Mickey Rooney (September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was a legendary American entertainer, a dynamic and seemingly inexhaustible force of nature whose career as an actor, comedian, and singer spanned an incredible nine decades, from the silent era to the 21st century.
A former vaudeville performer, Rooney became one of the most successful child actors in history, but it was at MGM that he exploded into superstardom. As the energetic, all-American teenager in the beloved Andy Hardy series of films, he became the number one box-office draw in the world from 1939 to 1941. During this time, he also formed an iconic musical partnership with Judy Garland in a string of “let’s put on a show!” classics like Babes in Arms (1939), for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
After leaving MGM, Rooney’s career had many peaks and valleys, but he never stopped working, ultimately appearing in over 300 films. He starred in his own television sitcom, The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan (1954-1955), and made a celebrated comeback with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Black Stallion (1979). His unparalleled longevity and boundless talent cemented his status as a true Hollywood immortal.
