Mickey Rooney, legendary actor, singer, entertainer, star of Hollywood’s golden era and one of the biggest box office draws of his time, has passed at the age of 93. Rooney, born Joseph Yule Jr, was one of the last remaining stars of the silent film era and since then had gone on to earn, among many others, an Emmy Award, two Golden Globes, and an Honorary Academy Award.
Rooney’s early breakthrough work came in the form of the Andy Hardy series of films, in which he starred alongside Judy Garland for the first time. The two quickly became a successful recurring pairing on-screen. Rooney’s star shot skyward shortly thereafter, and he was named the biggest box-office draw in 1939, 1940, and 1941 (spanning two decades!) His early work was recognised by the Academy when he awarded a special Juvenile Academy Award in 1939 for his contributions to portraying youth on screen.
Beyond his career as a young actor, Rooney struggled to step out of the mould of the child star, but his versatility carried him through a long and decorated successful career in the industry, which kicked off following his enlistment in the Army during World War II, during which he served much of his time as an entertainer, working on the American Forces Radio network.
Rooney’s personal life was the butt of many comedians jokes, mostly centring on his seeming inability to remain married. Rooney married eight times throughout his life, and filed for bankruptcy in the sixties. He has nine children, nineteen grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Mickey Rooney’s vast talent saw him become one of the all time biggest icons of Hollywood, and his legacy is as large as anyone has ever left. He leaves behind a body of work perhaps unparalleled by anyone, and one that is likely to remain unchallenged in the annals of history.
Truly, one of the greatest of all time.
Photo: Araya Diaz via Getty Images.
