Mickey Rooney 1920-2014

Screen legend Mickey Rooney, one of the last living connections to the Golden Age of Hollywood, has passed away at the age of 93. 

The Brooklyn, NY-born Rooney started his career in show business at the age of 17 months as part of his parents’ vaudeville routine in 1922. It was the start of a career which would span 92 years over ten decades and would rack up 338 film and TV credits. He was one of the last surviving stars of the silent film era. 

He was nominated for Oscars for his acting in BABES IN ARMS (1939), THE HUMAN COMEDY (1943), and THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE (1956). His notable works are too numerous to list, but a few standouts include (but certainly not limited to) A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1935), BABY FACE NELSON (1957), REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT (1962), THE BLACK STALLION (1980), and IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (1963). He became a familiar face in children’s films such as PETE’S DRAGON (1977), BABE: PIG IN THE CITY (1998), NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (2006) and THE MUPPETS (2011). 

He had countless appearances in TV sitcoms and television films, and performed voicework in many animated films. He had a successful second career on stage. Over his long career he won two Golden Globes, an Emmy Award, a Juvenile Academy Award, and an Honorary Academy Award. 

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By the time this Blogger came around to discovering Mickey Rooney, the man had already been around for a long time and was well-established in the industry. It was in the Disney production of PETE’S DRAGON in 1977 in which this Blogger was introduced to him, and an instant connection was made. Rooney wasn’t one of those Hollywood stars with a chiseled jaw and perfect hair; he was instead the guy next-door, or even reminiscent of the crazy old uncle who came over during the holidays. He had a familiarity to him which always made him comfortable to watch. As one of the last connections to the bygone era of silent film, we have certainly lost a treasure…and a good friend.