Posted on 09/23/2005 1:00:59 PM PDT by M. Espinola
On this day in 1920 actor Joe Yule Jr - better known as Mickey Rooney - was born in Brooklyn, New York to Scottish-born vaudevillain/actor Joe Yule and Nell Carter. Mickey was best known in his youth for playing Andy Hardy with Judy Garland in cheerfully naïve musicals that usually ended up in an impromptu musical show. Joe Yule Jr legally changed his name in 1932 to Mickey Rooney.
Making his stage debut with his parents at the age of 15 months, it may not be a surprise that he ended up an actor. He was taught to sing, dance, play piano and drums and troupe with the older, experienced thespians. By the time he was seven, he had already made his movie debut as a smoking midget in "Orchids and Ermine", and between 1927 and 1934 he starred as "Mickey McGuire" in about fifty two-reel comedy shots, based on the "Toonerville Trolley" comic strip as well as featuring in a handful of movies, such as "My Pal the King" and "Death on the Diamond". In 1934 he was signed to MGM.
In 1935 he played the mischievous Puck in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", as well as "The Devil is a Sissy" and "Captains Courageous" before starring with Judy Garland in "A Family Affair" as Andy Hardy, where he starred alongside Judy Garland (that he had met at Mrs Lawlor's School for Professional Children) between 1938 and 1946.
Mick and Judy were cast together again in the musicals "Babes in Arms" (for which he was Oscar nominated), "Strike Up The Band", "Babes on Broadway" and "Girl Crazy". He reached the peak of his career during World War II, named American's top box-office draw over Shirley Temple, starred in "The Human Comedy" in 1943 (where he got a second Oscar nomination) and "National Velvet" in 1944 with Elizabeth Taylor.
He was drafted and upon his return his Hollywood fame has somewhat decreased.
Not unlike other child actors, he didn't have an easy time making it as an adult, and with the 50s came a string of unsuccessful movies - including a poor Hardy family reunion in 1958. Having said that, his role in "The Bold and the Brave" in 1956 got him yet another Oscar nomination.
He kicked off the 60s with movies like "Platinum High School" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's", toured nightclubs and theatres throughout the decade and finally filmed "The Comic" in 1969 where he starred as Dick Van Dyke's comedy sidekick. He starred in a number of movies in the early 70s, like "Pulp" and "Rachel's Man", went on to playing Gus in "The Magic of Lassie" and finally he landed the role as horse trainer Henry Dailey in "The Black Stallion", spawning another Oscar nomination. In the late 70s he was signed along with Ann Miller to star in "Sugar Babies", a surprise hit that he toured with across the country and on Broadway.
For his role the 80s film in "Bill" and its sequel "Bill: On His Own" earned him an Emmy, and in 1983 he won an honorary Oscar after 60 years in the business. In recent years he's provided voice-overs for several animated features, including "The Fox and the Hound" and "Outlaws" which he also wrote. Mickey Rooney has made movie appearances for a total of 79 years - his latest appearance being as David McCord in the upcoming "Strike The Tent" - making his career the longest in cinema history.
"When I say I do, the Justice of the Peace replies, 'I know, I know.' I'm the only man in the world whose marriage license reads, 'To Whom it May Concern'." - on being married eight(!) times, including to the love of Frank Sinatra's life, Ava Gardner.
It's a great big universe
And we're all really puny
We're just tiny little specks
About the size of Mickey Rooney.
One of the alltime greats but such a bitter guy. I was him at a special screening of 'Mad Mad Mad Mad World' at the Egyptian in LA a couple of years ago and when he started talking, I looked over to my friend and said 'here we go!'
Soon he wandered off topic: self promotion, venom for the indutsry, bitterness. A shame. They cut him short (no pun), which was a good thing.
A serial "marrier," however, along with Judy Garland, the best all-round entertainer of the 20th Century.
I liked Eddie Bracken better----am I dating myself,or what?
In "Boy's Town" he played the kid who almost made Father Flanagan (played by Spencer Tracy) admit he was wrong about his mantra that "there's no such thing as a bad boy."
A Happy Birthday Mickey. Boys Town with Spencer Tracy as Father Flannigan was great.
I've always been a William Demarest guy myself...
"Chip, Ernie, which one of you two little squirles was stealing my burbon? Come clean before I brain the both of yous!"
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
Worked with him 3 months ago at a Boys Town fundraiser in Las Vegas. A little "pointed" but sharp as a tack and very nice to us.
His mother was Nell Carter? From 'Gimme a Break,' fame?
I agree. His routine about the Heismann Trophy winner at the Rose Bowl is great. He had so many great roles and even a long marriage (finally!). But even after turing to and speaking for Christianity he did say Ava Gardner had the prettiest breasts he had ever seen. Ha!
He's a hoot! Just love the guy.
He doesn't look at all black.
"Life is short, and so are we."
Napoleon to his horse, 'Dingo', just before Waterloo
Good Ole Uncle Charlie.
Did Shakespeare write "The Devil Is a Sissy"? I always thought it was Ben Jonson.
He was AWESOME in Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World though, so I forgive any oldie wackiness. Even the bitter old man routine has its entertainment value.
Sorry to hear that. Do you think he was just having a bad day?
Considering what Hollywood has become, I can't say I blame Mickey one bit.
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