Mickey Rooney
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1920-09-23
Day of Death
2014-04-06 (93 years old)
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Mickey Rooney
Biography
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).
Known For
Acting
(2020)
Showbiz Kids
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
Sid & Judy
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
as (archive footage)
(2019)
Hollywood, The Dream Life of Lana Turner
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
Marilyn and I
as Self (archive footage)
(2017)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Mr. Louis
(2017)
Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
(2014)
(2014)
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker
as Self
(2012)
Driving Me Crazy
as Mr. Cohen
(2012)
The Voices from Beyond
as Johnny O'Hara
(2011)
The Muppets
as Smalltown Resident
(2011)
Night Club
as Jerry Sherman
(2011)
(2010)
(2010)
(2009)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
The Polio Crusade
as Archive Footage (from March of Dimes)
(2009)
(2009)
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
as Self (archive footage)
(2008)
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
as Santa Claus (voice)
(2008)
(2008)
Empire State Building Murders
as Mickey Silver
(2008)
Lost Stallions: The Journey Home
as Chief
(2007)
A Christmas Too Many
as Grandpa
(2007)
(2006)
Night at the Museum
as Gus
(2006)
The Thirsting
as Savy
(2006)
(2005)
The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams
as David McCord
(2005)
The Happy Elf
as Santa Claus
(2005)
Judy Garland Duets
as Self (archive footage)
(2005)
(2004)
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self - Actor (voice)
(2004)
To Kill a Mockumentary
as Max
(2004)
Hollywood Legenden
as Self
(2004)
Illusion Infinity
as Simon / Henry, Sr.
(2003)
Broadway's Lost Treasures
as Mickey (segment "Sugar Babies")
(2001)
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
as Sparky (voice)
(2000)
Phantom of the Megaplex
as Movie Mason
(1999)
Boys Will Be Boys
as Wellington
(1999)
The First of May
as Boss Ed
(1998)
Babe: Pig in the City
as Fugly Floom, the Speechless Man in Hotel
(1998)
Animals with the Tollkeeper
as Tollkeeper
(1998)
Internet Love
as Self
(1998)
(1998)
Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy (archive footage)
(1998)
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
as Griffith
(1997)
Sunset Boulevard - 27 Meilen Amerika
as Self - Actor
(1997)
Killing Midnight
as Professor Mort Sang
(1997)
(1995)
(1995)
Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
as O.B. Taggart
(1995)
Brothers' Destiny
as Father Flanagan
(1994)
That's Entertainment! III
as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
(1994)
Liberation
as Self (archive footage)
(1994)
Revenge of the Red Baron
as Grandpa Spencer
(1994)
The Our Gang Story
as Self (archive footage)
(1994)
Making Waves
as Gabriel
(1993)
Sweet Justice
as Zeke
(1993)
The Milky Life
as Barry Reilly
(1992)
Maximum Force
as Chief of Police
(1992)
The Magic Voyage
as Narrator (voice)
(1992)
The Legend of Wolf Mountain
as Pat Jensen
(1991)
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
as Self (archive footage)
(1991)
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
as Joe Petto
(1991)
The Gambler: The Luck Of The Draw
as The Director
(1991)
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
as Junion
(1990)
Anthony Quinn: An Original
as Self (archive footage)
(1990)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
as Self (archive footage)
(1990)
Adventures of the Black Stallion
as Henry Dailey
(1990)
Home for Christmas
as Elmer
(1989)
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
as Flip (voice)
(1989)
Erik the Viking
as Erik's Grandfather
(1988)
Bluegrass
as John Paul Jones
(1986)
There Must Be a Pony
as Himself (uncredited)
(1986)
Little Spies
as James Turner
(1986)
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
as Jack Bergan
(1986)
(1986)
Lightning, the White Stallion
as Barney Ingram
(1985)
The Care Bears Movie
as Mr. Cherrywood (voice)
(1985)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
(1984)
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
as Mike Halligan
(1983)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1983)
(1983)
O’Malley
as Mickey O’Malley
(1983)
Bill: On His Own
as Bill Sackter
(1982)
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
(1982)
Showbiz Goes to War
as (archive footage)
(1982)
Hollywood’s Children
as Self (archive footage)
(1982)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
(1982)
The Emperor of Peru
as The Engineer
(1981)
The Fox and the Hound
as Tod (voice)
(1981)
Senior Trip
as Self
(1981)
Bill
as Bill Sackter
(1981)
Leave 'Em Laughing
as Jack Thum
(1981)
Creole
as Narrator
(1980)
My Kidnapper, My Love
as The Maker
(1980)
From Raquel with Love
as Paradise Cab Company cabbie
(1979)
The Black Stallion
as Henry Dailey
(1979)
Arabian Adventure
as Daad El Shur
(1979)
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
as Santa Claus (voice)
(1979)
Donovan's Kid
as Bailey
(1978)
Mickey's 50
as Self
(1978)
The Magic of Lassie
as Gus
(1977)
Pete's Dragon
as Lampie
(1977)
The Domino Principle
as Spiventa
(1976)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
(1976)
Hooray for Hollywood
as Narrator
(1976)
Find the Lady
as Trigger
(1976)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
(1976)
Rachel's Man
as Laban
(1975)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
(1975)
From Hong Kong with Love
as Marty
(1975)
The Intruder
as Capt. Jenkins
(1975)
The Lion Roars Again
as Self (uncredited)
(1975)
Ace of Hearts
as Papa Joe
(1974)
The Year Without a Santa Claus
as Santa Claus (voice)
(1974)
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
(1974)
Thunder County
as Gas Station Attendant
(1973)
The Godmothers
as Rocky Mastrasso
(1972)
Journey Back to Oz
as Scarecrow (voice)
(1972)
Evil Roy Slade
as Nelson L. Stool
(1972)
Pulp
as Preston Gilbert
(1972)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
(1972)
Fol-de-Rol
as The Executioner / Noah
(1972)
Richard
as Guardian Angel
(1971)
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
as Mickey Rooney (uncredited)
(1971)
The Manipulator
as B.J. Lang
(1970)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
as Kris Kringle aka Santa Claus (voice)
(1970)
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
as Indian Tom
(1970)
(1969)
The Comic
as Cockeye
(1969)
The Extraordinary Seaman
as Cook 3 / C W.J. Oglethorpe
(1969)
80 Steps to Jonah
as Wilfred Bashford
(1968)
Skidoo
as George 'Blue Chips' Packard
(1968)
(1966)
Ambush Bay
as Sgt. Ernest Wartell
(1966)
The Devil in Love
as Adramelek
(1965)
Twenty-Four Hours to Kill
as Norman Jones
(1965)
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
as Peachy Keane
(1964)
The Secret Invasion
as Terence Scanlon
(1963)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Ding 'Dingy' Bell
(1962)
Requiem for a Heavyweight
as Army
(1961)
Breakfast at Tiffany's
as Mr. Yunioshi
(1961)
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Johnny Burke
(1961)
Everything's Ducky
as Kermit 'Beetle' McKay
(1961)
Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Mike Zampini
(1960)
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
as Nick Lewis / The Devil
(1960)
Platinum High School
as Steven Conway
(1959)
The Last Mile
as 'Killer' John Mears
(1959)
The Big Operator
as Little Joe Braun
(1958)
A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
as Gus Harris
(1958)
Andy Hardy Comes Home
as Andy Hardy
(1957)
Operation Mad Ball
as MSgt. Yancy Skibo
(1957)
Baby Face Nelson
as Lester M. 'Baby Face Nelson' Gillis
(1957)
The Comedian
as Sammy Hogarth
(1957)
Pinocchio
as Pinocchio
(1957)
(1956)
Francis in the Haunted House
as David Prescott
(1956)
The Bold and the Brave
as Willie Dooley
(1956)
Magnificent Roughnecks
as Frank Sommers
(1955)
The Twinkle In God's Eye
as Rev. William Macklin II
(1954)
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
as Mike Forney
(1954)
Drive a Crooked Road
as Eddie Shannon
(1954)
The Atomic Kid
as Barnaby 'Blix' Waterberry
(1953)
All Ashore
as Francis 'Moby' Dickerson
(1953)
A Slight Case of Larceny
as Augustus "Geechy" Cheevers
(1953)
(1952)
Off Limits
as Herbert Tuttle
(1952)
Sound Off
as Mike Donnelly
(1951)
The Strip
as Stanley Maxton
(1951)
My Outlaw Brother
as J. Dennis 'Denny' O'Moore
(1950)
Quicksand
as Daniel 'Dan' Brady
(1950)
The Fireball
as Johnny Casar
(1950)
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
as Freddie Frisby
(1949)
The Big Wheel
as Billy Coy
(1948)
Words and Music
as Lorenz Hart
(1948)
Summer Holiday
as Richard Miller
(1947)
Killer McCoy
as Tommy McCoy / Killer McCoy
(1946)
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
(1945)
National Velvet
as Michael 'Mi' Taylor
(1945)
Mickey the Great
as Mickey McGuire
(1944)
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
as Andy Hardy
(1943)
Thousands Cheer
as Himself - Emcee at the Show
(1943)
Girl Crazy
as Danny Churchill, Jr.
(1943)
The Human Comedy
as Homer Macauley
(1943)
Show-Business at War
as Self
(1942)
Andy Hardy's Double Life
as Andy Hardy
(1942)
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
(1942)
A Yank at Eton
as Timothy Dennis
(1942)
Personalities
as Andy Hardy (screen test footage) (uncredited)
(1941)
Men of Boys Town
as Whitey Marsh
(1941)
Babes on Broadway
as Tommy Williams
(1941)
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
as Andy Hardy
(1941)
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
(1940)
Strike Up the Band
as Jimmy Connors
(1940)
Young Tom Edison
as Thomas Alva 'Tom' Edison
(1940)
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
as Andy Hardy
(1940)
(1940)
(1940)
(1940)
Trifles of Importance
as Self (archive footage)
(1940)
Rodeo Dough
as Mickey Rooney
(1940)
(1939)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
as Huckleberry Finn
(1939)
Babes in Arms
as Mickey Moran
(1939)
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
as Andy Hardy
(1939)
Judge Hardy and Son
as Andy Hardy
(1939)
The Hardys Ride High
as Andy Hardy
(1939)
From the Ends of the Earth
as Self
(1939)
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
as Mickey Rooney
(1939)
Loews Christmas Greeting (The Hardy Family)
as Andy Hardy
(1938)
Boys Town
as Whitey Marsh
(1938)
Love Finds Andy Hardy
as Andy Hardy
(1938)
Love Is a Headache
as Mike O'Toole
(1938)
Hold That Kiss
as Chick Evans
(1938)
Lord Jeff
as Terry O'Mulvaney
(1938)
Judge Hardy's Children
as Andy Hardy
(1938)
Stablemates
as Mickey
(1938)
Another Romance of Celluloid
as Self (uncredited)
(1938)
Hollywood Handicap
as Himself
(1938)
Out West with the Hardys
as Andy Hardy
(1938)
March of Dimes
as Mickey
(1937)
Captains Courageous
as Dan Troop
(1937)
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
as Timmie Donovan
(1937)
Live, Love and Learn
as Jerry Crump
(1937)
Slave Ship
as Swifty
(1937)
A Family Affair
as Andy Hardy
(1937)
You're Only Young Once
as Andy Hardy
(1937)
Cinema Circus
as Himself
(1937)
Hoosier Schoolboy
as Shockey Carter
(1936)
Little Lord Fauntleroy
as Dick Tipton
(1936)
The Devil Is a Sissy
as 'Gig' Stevens
(1936)
Riffraff
as Jimmy
(1936)
Down the Stretch
as Snapper Sinclair
(1935)
A Midsummer Night's Dream
as Puck
(1935)
Reckless
as Eddie
(1935)
Rendezvous
as Country Boy (uncredited)
(1935)
Ah, Wilderness!
as Tommy Miller
(1935)
The Healer
as Jimmy
(1935)
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
as Mickey Rooney
(1935)
A Dream Comes True
as Puck (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1935)
The County Chairman
as Freckles
(1934)
Manhattan Melodrama
as Blackie as a Boy
(1934)
Chained
as Boy Shipboard Swimmer (uncredited)
(1934)
Hide-Out
as William 'Willie' Miller
(1934)
The Lost Jungle
as Lead Boy at Circus
(1934)
Blind Date
as Freddie Taylor
(1934)
Death on the Diamond
as Mickey
(1934)
Beloved
as Tommy, a Violin Student
(1934)
Love Birds
as Gladwyn Tootle
(1934)
Half a Sinner
as Willie Clark
(1934)
I Like it That Way
as Messenger Boy
(1934)
Mickey's Rescue
as Mickey McGuire
(1934)
Mickey's Medicine Man
as Mickey McGuire
(1934)
Mickey's Minstrels
as Mickey McGuire
(1933)
The Chief
as Willie
(1933)
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Freckles (uncredited)
(1933)
The World Changes
as Otto Peterson as a Child
(1933)
Broadway to Hollywood
as Ted Hackett III as Child
(1933)
The Big Cage
as Jimmy O'Hara
(1933)
The Big Chance
as Arthur Wilson
(1933)
Mickey's Touchdown
as Mickey McGuire
(1933)
Mickey's Covered Wagon
as Mickey McGuire
(1933)
Mickey's Tent Show
as Mickey McGuire
(1933)
Mickey's Ape Man
as Mickey McGuire
(1933)
Mickey's Disguises
as Mickey McGuire
(1933)
Mickey's Race
as Mickey McGuire
(1932)
The Beast of the City
as Mickey Fitzpatrick (uncredited)
(1932)
Fast Companions
as Midge
(1932)
High Speed
as Buddy Whipple (uncredited)
(1932)
Officer Thirteen
as Buddy Malone
(1932)
Sin's Pay Day
as Chubby Dennis
(1932)
My Pal, the King
as King Charles V
(1932)
Mickey's Busy Day
as Mickey McGuire
(1931)
The Fisherman
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice)
(1931)
Mickey's Thrill Hunters
as Mickey McGuire
(1931)
Mickey's Wildcats
as Mickey McGuire
(1931)
The Hunter
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice) (uncredited)
(1931)
Mickey's Rebellion
as Mickey McGuire
(1931)
Hot Feet
as Oswald (voice) (uncredited)
(1931)
The Hare Mail
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice)
(1931)
Radio Rhythm
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice)
(1931)
Mickey's Stampede
as Mickey McGuire
(1930)
Mickey's Whirlwinds
as Mickey McGuire
(1930)
Mickey's Champs
as Mickey McGuire
(1930)
(1930)
Mickey's Luck
as Mickey McGuire
(1930)
Mickey's Warriors
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Explorers
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Brown Derby
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Surprise
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Big Moment
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Menagerie
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Mix-Up
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Great Idea
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Northwest Mounted
as Mickey McGuire
(1929)
Mickey's Midnite Follies
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey's Little Eva
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey's Big Game Hunt
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey's Wild West
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey the Detective
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey's Movies
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey's Rivals
as Mickey McGuire
(1928)
Mickey in School
as Mickey McGuire
(1927)
Orchids and Ermine
as Mickey McGuire
(1927)
Mickey's Pals
as Mickey McGuire
(1927)
Mickey's Battle
as Mickey McGuire
(1927)
Mickey's Circus
as Mickey McGuire
(1927)
Mickey's Eleven
as Mickey McGuire
(1925)
Crew
(2014)
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
In Memory Of
(1995)
(1973)
The Godmothers
Writer
(1960)
(1954)
The Atomic Kid
Producer
(1951)
My Outlaw Brother
Executive Producer
(1951)
My True Story
Director