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.
What a talented guy he was-----thanks!
I agree. The only funny guy on the scene today who is competent at more serious stuff is Steve Martin.
Nell Carter? Wasn't she an African-American actress of the loudmouthed, large girthed variety?
If you remember Jerry Lewis in "King of Comedy" with Robert DeNiro, he portrayed a real jerk very convincingly. So much so that I suspect he was playing himself.
People who know him personally also know him to be a pompous ass...little man syndrome.
Yep I remember it well and yes he was very good doing that serious role. That movie was supposed to star Johnny Carson and probably would have been even better if Johnny was in it!
And yes, I suspect Lewis was playing himself. For years people had insinuated that his 'Buddy Love' character was an extended rip on Dean Martin. Years later Lewis said in an interview that it wasn't true, that the basis for Buddy Love was himself when he was at his absolute worst.
Lewis takes a lot of heat but I always liked his movies. I suspect he is a dreadful person to work with and be around.
Mickey and the late Robert Strauss clown around with a model DG-7 Geiger counter in this publicity still for Republic Pictures' 1954 sci-fi film "The Atomic Kid"
Thanks for the info. I had forgotten what show it was but now I remember it was "The Naked City".
Thanks...I love these old movie/movie star threads, some real knowledgeable folks.... Is there a "ping" list?
Yes indeed!
"He's a bit angry these days, mostly at what has happened to his old industry. He is embittered at how they treat religious people, and how spoiled and self-righteous the new generation of Hollywood is."
Mickey is right on target. Look at him in Andy Hardy having those father & son talks with Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone), in relation to the absolute trash pushed on the American public today. I don't blame him for being ticked off.
The only thing the leftist media types understand is a sharp tongue. That crowd would instinctively hate Mickey since he played so many wholesome real American parts.
I was impressed that he was at Reagan's funeral in California. Was also shocked to see Scott Bao there as well.
It's a good question on a ping list. I am not sure.
How could his marriages to Rase and Gardner overlap?
Mickey Rooney, born September 23, 1920
Nell Carter, born September 13, 1948.
-Dan
Nice touch. It really was amazing at how teary-eyed people got over a man who died in his 90s. It seems like years ago that all those folks lined up in DC and California just to walk by his coffin.
Do you know if it's possible to buy a DVD of all the Reagan funeral coverage?
In Bud and Lou's "Pardon My Sarong" the boys were pursued by Demarest as bus-company troubleshooter 'Kendall'.
Can you imagine the Bermuda suspect and his judge father having an "Andy Rooney" moment?
"Say, pop. What if you accidentally murdered a vacationing coed and still had her body in the rumble seat of the DeSoto?"
Nell Carter was very talented. She was great on Broadway in 'Ain't Misbehavin' also doing TV's "Gimme a Break!".
She struggled with diabetes over the years and had a brain aneurysm in the 1990s and passed away far too young in 2003.
Typo. I think the Gardner marriage ended in '43.
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