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.
Here's a shot of Eddie Bracken. I just recall him from AMC :)
"I've got an idea, everybody! LET'S PUT ON A SHOW!"
I used to bump into Nell Carter all the time in downtown nyc when she was working regularly at what used to be the iconic Village Gate on Bleecker Street, before she became a primetime tv personality. She was a very nice lady and years later I came to learn she was fairly conservative politically. A shame she passed away.
It was.
It was.
Has 360 credited movies, more than any other actor.
He is a giant in the industry and one of the alltime greats, & I cut him a lot of slack too. That being said, he has crossed well into self parody - and that can't ever be good!
On a related note, I went to a presentation by Billy May (robot in Lost in Space, among other roles) back at a Chiller Convention in 2000 or so. He was booked for about 25 minutes but no joke they couldn't get him to shut up and off the stage. He kept talking and talking for about 90 minutes, backing up the whole program.
No bitterness or anything: just another short guy who just talks and talks and talks... ;-)
Sorry - Bobby May, not Billy. ;-)
Lemme tell ya, this guy, with his talent, wow, if he were only a few inches taller, he would have had a better movie career. Instead, not too many good roles after 1950.
No, reports are that Rooney has been that way pretty much for over 20 years now, and it's not getting any better.
Wives:
Jan Rooney (18 July 1978 - present)
Carolyn Hockett (1969 - 1974) (divorced) 2 children
Marge Lane (10 September 1966 - 1967) (divorced)
Carolyn Mitchell (1 December 1958 - 31 January 1966) (her death) 4 children
Elaine Devry (1952 - 18 May 1958) (divorced)
Martha Vickers (3 June 1949 - 25 September 1951) (divorced) 1 child
Betty Jane Rase (30 September 1944 - 3 June 1949) (divorced) 2 children
Ava Gardner (10 January 1941 - 21 May 1945) (divorced)
His movie career spanned nine decades. I think he's alone in that group.
I remember watching him on a tv show in the 50's probably. He played a guy named Ooftus Gooftus. It was so touching I was crying and I considered myself a tough guy.
Rooney doing drama is pretty hot. Gleason was the same way - often identified with comedy, but great when it came to serious stuff, too.
Iconic.
Demarest was part of Preston Sturges acting posse. Sturges made some of the greatest comedies ever and most of them are as funny (and as relevant) today as they were when they were made.
I have noticed the same thing. Comedians are often great at portraying tragic characters.
I love him.
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