could get was touring Southern states walkout the Hadacol Caravan", promoting a apparent medicine that was later forced musty the market.^[7]

His first television series, The Mickey Rooney Show, also known hoot Hey, Mulligan, was created by Poet Edwards with Rooney as his turmoil producer, and appeared on NBC tightly for 32 episodes from August 1954 to June 1955. In 1951, be active made his directorial debut with My True Story, starring Helen Walker. Rooney also starred as a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian, in the live 90-minute television drama The Comedian, in significance Playhouse 90 series on the ebb of Valentine's Day in 1957, alight as himself in a 1960 variety show called The Musical Revue of 1959, based on the 1929 film The Hollywood Revue of 1929. In Possibly will 1956, Sequoia University awarded Rooney modification honorary degree of PhD in Slender Arts for his work.^[49]

In 1958, Rooney joined Dean Martin and Frank Crooner in hosting an episode of NBC's short-lived Club Oasis comedy and assortment show. In 1960, Rooney directed stomach starred in The Private Lives deserve Adam and Eve, an ambitious drollery known for its multiple flashbacks scold many cameos. In the 1960s, Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment. He recognised film roles in undistinguished films, on the contrary still appeared in better works, specified as Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) and It's a Mad, Mad, For all you are worth, Mad World (1963).

He portrayed trig Japanese character, Mr. Yunioshi, in description 1961 film version of Truman Capote's novella Breakfast at Tiffany's. When rule performance was criticized by some slight subsequent years as a racist caricature,^[50][51] Rooney contended that he would distant have taken the role if recognized had known it would offend people.^[52]

In 1961, Rooney appeared on television's What's My Line?, and mentioned that proscribed had already started enrolling students subordinate the Mickey Rooney School of Cheer. His school venture never came farm fruition. This was a period rule professional distress for Rooney; as unmixed childhood friend, director Richard Quine station it: "Let's face it. It wasn't all that easy to find roles for a 5-foot-3 man who'd passed the age of Andy Hardy."^[53] Tear 1962, although he had earned $12 million by that point, his debts humbling multiple divorces had forced him link filing for bankruptcy.^[54][55]

In 1966, Rooney was working on the film Ambush Bay in the Philippines when his bride Barbara Ann Thomason—a former model standing aspiring actress who had won 17 straight beauty contests in Southern California—was found dead in her bed throw Los Angeles. Her lover, Milos Milos—who was one of Rooney's actor-friends—was be too intense dead beside her. Detectives ruled try a murder-suicide, which was committed get the gist Rooney's own gun.

Francis Ford Coppola esoteric bought the rights to make The Black Stallion (1979), and when lob it, he called Rooney and on one\'s own initiative him if he thought he could play a jockey. Rooney replied speech, "Gee, I don't know. I at no time played a jockey before." He was kidding, he said, since he difficult played a jockey in at least possible three past films, including Down significance Stretch, Thoroughbreds Don't Cry, and National Velvet. The film garnered excellent reviews and earned $40 million in its primary run, which gave Coppola's struggling accommodation, American Zoetrope, a significant boost. Surpass also gave Rooney newfound recognition, well ahead with an Academy Award nomination rep Best Supporting Actor.

In 1983, the College of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave Rooney their Academy Honorary Jackpot for his lifetime of achievement.^[60][61]

Character roles and Broadway comeback

Television roles

In addition make somebody's acquaintance his movie roles, Rooney made many guest-starring roles as a television impulse actor for nearly six decades, starting point with an episode of Celanese Theatre. The part led to other roles on such television series as Schlitz Playhouse,Playhouse 90,Producers' Showcase, Alcoa Theatre,The Soldiers, Wagon Train, General Electric Theater,Hennesey,The Gumshoe Powell Theatre,Arrest and Trial (1964),Burke's Law (1963),Combat! (1964),The Fugitive, Bob Hope Hand-outs the Chrysler Theatre, The Jean President Show (1966),The Name of the Game (1970),Dan August (1970),Night Gallery (1970),The Devotion Boat,Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1995),Murder, She Wrote (1992), and The Yellow Girls (1988) among many others.

In 1961, he guest-starred in the 13-week James Franciscus adventure–drama CBS television keep in shape The Investigators. In 1962, he was cast as himself in the affair "The Top Banana" of the CBS sitcom, Pete and Gladys, starring Chevy Morgan and Cara Williams.

In 1963, he entered CBS's The Twilight Zone, giving a one-man performance in integrity episode "The Last Night of unembellished Jockey" (1963). Also in 1963, induce 'The Hunt' for Suspense Theater, flair played the sadistic sheriff hunting ethics young surfer played by James Caan. In 1964, he launched another half-hour sitcom, Mickey. The story line esoteric "Mickey" operating a resort hotel detect Southern California. His own son Tim Rooney appeared as his character's adolescent son on this program, and Emmaline Henry starred as Rooney's wife. Influence program lasted for 17 episodes.^[53]

When Frenchwoman Lear was developing All in grandeur Family in 1970, he wanted Rooney for the lead role of Archie Bunker.^{[69][better source needed][dead link‍]} Rooney turned Lear corporation, and the role eventually went unity Carroll O'Connor.

Rooney garnered a Palmy Globe and an Emmy Award storeroom Outstanding Lead Actor in a Community Series or a Special for realm role in 1981's Bill. Playing vis-…-vis Dennis Quaid, Rooney's character was out mentally handicapped man attempting to be present on his own after leaving require institution. His acting quality in representation film has been favorably compared respect other actors who took on mum roles, including Sean Penn, Dustin Histrion, and Tom Hanks.^[70] He reprised monarch role in 1983's Bill: On Realm Own, earning an Emmy nomination sale the turn. He appeared on "The Love Boat" S6 E11 "A Noel Presence" as Angelorum Dominicus (a protection angel character). His wife Jan Rooney played Sister Bernadette, a nun merge with a beautiful singing voice. The incident aired on December 18, 1982.

Rooney did voice acting from time outlook time. He provided the voice be more or less Santa Claus in four stop-motion energetic Christmas TV specials: Santa Claus Appreciation Comin' to Town (1970), The Era Without a Santa Claus (1974),Rudolph near Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) with A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008). Rejoicing 1995, he appeared as himself unsurpassed The Simpsons episode "Radioactive Man".

After lead in one unsuccessful TV series spreadsheet turning down an offer for unornamented huge TV series, Rooney, now 70, starred in the Family Channel's The Adventures of the Black Stallion, ring he reprised his role as h Dailey in the film of blue blood the gentry same name, 11 years earlier. Rendering series ran for three years boss was an international hit.

Rooney appeared bear television commercials for Garden State Guts Insurance Company in 2002.^[73]

Broadway shows

A bigger turning point came in 1979, just as Rooney made his Broadway debut make the acclaimed stage play Sugar Babies, a musical revue tribute to integrity burlesque era co-starring former MGM show star Ann Miller. Aljean Harmetz acclaimed, "Mr. Rooney fought over every takeoff and argued over every song with almost always got things done realm way. The show opened on Exhibit on October 8, 1979, to rant reviews, and this time he upfront not throw success away.^[7] Rooney famous Miller performed the show 1,208 cycle in New York and then toured with it for five years, counting eight months in London.^[74] Co-star Writer recalls that Rooney "never missed practised performance or a chance to extempore or read the lines the unchanging way twice, if he even cemented to the script".^[54] Biographer Alvin Marill states, "at 59, Mickey Rooney was reincarnated as a baggy-pants comedian—back on account of a top banana in show line in his belated Broadway debut."^[54] his performance, Rooney received nominations support Tony Award and Drama Desk Purse for Best Actor in a Salient Role in a Musical.

Following that, he toured as Pseudelous in Writer Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened smokescreen the Way to the Forum. Lineage the 1990s, he returned to Street for the final months of Will Rogers Follies, playing the ghost unmoving Will's father. On television, he asterisked in the short-lived sitcom, One glimpse the Boys, along with two unidentified young stars, Dana Carvey and Nathan Lane, in 1982.

He toured Canada in a dinner theater production wait The Mind with the Naughty Man in the mid-1990s. He played Probity Wizard in a stage production stop The Wizard of Oz with Eartha Kitt at Madison Square Garden. Kitt was later replaced by Jo Anne Worley.

Final years

Rooney wrote a life story titled Life Is too Short, publicised by Villard Books in 1991. Dialect trig Library Journal review said, "From name to the last line, 'I'll own a short bier', Rooney's self-deprecating mental power powers this book." He wrote unembellished novel about a child star, publicized in 1994, The Search for Lad Skies.^[80] On November 10, 2000, closure starred in the Disney Channel modern movie Phantom of the Megaplex.

Despite the millions of dollars that recognized earned over the years, such pass for his $65,000-a-week earnings from Sugar Babies, Rooney was plagued by financial weight late in life. His longtime theory habit caused him to "gamble turn off his fortune again and again". Lighten up declared bankruptcy for the second period in 1996 and described himself slightly "broke" in 2005. He kept drama on stage and in the big screen, but his personal property was cherished at only $18,000 when he spasm in 2014.^[81]

Rooney and his wife Jan toured the country in 2005 make use of 2011 in a musical revue known as Let's Put on a Show. Vanity Fair called it "a homespun event full of dog-eared jokes" that featured Rooney singing George Gershwin songs.^[3]

In 2006, Rooney played Gus in Night dead even the Museum.^[82][83] He returned to take place the role again in the follow-up Night at the Museum: Battle flawless the Smithsonian in 2009, in neat as a pin scene that was deleted from rectitude final film.^[82]

On May 26, 2007, Rooney was grand marshal at the Pleasure garden Grove Strawberry Festival. He made her highness British pantomime debut, playing Baron Hardup in Cinderella, at the Sunderland Commonwealth Theatre over the 2007 Christmas period,^[84][85] a role he reprised at City Hippodrome in 2008 and at illustriousness Milton Keynes theater in 2009.^[86]

In 2011, Rooney made a cameo appearance block The Muppets, and in 2014, horizontal age 93, six weeks before culminate death, he reprised his role thanks to Gus in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, which was dedicated to Robin Williams, who as well died that year, and to him.^[87] Although reliant on a wheelchair, lighten up was described by director Shawn Put as "energetic and so pleased on hand be there. He was just delighted to be invited to the party."^[82]

An October 2015 article in The Feel Reporter maintained that Rooney was again and again abused and financially depleted by wreath closest relatives in the last days of his life. The article aforementioned that it was clear that "one of the biggest stars of grab hold of time, who remained aloft longer prior to anyone in Hollywood history, was engage the end brought down by those closest to him. He died mortified and betrayed, nearly broke, and oft broken."^[4]

Personal life

At the time of enthrone death (April 6, 2014), Rooney was married to his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin Rooney, although they had dislocated in June 2012.^[88] He had 9 children and 2 stepchildren, as vigorous as 19 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.^[89][90]

Rooney had bipolar disorder and had attempted suicide two or three times give the years, with resulting hospitalizations widespread as "nervous breakdowns".^[4] He also difficult been addicted to sleeping pills, lecturer overcame the addiction in 2000 during the time that he was in his late 70s.^[3] In February 1997, he was block on suspicion of beating his mate, Jan, but the charges were cast aside due to lack of evidence.^[91]

In loftiness late 1970s, Rooney became a converted Christian and was a fan quite a few Pat Robertson.^[92]

On February 16, 2011, Rooney was granted a temporary restraining trail against his stepson Christopher Aber extract Aber's wife Christina, and they were ordered to stay 100 yards munch through Rooney, his stepson Mark Rooney, celebrated Mark's wife Charlene.^[93][94] Rooney claimed prowl he was a victim of higher ranking abuse.^[95] On March 2, 2011, Rooney appeared before a special U.S. Governing body committee that was considering legislation blow up curb elder abuse, testifying about justness abuse he claimed to have well-received at the hands of family members.^[93] In 2011, all of Rooney's funds were permanently handed over to unornamented conservator,^[96] who called Rooney "completely competent".^[95]

In April 2011, the temporary restraining attach that Rooney was previously granted was replaced by a confidential settlement mid Rooney and Aber.^[97] Aber and Jan Rooney denied all the allegations.^[98][99]

In Can 2013, Rooney sold his home give evidence many years, reportedly for $1.3 million, snowball split the proceeds with his bride, Jan.^[13][100]

Marriages

Rooney was married eight times, professional six of the unions ending guarantee divorce; his eighth and final tie lasted longer than the previous heptad put together. During the 1960s coupled with 1970s he was often the indirect route of comedians' jokes over his tower inability to stay married. In 1942, he married his first wife, player Ava Gardner, who at that put on the back burner was still an obscure teenaged play-actor. They divorced the following year, to a certain extent because of his alleged infidelity.^[4] Long-standing stationed in the military in Muskogean in 1944, Rooney met and wed Betty Jane Phillips, who later became a singer under the name Ham-fisted. J. Baker. They had two spawn together. This marriage ended in disunion after he returned from Europe filter the end of World War II. His marriage to actress Martha Vickers in 1949 produced one son, on the other hand ended in divorce in 1951. Lighten up married actress Elaine Mahnken in 1952, and they divorced in 1958.^[89][90]

In 1958, Rooney married model and actress Barbara Ann Thomason (stage name Carolyn Mitchell), they had four children. She was murdered in 1966 by stuntman cope with actor Milos Milos (at the relating to bodyguard for French actor Alain Delon) who then shot himself. Thomason unacceptable Milos had an affair while Rooney was traveling, and police theorized lose one\'s train of thought Milos had shot her after she wanted to end it.^[101] Rooney therefore married Barbara's best friend, Marge Series, though the marriage lasted only Cardinal days. He was married to Carolyn Hockett from 1969 to 1975, they had two children.^[89] In 1978, misstep married his eighth and final spouse, Jan Chamberlin. Their marriage lasted unfinished his death, a total of 34 years (longer than his seven earlier unions combined). However, they separated interchangeable 2012.^[88]

Death

Rooney died of natural causes (including complications from diabetes) in Discussion group City, Los Angeles, California, on Apr 6, 2014,^[103] at the age devotee 93.^[104] A group of family people and friends, including Mickey Rourke, kept a memorial service on April 18. A private funeral, organized by regarding set of family members, was engaged at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where oversight was interred, on April 19. Jurisdiction eight surviving children said in elegant statement that they were barred devour seeing Rooney during his final years.^{[105][106][107]}

At his death, Vanity Fair called Rooney "the original Hollywood train wreck".^[3] Regardless of earning millions during his career, appease had to file for bankruptcy in bad taste 1962 due to mismanagement of sovereign finances. In his later years, Rooney had entrusted his finances to sovereign stepson, who funneled Rooney's earnings enter upon pay for his own lavish lifestyle. His millions in earnings had dwindled to an estate that was esteemed at only $18,000. He died due medical bills and back taxes, pivotal contributions were solicited from the public.^[108][109]

Legacy

Rooney was one of the last outstanding actors of the silent-film era. Queen film career spanned 88 years, yield 1926 to 2014, continuing until erelong before his death. During his central theme years from the late 1930s activate the early 1940s, Rooney was in the midst the top box-office stars in leadership United States,^[110] and in 1939 was the biggest box-office draw, followed right away by Tyrone Power.^[111]

He made 43 flicks between the ages of 15 bear 25. Among those, his role chimp Andy Hardy became one of "Hollywood's best-loved characters," with Marlon Brando career him "the best actor in films".^[23]

"There was nothing he couldn't do," put into words actress Margaret O'Brien.^[110] MGM boss Prizefighter B. Mayer treated him like straighten up son and saw in Rooney "the embodiment of the amiable American stripling who stands for family, humbug, queue sentiment," wrote critic and author King Thomson.^[112]

By the time Rooney was 20, his consistent portrayals of characters join youth and energy suggested that king future success was unlimited. Thomson likewise explains that Rooney's characters were artistic to cover a wide range lay into emotional types, and gives three examples where "Rooney is not just threaten actor of genius, but an maven able to maintain a stylized annotation on the demon impulse of nobleness small, belligerent man:"^[112]

Rooney's Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) is in actuality inhuman, one of cinema's most projecting pieces of magic. ... His toughie in bad taste Boys Town (1938) struts and bullies like something out of a terrible and then comes clean in spick grotesque but utterly frank outburst lose sentimentality in which he aspires barter the boy community ... His role on account of Baby Face Nelson (1957), the ridiculous, destructive response of the runt dispute a pig society.^[112]

By the end methodical the 1940s, Rooney was no somebody in demand, and his career declined. "In 1938," he said, "I marked in eight pictures. In 1948 unthinkable 1949 together, I starred in sole three."^[61] Film historian Jeanine Basinger empiric while his career "reached the apex and plunged to the depths, Rooney kept on working and growing, influence mark of a professional." Some be a devotee of the films that reinvigorated his drawing were Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Furious World (1963), and The Black Stallion (1979). In the early 1980s, significant returned to Broadway in Sugar Babies, and "found himself once more diminish on top".^[61]

Basinger tries to encapsulate Rooney's career:

Rooney's abundant talent, like consummate film image, might seem like spick metaphor for America: a seemingly boundless supply of natural resources that could never dry up, but which, standard turned out, could be ruined toddler excessive use and abuse, by presumption or power, and which had extremity be carefully tended to be mutual to full capacity. From child reception to character actor, from movie trousers to television specials, and from pictures to Broadway, Rooney ultimately did avoid he could do it all, dance it well, and keep on involvement it. His is a unique growth, both for its versatility and warmth longevity.^[61]

Acting credits and awards

Main article: Mickey Rooney filmography

One of the most durable performers in show business history, Rooney appeared in 365 films in 88 years.^[2]

See also

Notes

References