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Let’s cut this great old gentleman a little slack.

Mickey Rooney has a lot of rumors spread about him and he is snubbed in Hollywood because:
a He is NOT a Lib/Democrat
b He is a Christian
c He does NOT approve of gays
(see ‘Trivia’ below)

Mickey Rooney has been called the most talented movie star of them all.
He could do it all.
He was an accomplished actor, pianist, drummer, singer, songwriter and dancer.
He has the longest career of any of them, starting out at the age of 17 months (as part of his parent’s vaudeville show) to the present. He is over 90 years old.

His long career he has been a wildly successful movie star, television star and nightclub performer as well as conquering broadway (Sugar Babies)

Rooney became a born-again Christian in the 1970s

In 1944, Rooney entered military service. He served more than 21 months, (earning a bronze star) until shortly after the end of World War II. During and after the war he helped entertain the troops in America and Europe, and spent part of the time as a radio personality on the American Forces Network.

During the course of his career, Rooney received two Best Actor and two Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominations, the last of which for his work in 1979’s The Black Stallion.

Mickey is also an accomplished musician and can play almost every instrument in an orchestra. As a member of ASCAP, Mickey has composed numerous pop songs, a symphony and several film scores.

During the course of his career, Rooney received two Best Actor and two Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominations, the last of which for his work in 1979’s The Black Stallion.

He was awarded a special Lifetime Achievement Oscar “in recognition of his 60 years of versatility in a variety of memorable film performances.” Rooney published his autobiography, Life Is Too Short, in 1991.

In 1979, Mickey achieved a new triumph, which took him to the cover of ” Life” magazine, the starring role in the theatrical production of ” Sugar Babies” for which he received a Tony® nomination. The show ran successfully on Broadway for three years and had a record breaking eight-year run on the road. In 1988, he wowed London’s West End audiences in ” Sugar Babies” .

He won a Golden Globe for the 1981 TV movie Bill

In 1939 [Rooney] became the top box-office star in the world, a title he held for three consecutive years.

_____________

From
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001682/bio

Spouse
Jan Rooney (28 July 1978 - present)
Carolyn Hockett (27 May 1969 - 24 January 1975) (divorced) 2 children
Margaret Lane (10 September 1966 - 14 December 1967) (divorced)
Carolyn Mitchell (1 December 1958 - 31 January 1966) (her death) 4 children
Elaine Devry (18 November 1952 - 18 May 1958) (divorced)
Martha Vickers (3 June 1949 - 25 September 1952) (divorced) 1 child
B.J. Baker (30 September 1944 - 3 June 1949) (divorced) 2 children
Ava Gardner (10 January 1942 - 21 May 1943) (divorced)

Trivia

Liza Minnelli wanted Rooney to do the eulogy at the funeral for her mother, Judy Garland in June of 1969, but decided against it because she felt that Rooney might not be able to get through it, given his and Garland’s long and close friendship.

Was nominated for Broadway’s 1980 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for “Sugar Babies.”

With movie appearances stretching from 1926 to 2007, totaling 81 years, his is the longest career in cinema history, surpassing that of Lillian Gish.

Underwent double heart bypass surgery in 2000.

Was number 7 on the World Poker Tour Invitational even though he had never played Texas Hold ‘Em poker before.

His first of eight marriages was to Ava Gardner but has been married to current wife Jan Rooney longer than all of the other seven wives combined.

As of 2007, he is the only surviving screen actor to appear in silent films and still continue to act in movies into the 21st century. His film debut was in the movie Not to Be Trusted (1926) in 1926 at the age of four.

Attended the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan. (11 June 2004).

He was a close friend of the Reverend Jerry Falwell.

Has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star for movies is at 1718 Vine Street. His star for TV is at 6541 Hollywood Blvd.

He and Jan Rooney were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1718 Vine Street, for Radio at 6372 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Television at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

During World War II he served 22 months in the U.S. Army, five of them with the Third Army of Gen. George S. Patton. Rooney attained the rank of Sergeant, and won a Bronze Star, among other decorations.

Is best/good friends with actors: Al Pacino, Betty Grable, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Dick Van Dyke, Lana Turner, Gloria DeHaven, Linda Darnell and Norma Shearer.

Is best/good friends with former child stars: Bill Mumy, Johnny Crawford, Susan Olsen, Adam Rich, Tony Dow and David Cassidy.

He has 12 hobbies: listening to music, singing, football, dancing, praying, reading the Bible, golfing, travelling, horse racing, spending time with family, swimming, and watching classic movies.

Moved with his mother to Hollywood, California, in 1925, when he was five. This was one year after his parents’ separation.

His future “The New Adventures of the Black Stallion” (1990) co-star, Richard Ian Cox, was a childhood movie hero of his.

Began his career as a contract player for MGM in 1934.

May be the only actor in history to appear in at least one film in ten consecutive decades.

Ranks first in front of Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Jane Wyman, Eddie Albert and Ernest Borgnine, in the number of movies, he appeared in over 100 films.

Personal Quotes

All the muddy waters of my life cleared up when I gave myself to Christ.

[Bill Clinton] was a Rhodes Scholar. Do you know who the scholars were? Marxists!

If it’s immorally wrong, it’s not normal. Jesus Christ said, “The effeminate are an abomination to me”. Are you aware of that? I don’t watch the [Ellen DeGeneres] show. I wish her all kinds of luck. Except that I’m not a fan. But there are a lot of people who aren’t fans of Mickey Rooney and you can’t please everyone.

I never knew anything about anyone being gay in Hollywood when I was working in the studios. Did you know that? They weren’t in closets, they were in safes.

[at 58 years old] I’m in pretty good shape for the shape I’m in.

[asked if he would marry all of his eight wives again] Absolutely. I loved every one of them.

The audience and I are friends. They allowed me to grow up with them. I’ve let them down several times. They’ve let me down several times. But we’re all family.

[upon winning his lifetime achievement Oscar, 1983] Tonight, I could even kiss Louis B. Mayer!.

I didn’t ask to be short. I didn’t want to be short. I’ve tried to pretend that being a short guy didn’t matter.

I just want to be a professional. I couldn’t live without acting.

I’ve been through four publics. I’ve been coming back like a rubber ball for years.

[in 2007] I think the family pictures are what people really want to see - and musicals, of course.

Sure, I love the chicks. I love ‘em all. But when you’re nuts about too many, how can a guy settle down to one?