Comprehensive information and links about Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney , September 23, 1920), is an American film actor. Born into a vaudeville family, Rooney began performing at the age of 17 months in 1922. His father was from a Scottish background, whilst his mother came from the southern US. His adopted name means that he is often mistakenly referred to as an Irish - American. He is five feet tall.

Entering the movie business in 1927, he literally made his name as the title character in the comic strip, in which he starred through 1936. For a time he billed himself as Mickey McGuire, but legally changed his name to Mickey Rooney in 1932. Also during this period he met Walt Disney, and later he would claim Disney had named Mickey Mouse after him. It is difficult to verify, and others have made similar claims, but Rooney takes credit for giving rising starlet Norma Jean Baker the stage name Marilyn Monroe.

In 1934 he signed to MGM and was educated at the studio's School for Professional Children.

Rooney's successful role as Andy Hardy in (1937) led to fourteen further films featuring that character from 1938 to 1958. His first role as the top-billed star in a feature film was as Shockey Carter in (1937) with Edward Pawley playing his father. His breakthrough serious role came in 1938's Boys Town opposite Spencer Tracy as Whitey Marsh, which opened shortly before his 18th birthday. His fame peaked in World War II with a string of successful musicals with Judy Garland, including the Oscar nominated (1944).

In 1944 Rooney entered military service for 21 months during World War II, during which time he was a radio personality on the American Forces Network; after his return his career slumped. He appeared in a number of indifferent films, including in 1948 which paired him for the last time with Garland on film (he appeared with her on one episode as a guest on her CBS variety series in the early 60's), and one final Andy Hardy film in the late 1950s. appeared on NBC for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955. In the 1960s Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment. He still accepted film roles in undistinguished movies, but occasionally he would appear in better works such as (1979). On Dec 31, 1961, he appeared on televisions "What's My Line" and mentioned that he had already started enrolling students in the MRSE (Mickey Rooney School of Entertainment).

He was awarded an Academy Juvenile Award in 1938, and in 1983 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted him their Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime of achievement. Lord Laurence Olivier called Rooney "the single best film actor America ever produced." Judy Garland stated that Rooney was "the world's greatest talent."

Rooney did the voices for three Christmas TV animated—always playing Santa Claus.

He continued to be busy in stage and television work through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the acclaimed stage play (a Disney Channel Original Movie).

As of 2006, Rooney continues to work in film, and tours with his wife, Jan Chamberlain, in a multi-media live stage production called "Let's Put On a Show!"

Currently, he and his family live in the Conejo Valley in Southern California.

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In January 2005, Rooney made headlines again, starring in a commercial that was barred as "indecent" from its scheduled slot during Super Bowl XXXIX. The ad included a comic turn (literally) that saw Rooney's backside briefly exposed. The pulling of the ad is considered more fallout from Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" a year earlier.