Mickey Rooney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor, vaudevillian, comedian, producer, and radio personality. In a career spanning nine decades and continuing until shortly before his death, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the silent film era.
At the height of a career that was marked by declines and comebacks, Rooney performed the role of Andy Hardy in a series of 16 films in the 1930s and 1940s that epitomized American family values. A versatile performer, he became a celebrated character actor later in his career. Laurence Olivier once said he considered Rooney "the best there has ever been". Clarence Brown, who directed him in two of his earliest dramatic roles, National Velvet and The Human Comedy, said he was "the closest thing to a genius I ever worked with".
Rooney first performed in vaudeville as a child and made his film debut at the age of six. At 14, he played Puck in the play and later the 1935 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Critic David Thomson hailed his performance as "one of the cinema's most arresting pieces of magic". In 1938, he co-starred in Boys Town. At 19, he was the first teenager to be nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in Babes in Arms, and he was awarded a special Academy Juvenile Award in 1939. At the peak of his career between the ages of 15 and 25, he made 43 films, which made him one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's most consistently successful actors and a favorite of MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer.
Rooney was the top box-office attraction from 1939 to 1941 and one of the best-paid actors of that era, but his career would never again rise to such heights. Drafted into the Army during World War II, he served nearly two years entertaining over two million troops on stage and radio and was awarded a Bronze Star for performing in combat zones. Returning from the war in 1945, he was too old for juvenile roles but too short to be an adult movie star, and was unable to get as many starring roles. Nevertheless, Rooney's popularity was renewed with well-received supporting roles in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and The Black Stallion (1979). In the early 1980s, he returned to Broadway in Sugar Babies and again became a celebrated star. Rooney made hundreds of appearances on TV, including dramas, variety programs, and talk shows, and won an Emmy in 1982 plus a Golden Globe for his role in Bill (1981).
Acted in
Showbiz Kids
2020
as Self (archive footage)
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
2019
as (archive footage)
Sid & Judy
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood, la vie rêvée de Lana Turner
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Marilyn and I
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2017
as Mr. Louis
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
2014
as Gus
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker
2014
as Self
The Voices from Beyond
2012
as Johnny O'Hara
Driving Me Crazy
2012
as Mr. Cohen
The Muppets
2011
as Smalltown Resident
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
2011
as Self
Night Club
2011
as Jerry Sherman
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
2010
as Self
Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon
2010
as Self
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
2009
as Self (archive)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
as Self (archive footage)
The Polio Crusade
2009
as Archive Footage (from March of Dimes)
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
2009
as Self (archive footage)
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
2008
as Santa Claus (voice)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
2008
as Self
Empire State Building Murders
2008
as Mickey Silver
Above the Line
2008
Lost Stallions: The Journey Home
2008
as Chief
A Christmas Too Many
2007
as Grandpa
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
2007
as Self
Night at the Museum
2006
as Gus
Legends
2006
as Self
Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star
2006
The Thirsting
2006
as Savy
The Happy Elf
2005
as Santa Claus
The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams
2005
as David McCord
Judy Garland Duets
2005
as Self (archive footage)
American Dad!
2005
as Short Producer (voice)
Silent Hollywood: Cult, Stars, Scandals
2005
as Self
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
as Self - Actor (voice)
Hollywood Legenden
2004
as Self
To Kill a Mockumentary
2004
as Max
Illusion Infinity
2004
as Simon / Henry, Sr.
Broadway's Lost Treasures
2003
as Mickey (segment "Sugar Babies")
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
2001
as Sparky (voice)
Phantom of the Megaplex
2000
as Movie Mason
The Norm Show
1999
The First of May
1999
as Boss Ed
Boys Will Be Boys
1999
as Wellington
Babe: Pig in the City
1998
as Fugly Floom, the Speechless Man in Hotel
Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy
1998
as (archive footage)
Internet Love
1998
as Self
Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights
1998
as Sage
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
1998
as Griffith
Animals with the Tollkeeper
1998
as Tollkeeper
Mike Hammer, Private Eye
1997
Conan the Adventurer
1997
Sunset Boulevard - 27 Meilen Amerika
1997
as Self - Actor
Private Screenings: Mickey Rooney
1997
as Self
Killing Midnight
1997
as Professor Mort Sang
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
as Self
Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
1995
as O.B. Taggart
Brothers' Destiny
1995
as Father Flanagan
Revenge of the Red Baron
1994
as Grandpa Spencer
ER
1994
as George Bikel
That's Entertainment! III
1994
as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
The Our Gang Story
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Making Waves
1994
as Gabriel
Liberation
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Sweet Justice
1993
as Zeke
The Milky Life
1993
as Barry Reilly
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993
as Harold Lang
Maximum Force
1992
as Chief of Police
The Legend of Wolf Mountain
1992
as Pat Jensen
Jack's Place
1992
The Magic Voyage
1992
as Narrator (voice)
MGM: When the Lion Roars
1992
The Adventures of the Black Stallion
1992
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
1991
as Joe Petto
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
1991
as Junion
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
1991
as Self (archive footage)
Home for Christmas
1990
as Elmer
Adventures of the Black Stallion
1990
as Henry Dailey
Anthony Quinn: An Original
1990
as Self (archive footage)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990
as Self (archive footage)
The Simpsons
1989
as Mickey Rooney (voice)
Erik the Viking
1989
as Erik's Grandfather
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
1989
as Flip (voice)
Bluegrass
1988
as John Paul Jones
Full House
1987
Lightning, the White Stallion
1986
as Barney Ingram
Little Spies
1986
as James Turner
There Must Be a Pony
1986
as Himself (uncredited)
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
1986
as Jack Bergan
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
1986
as Self
The Golden Girls
1985
as Rocco
The Care Bears
1985
The Care Bears Movie
1985
as Mr. Cherrywood (voice)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
1984
as Mike Halligan
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Matt Cleveland
Bill: On His Own
1983
as Bill Sackter
This Is Your Life
1983
as Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler
1983
as Self
Showbiz Goes to War
1982
as (archive footage)
The Emperor of Peru
1982
as The Engineer
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
Hollywood’s Children
1982
as Self (archive footage)
One of the Boys
1982
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
as Self (archive footage)
Senior Trip
1981
as Self
Bill
1981
as Bill Sackter
The Fox and the Hound
1981
as Tod (voice)
Leave 'Em Laughing
1981
as Jack Thum
Creole
1981
as Narrator
My Kidnapper, My Love
1980
as The Maker
From Raquel with Love
1980
as Paradise Cab Company cabbie
The Black Stallion
1979
as Henry Dailey
Arabian Adventure
1979
as Daad El Shur
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
1979
as Santa Claus (voice)
Donovan's Kid
1979
as Bailey
Mickey's 50
1978
as Self
The Magic of Lassie
1978
as Gus
Pete's Dragon
1977
as Lampie
The Love Boat
1977
as Dominicus Angelara
The Domino Principle
1977
as Spiventa
Find the Lady
1976
as Trigger
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)
Rachel's Man
1976
as Laban
It's Showtime
1976
as Self (archive footage)
From Hong Kong with Love
1975
as Marty
Ace of Hearts
1975
as Papa Joe
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
The Intruder
1975
as Capt. Jenkins
The Lion Roars Again
1975
as Self (uncredited)
The Year Without a Santa Claus
1974
as Santa Claus (voice)
That's Entertainment!
1974
as Self - Host / Narrator
Thunder County
1974
as Gas Station Attendant
The Godmothers
1973
as Rocky Mastrasso
Journey Back to Oz
1972
as Scarecrow (voice)
Pulp
1972
as Preston Gilbert
Richard
1972
as Guardian Angel
Fol-de-Rol
1972
as The Executioner / Noah
Evil Roy Slade
1972
as Nelson L. Stool
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
as Self (archive footage)
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
1971
as Mickey Rooney (uncredited)
The Manipulator
1971
as B.J. Lang
Great Performances
1971
as Self
Night Gallery
1970
as August Kolodney
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
1970
as Kris Kringle aka Santa Claus (voice)
Hollywood Blue
1970
Dan August
1970
as Kenny O'Malley
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
1970
as Indian Tom
80 Steps to Jonah
1969
as Wilfred Bashford
The Comic
1969
as Cockeye
The Extraordinary Seaman
1969
as Cook 3 / C W.J. Oglethorpe
Skidoo
1968
as George 'Blue Chips' Packard
Vienna
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest / Various Characters
The Danny Thomas Hour
1967
as Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1967
as Self
The Devil in Love
1966
as Adramelek
Ambush Bay
1966
as Sgt. Ernest Wartell
The Dean Martin Show
1965
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
1965
as Peachy Keane
Twenty-Four Hours to Kill
1965
as Norman Jones
The Secret Invasion
1964
as Terence Scanlon
Mickey
1964
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self
The Judy Garland Show
1963
as Self
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963
as Ding 'Dingy' Bell
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963
as Sheriff Williams
The Jerry Lewis Show
1963
as Self
Burke's Law
1963
as Archie Lido
The Fugitive
1963
as Charlie Paris
Arrest and Trial
1963
as Hoagy Blair
The Match Game
1962
as Himself - Team Captain
Requiem for a Heavyweight
1962
as Army
Combat!
1962
as Harry White
The Lucy Show
1962
as Mickey Rooney
Everything's Ducky
1961
as Kermit 'Beetle' McKay
Breakfast at Tiffany's
1961
as Mr. Yunioshi
Who Killed Julie Greer?
1961
as Mike Zampini
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
as Johnny Burke
Pete and Gladys
1960
Platinum High School
1960
as Steven Conway
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
1960
as Nick Lewis / The Devil
Startime
1959
The Twilight Zone
1959
as Michael Grady
The Big Operator
1959
as Little Joe Braun
The Last Mile
1959
as 'Killer' John Mears
Rawhide
1959
as Pan Macropolous
Andy Hardy Comes Home
1958
as Andy Hardy
A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
1958
as Gus Harris
Naked City
1958
as George Bick
Baby Face Nelson
1957
as Lester M. 'Baby Face Nelson' Gillis
Pinocchio
1957
as Pinocchio
Wagon Train
1957
as Samuel T. Evans
Operation Mad Ball
1957
as MSgt. Yancy Skibo
Mr. Broadway
1957
The Comedian
1957
as Sammy Hogarth
Playhouse 90
1956
as Sammy Hogarth
Magnificent Roughnecks
1956
as Frank Sommers
Francis in the Haunted House
1956
as David Prescott
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Comedian
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Guest
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Nominee/Performer
The Bold and the Brave
1956
as Willie Dooley
The Twinkle In God's Eye
1955
as Rev. William Macklin II
The Atomic Kid
1954
as Barnaby 'Blix' Waterberry
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
1954
as Mike Forney
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Old Bailey
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as James Turner (The Hermit)
December Bride
1954
as Self
The George Gobel Show
1954
as Self
Hey Mulligan
1954
as Mickey Mulligan
Drive a Crooked Road
1954
as Eddie Shannon
A Slight Case of Larceny
1953
as Augustus "Geechy" Cheevers
Screen Snapshots: Mickey Rooney, Then and Now
1953
as Himself
The Oscars
1953
as Self
All Ashore
1953
as Francis 'Moby' Dickerson
General Electric Theater
1953
as Al Roberts
Off Limits
1952
as Herbert Tuttle
This Is Your Life
1952
as Self
Sound Off
1952
as Mike Donnelly
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Red McGivney
The Strip
1951
as Stanley Maxton
My Outlaw Brother
1951
as J. Dennis 'Denny' O'Moore
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
1950
as Freddie Frisby
The Fireball
1950
as Johnny Casar
The Jack Benny Program
1950
as Self / Killer Looney
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Quicksand
1950
as Daniel 'Dan' Brady
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Panelist
The Big Wheel
1949
as Billy Coy
Words and Music
1948
as Lorenz Hart
Summer Holiday
1948
as Richard Miller
Killer McCoy
1947
as Tommy McCoy / Killer McCoy
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
1946
as Andy Hardy
Mickey the Great
1945
as Mickey McGuire
National Velvet
1945
as Michael 'Mi' Taylor
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
1944
as Andy Hardy
Girl Crazy
1943
as Danny Churchill, Jr.
Thousands Cheer
1943
as Himself - Emcee at the Show
Show-Business at War
1943
as Self
The Human Comedy
1943
as Homer Macauley
Andy Hardy's Double Life
1942
as Andy Hardy
A Yank at Eton
1942
as Timothy Dennis
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
1942
as Andy Hardy
Personalities
1942
as Andy Hardy (screen test footage) (uncredited)
Babes on Broadway
1941
as Tommy Williams
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
1941
as Andy Hardy
Men of Boys Town
1941
as Whitey Marsh
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
1941
as Andy Hardy
Rodeo Dough
1940
as Mickey Rooney
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
1940
as Self
Strike Up the Band
1940
as Jimmy Connors
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940
as Self
Trifles of Importance
1940
as Self (archive footage)
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
1940
as Andy Hardy
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940
as Self
Young Tom Edison
1940
as Thomas Alva 'Tom' Edison
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things
1940
as Andy Hardy
Judge Hardy and Son
1939
as Andy Hardy
Babes in Arms
1939
as Mickey Moran
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
1939
as Andy Hardy
From the Ends of the Earth
1939
as Self
The Hardys Ride High
1939
as Andy Hardy
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
1939
as Mickey Rooney
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1939
as Huckleberry Finn
Loews Christmas Greeting (The Hardy Family)
1939
as Andy Hardy
Out West with the Hardys
1938
as Andy Hardy
Stablemates
1938
as Mickey
Boys Town
1938
as Whitey Marsh
Love Finds Andy Hardy
1938
as Andy Hardy
Lord Jeff
1938
as Terry O'Mulvaney
Hollywood Handicap
1938
as Himself
Hold That Kiss
1938
as Chick Evans
Judge Hardy's Children
1938
as Andy Hardy
Another Romance of Celluloid
1938
as Self (uncredited)
Love Is a Headache
1938
as Mike O'Toole
March of Dimes
1938
as Mickey
You're Only Young Once
1937
as Andy Hardy
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937
as Timmie Donovan
Live, Love and Learn
1937
as Jerry Crump
Hoosier Schoolboy
1937
as Shockey Carter
Captains Courageous
1937
as Dan Troop
Slave Ship
1937
as Swifty
A Family Affair
1937
as Andy Hardy
Cinema Circus
1937
as Himself
Down the Stretch
1936
as Snapper Sinclair
The Devil Is a Sissy
1936
as 'Gig' Stevens
Little Lord Fauntleroy
1936
as Dick Tipton
Riffraff
1936
as Jimmy
A Dream Comes True
1935
as Puck (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ah, Wilderness!
1935
as Tommy Miller
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
1935
as Mickey Rooney
Rendezvous
1935
as Country Boy (uncredited)
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1935
as Puck
The Healer
1935
as Jimmy
Reckless
1935
as Eddie
The County Chairman
1935
as Freckles
Death on the Diamond
1934
as Mickey
Chained
1934
as Boy Shipboard Swimmer (uncredited)
Hide-Out
1934
as William 'Willie' Miller
Blind Date
1934
as Freddie Taylor
The Lost Jungle
1934
as Lead Boy at Circus
Half a Sinner
1934
as Willie Clark
Mickey's Medicine Man
1934
as Mickey McGuire
Manhattan Melodrama
1934
as Blackie as a Boy
Love Birds
1934
as Gladwyn Tootle
I Like it That Way
1934
as Messenger Boy
Mickey's Rescue
1934
as Mickey McGuire
Beloved
1934
as Tommy, a Violin Student
Mickey's Minstrels
1934
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Covered Wagon
1933
as Mickey McGuire
The World Changes
1933
as Otto Peterson as a Child
The Chief
1933
as Willie
Mickey's Tent Show
1933
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Touchdown
1933
as Mickey McGuire
Broadway to Hollywood
1933
as Ted Hackett III as Child
The Big Chance
1933
as Arthur Wilson
Mickey's Disguises
1933
as Mickey McGuire
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
1933
as Freckles (uncredited)
The Big Cage
1933
as Jimmy O'Hara
Mickey's Race
1933
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Ape Man
1933
as Mickey McGuire
Officer Thirteen
1932
as Buddy Malone
Fast Companions
1932
as Midge
My Pal, the King
1932
as King Charles V
High Speed
1932
as Buddy Whipple (uncredited)
Sin's Pay Day
1932
as Chubby Dennis
The Beast of the City
1932
as Mickey Fitzpatrick (uncredited)
Mickey's Busy Day
1932
as Mickey McGuire
The Fisherman
1931
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice)
The Hare Mail
1931
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice)
The Hunter
1931
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice) (uncredited)
Mickey's Thrill Hunters
1931
as Mickey McGuire
Hot Feet
1931
as Oswald (voice) (uncredited)
Mickey's Wildcats
1931
as Mickey McGuire
Radio Rhythm
1931
as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice)
Mickey's Rebellion
1931
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Stampede
1931
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Warriors
1930
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Whirlwinds
1930
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Luck
1930
as Mickey McGuire
The Voice of Hollywood No. 8
1930
Mickey's Champs
1930
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Big Moment
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Mix-Up
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Surprise
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Midnite Follies
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Northwest Mounted
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Brown Derby
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Menagerie
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Explorers
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Great Idea
1929
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Big Game Hunt
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey the Detective
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Rivals
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Movies
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Wild West
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Little Eva
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey in School
1928
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Battle
1927
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Eleven
1927
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Pals
1927
as Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Circus
1927
as Mickey McGuire
Orchids and Ermine
1927
as Mickey McGuire
Cinema Stars - No. 15
1925