Biography for
Mickey Rooney (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

23 September 1920, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Birth Name

Ninian Joseph Yule Jr.

Nickname

The Mick
The Mickster

Height

5' 2" (1.57 m)

Mini Biography

With parents who were actors, it comes as no surprise that the young Joe Yule Jr. made his debut on the stage at the age of only 15 months. He became part of the family act. He became well known for a series of some 50 silent comedies between 1927 and 1933 in which he played Mickey McGuire, a comic-strip character. In 1934 he was signed to MGM. At Mrs. Lawlor's School for Professional Children, he first met Judy Garland, whom he would play against in several movies in the future, including some of the 15 "Andy Hardy" films. He gave a memorable performance as "Puck" on loan in Warner Brothers' prestigious flop A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935). With movies like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) and National Velvet (1944), he reached the peak of his career during WWII. He was drafted during the war and, when he returned to Hollywood, his fame and box-office draw had significantly decreased. Just like other child stars, he found it difficult to get a break as an adult actor. After Summer Holiday (1948), his career went downhill and the 1950s and 1960s for him became a string of not-so-successful movies with a smattering of notable performances in supporting roles in a few hits (The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), the Rod Serling-scripted drama Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) and the frenetic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)). The downward spiral of his career coincides with the decline of his former studio, MGM, which was near-mortally wounded by the Supreme Court's 1948 anti-trust decision concerning theater ownership leading to the ultimate collapse of the studio star system, which Rooney was a part of. Out of his long MGM contract by 1949, he turned increasingly to the one-eyed monster for employment. He got his own short-lived TV show, "The Mickey Rooney Show" (1954) and toured nightclubs and theaters again in the 1960s. Rooney experienced a career renaissance of sorts in 1979 on with The Black Stallion (1979) (again in a supporting role) and on stage, with the dropped pants burlesque hit "Sugar Babies" which ran for 1208 performances on Broadway. He took the play on the road for 3 years afterward where he packed houses across the U.S. (Joey Bishop and Eddie Bracken filled him for him during his 3 contractual vacations). In 1983, following 60 years as an actor, he received the "Lifetime Achievement" Oscar". Rooney, now well into his 80's, has been surprisingly active and has found himself far more in demand that he was 30 years ago, recently seen to good advantage in the hit Night at the Museum (2006).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Mattias Thuresson <mattias.thuresson@mbox300.swipnet.se> and Jack Backstreet

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)

Trade Mark

Best known in his youth for playing Andy Hardy with Judy Garland as the female lead in cheerfully naive musicals that usually ended with the characters putting on an impromptu musical show. In his senior years, he often played an cheerful old mentor with a youthful spirit.

Trivia

Mickey's son Teddy Rooney appeared with him in Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958), portraying - who else? - Andy Hardy Jr.

Son of Scottish-born vaudevillian/actor Joe Yule and Nell Carter. They divorced in 1923 when Mickey was 3 years old.

Loves golf and the ponies.

Was considered for the role of Archie Bunker on "All in the Family" (1968).

Father of Tim Rooney and Mickey Rooney Jr., from his marriage to Betty Jane Rase (B.J. Baker).

Father of Jimmy Rooney and Jonelle Rooney, from his marriage to Carolyn Hockett.

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 co-owner for many years of the Mickey Rooney Tabas Hotel in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

In his autobiography, he made a passing reference to a brothel called "The T&M Studio," where the ladies were look-alikes for Hollywood starlets. There were rumors of such a brothel, but before Rooney's book no one would ever admit to ever having been there, or even verify its existence. He wrote that Groucho Marx had taken him there (only once), and Groucho appeared to be on a first-name basis with many of the ladies.

Originally came to Hollywood to audition for "Our Gang" (aka "The Little Rascals" (1955)), but didn't get in.

Stepfather of Christopher Aber and Mark Aber Rooney.

According to one story, Mickey Mouse was named for Rooney. Walt Disney saw a young Rooney while he was working on the first drawings of what was to become Mickey Mouse. He asked the child actor what he thought of the drawings and also asked what his name was. This later proved to be false.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1980 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Sugar Babies."

His third child, Teddy Rooney, was born weighing 7 lb. 3 oz. on April 13, 1950, to Martha Vickers.

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.

Is portrayed by Moosie Drier in Rainbow (1978) (TV) and by Dwayne Adams in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV)

Father of Kelly Ann Rooney, Kerry Yule Rooney, Michael Joseph Kyle Rooney and Kimmy Sue Rooney, from his marriage to Carolyn Mitchell.

At age nineteen became the first teenager to be Oscar-nominated in a leading role for Babes in Arms (1939).

Former roommate of Blake Edwards.

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.

Has two grandchildren (Shannon Rooney and Dominique Rooney) and two great-grandchildren (Kaitlyn Rooney and Hunter Rooney).

He is most proud of his film The Black Stallion (1979).

Attended the 2006 Twilight Zone Convention at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, August 12-13, 2006.

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).

Is of Scottish ancestry.

He was a close friend of the Reverend Jerry Falwell.

In 1938, he was severely reprimanded by MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer for having a torrid affair with Norma Shearer. The affair was causing quite a commotion on the set of her film Marie Antoinette (1938), where the two would hole up in her trailer. Mickey was 18 at the time. Shearer was 38 and her husband, MGM studio exec Irving Thalberg, had recently died. Mayer managed to keep the story from going public and it was not revealed until many years later, when Rooney gave the explicit details in his autobiography.

Has four (4) Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame including a star for Motion Pictures at 1718 Vine Street, a star for Television at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard, a star for Radio at 6372 Hollywood Boulevard, and shared with wife Jan Rooney a star for Live Theater at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.

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.

With the death of James Stewart on July 2, 1997, he is the last surviving entertainer of the forty-six caricatured in Hollywood Steps Out (1941).

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.

Graduated from Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California, in 1938.

Went to the same high school as Jason Robards, Ann Miller, Nanette Fabray, Lana Turner, Alan Hale Jr., Marge Champion, Alexis Smith and Joseph A. Wapner.

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.

Prior to being a successful actor, he also sold newspapers around the corner.

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

Best known by the public for his starring role as Henry Dailey on "The New Adventures of the Black Stallion" (1990).

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.

In Guinness book of world records for longest movie career of 86 years (1925-2011).

Chris Aber, his step-son, has worked with Mickey for 30 years as his personal assistant.

Was an original member of the famed Hollywood Republican Committee which was established by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, George Murphy, and Bing Crosby.

Personal Quotes

[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.

My partners weren't what we call in horse racing parlance "routers". They were sprinters; they went out of the gate, but then they stopped. They couldn't go the distance.

People say, "How can you be married eight times?" But I played the hand dealt me the way I was supposed to. I was friendly with most of my ex-wives. My God, there's a Mickey Rooney's Former Wives Marching Band!

[on his marriages] 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". But to have been married eight times is not normal. That's only halfway intelligent.

You've got to recognize, there will never be another you. It has nothing to do with ego; it happens to be the truth. There will never be another person the same. There'll never be another you. There'll never be another me . . . And there'll never be another show like this!

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.

Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch weaker, the gods kinder, the dice hotter - it might have all ended up in a one-sentence story.

Love wears off too quickly.

I don't regret anything I've ever done. I only wish I could have done more.

I was a 14-year-old boy for 30 years.

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

[on his lifelong friend and frequent co-star, Judy Garland] Judy turned to drugs because she was in pain and because drugs made her feel good. As one of the MGM kids, she'd been treated for most of her life to magical, instant, solutions to everything . . . She could never accept herself so she was always on the run.

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.

The guys with the power in Hollywood today, the guys with their names above the title, are thieves. They don't make movies, they make deals. Their major function is to cut themselves in for ten per cent of the gross - off the top, of course - which is why they make movies that cost fifty million dollars.

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

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

There may be a little snow on the mountain, but there's a lot of fire in the furnace.

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

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

[on his feud with Ernest Borgnine] All the Oscars in the world can't buy him dignity, class and talent. I don't know why he is famous and why he is a star. Talk about a lucky jerk.

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.

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

I don't get caught between lesbians and gays. If you can't say something nice about someone, just shut your mouth.

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.

I lost $2 at Santa Anita and I've spent $3 million trying to get it back.

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?

Hollywood has unfortunately become a memory. It's nothing but a sign on the side of a hill.

When I was nineteen years old I was the number-one star for two years. When I was forty, nobody wanted me. I couldn't get a job.

Salary

Babe: Pig in the City (1998)	$175,000
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965)	$5,000
The Secret Invasion (1964)	$50,000
"Arrest and Trial: Funny Man with a Monkey (#1.15)" (1964)	$10,000
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)	$100,000
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)	$25,000
Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958)	$35,000
Baby Face Nelson (1957)	$35,000
"Playhouse 90: The Comedian (#1.20)" (1957)	$10,000
Drive a Crooked Road (1954)	$75,000
A Slight Case of Larceny (1953)	$75,000
All Ashore (1953)	$75,000
Sound Off (1952)	$75,000
Quicksand (1950)	$25,000
The Big Wheel (1949)	$25,000
National Velvet (1944)	$2,500/week
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944)	$2,500/week
Girl Crazy (1943)	$68,000
Thousands Cheer (1943)	$2,500/week
The Human Comedy (1943)	$2,500/week
Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942)	$2,500/week
A Yank at Eton (1942)	$2,500
The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942)	$2,500/week
Babes in Arms (1939)	$23,000
Out West with the Hardys (1938)	$5,000
Stablemates (1938)	$5,000
Boys Town (1938)	$5,000
Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)	$5,000
Lord Jeff (1938)	$5,000
Hold That Kiss (1938)	$5,000
Judge Hardy's Children (1938)	$5,000
Love Is a Headache (1938)	$5,000
You're Only Young Once (1937)	$5,000
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937)	$500/week
Live, Love and Learn (1937)	$500/week
Hoosier Schoolboy (1937)	$500/week
Slave Ship (1937)	$500/week
Captains Courageous (1937)	$500/week
The Devil Is a Sissy (1936)	$500/week
Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)	$500/week
Ah, Wilderness! (1935)	$500/week
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)	$500/week
Mickey the Detective (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Rivals (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Movies (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Triumph (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Wild West (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Nine (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Parade (1928)	$250/week
Mickey's Battle (1927)	$250/week
Mickey's Eleven (1927)	$250/week
Mickey's Pals (1927)	$250/week
Mickey's Circus (1927)	$250/week
Not to Be Trusted (1926)	$200