At 17 months old, his talent surfaced by accident. While hiding underneath a shoeshine stand in a Chicago theatre, fascinated by his father's act, he let out a sneeze. The noise caused a spotlight to find him in the crowd. Not knowing what to do he stood up and blew on his tiny toy mouth organ that was hanging on a string around his neck. The audience erupted with laughter. The show's manager got him a pint-sized tuxedo after the incident, and young Mickey began performing small ballads and speeches on stage.
Mickey's parents divorced when he was three. Mickey's mother took him to Kansas City, Missouri so they could live with her sister. The normal way of life they had there was short lived, for in 1924, Mickey's mother decided he would be perfect for Hal Roach's "Our Gang" series. They headed west to Hollywood so Mickey could try out for the role. Once there, however, they realized the pay was insufficient. Penniless, they drove back to Kansas City. They returned to California again in 1926. This time Mickey landed his first film role in the movie "Not To Be Trusted," in which he played a midget.
His big break came in 1927 when he was cast for "Mickey 'Himself' McGuire," a series based on a comic strip. His mother wanted to legally change his name to Mickey McGuire for publicity reasons, but the comic's creator did not approve this. Instead she renamed him Mickey Rooney after getting approval from his manager. In 1934, Mickey was competing in a table tennis tournament in Los Angles and was showing off to the audience. MGM producer David O. Selznick noticed his antics. He told MGM studio chief Louis Mayer that he had found a kid that was a "goldmine" and begged him to sign Mickey to MGM. Mayer was reluctant to do so. Selznick made a role for Mickey in the film "Manhattan Melodrama," which was later made famous when notorious gangster John Dillinger was shot and killed while leaving the theater where he had been watching it. Mickey's work on the film led him to being signed to a long-term contract with MGM. Although he had the reputation of being a troublemaker, he put his all into acting and began to receive rave reviews. Short in stature, but never short in confidence, Mickey was the number one box office actor in the United States from 1939-41. He became known for his work on films such as: "A Midsummer Nights Dream," "BoysTown," "Babes In Arms" and the hit "Andy Hardy" series. He also starred with many Hollywood leading ladies including Lana Turner, Anne Rutherford and Judy Garland.
During the 1950s, he worked on a television series called "Hey Mulligan." It was short-lived and could not compete with the likes of "The Jackie Gleason Show " which was scheduled in the same time slot.
Mickey never was one to settle down, which explains his eight marriages. In 1942, he married Hollywood star Ava Gardner, but they soon divorced. After entering the service for 21 months in 1944 to entertain the troops in WWII, he married Betty Jane Rase. This marriage was followed by similar experiences with Martha Vickers in 1949 and Elaine Mahnken in 1952. In 1958 Rooney married Barbara Ann Thompson, but tragedy struck when she was murdered in 1966. Stumbling into deep depression, he married Barbara's friend, Marge Lane, who helped him take care of his young children. The marriage lasted only 100 days. He married Carolyn Hockett from 1969-1974, but financial instability ended the relationship. Finally, in 1978 Rooney married Jan Chamberlin, his current wife, with whom he lives in Los Angeles, California.
In the early 1970s, Mickey undertook several short-lived financial ventures and acted in various dinner theatres. He reluctantly went back to the stage in the burlesque production of "Sugar Babies" in 1979. The production ended up being a phenomenal success, and his career was reborn.
All in all, Mickey is a man with over 200 films under his belt. He earned an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, a special Juvenile Oscar he shared with Deana Durbin in 1939, five Oscar nominations, one Emmy Award, five Emmy Nominations and two Golden Globes. Mickey's career has extended through many generations and in many different directions. Mickey Rooney: actor, survivor, inventor and Hollywood living legend.
Excerpts from:
Witchel, Alex. “At Lunch with Mickey Rooney: At 73, Still the Star, Still the Child”. The New York
Times. Late Edition. Section C; Page 1; Column 2; Living Desk. July 7, 1993.
"Do you know, you're sitting with the only man alive who worked with Will Rogers," he says proudly, referring to the 1935 film "The County Chairman." "He told me: 'You handle yourself very well, son. You know your lines. You don't interfere with mine. You know how to have fun with the script. Your performance makes mine better.' "
"People don't realize the great stars I brought to the fore," he says. "Sammy Davis Jr., for one. I found the Will Maston Trio in a colored theater in Baltimore. And I brought Red Skelton to MGM. I directed his test. I told Louis B. Mayer I'd found the funniest man ever seen. And the rest is history.
"I also found and brought to the fore Marilyn Monroe. It was at Ray Anthony's party; he was a trumpet player, a band leader. Everybody wanted to jump on her bones so I took her under my wing.
"I said, 'Norma, we're going to have to change your name.' And God love her soul and her body, she didn't have a chance. She was a very strange lady. But I said, 'You're definitely a Marilyn.' And we were talking and my phone rang and it was my writer friend Monroe Manning. And I said I'd call him back. And then I froze. And she said, 'Who was that?' And I said, 'I was just talking to your last name.' "
It may be difficult for people under 30 to understand just how big a star Mr. Rooney was in his childhood. He made his debut in vaudeville at 18 months with his parents, Joe Yule, a comic, and Nell Carter, a dancer. He acted in his first feature film at 7 when he was cast as Mickey McGuire, a character based on a cartoon strip. He made 78 of these short films until he outgrew the role at the age of 12. (Walt Disney named Mickey Mouse for Mr. Rooney, he says in his book.)
Then he signed with MGM, where he made the Andy Hardy series. From 1938 to 1940, his box office receipts made him the most popular star in the world. In 1939 he received a special Academy Award for "BoysTown" with Spencer Tracy and for his work in the Andy Hardy series. And that's the year he and Judy Garland made the musical "Babes in Arms," forging one of the most popular on-screen partnerships in Hollywood history. In 1983, he received an honorary Oscar in recognition of his career.
To have the love of millions at such a young age and lose it is cruel. And after being loved by so many, just one doesn't do as well. Which may be why Mr. Rooney has been married eight times. (His first wife was Ava Gardner.) He and his current wife, Jan, live outside of Los Angeles, and will celebrate their 19th anniversary this year. He has 12 children, 4 grandchildren and 7 dogs.
Religion helps. In his book, which was published in 1991, he writes about an experience he had at a coffee shop at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, Calif. He describes a busboy with blond curls who whispered in his ear, "Mr. Rooney, Jesus Christ loves you very much." After checking with the manager and finding no busboy who fit this description, Mr. Rooney decided he was visited by an angel.
Today all he says is: "I believe God gave me my career. I was sent here to do my Father's work."
Does he keep in touch with his friend Judy's daughter Liza Minnelli? "We're not what you'd call buddy-buddy," he says. "She's off doing her thing, being Liza. But I miss Judy every day. She was part of me. I loved her. I think Judy Garland was without any equivocation one of the greatest actresses, entities, who ever lived and will be for the next two centuries. And that's quite a statement."
"I've had my day at bat. I have no delusions of grandeur. I'm happy with everything that's been given to me. So you could just say I'm a man of opposites. I'm satisfactorily dissatisfied. A loud quiet man. A very happy sad man."
- Bamboo Shark (2007) (completed) .... Brooks
- The Greatest Show Ever (2007) (TV) .... The Boss
- Night at the Museum (2006) .... Gus
- To Kill a Mockumentary (2006) (V) .... Max
- The Thirsting (2006) (V) .... Savy
- The Happy Elf (2005) (V) (voice) .... Santa
- A Christmas Too Many (2005) (V) .... Grandpa
- Strike the Tent (2005) .... David McCord
... aka The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams (USA: new title) - Paradise (2003/I) .... Simon/Henry Sr.
- Topa Topa Bluffs (2002) .... Prospector
- Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV) (uncredited) (archive sound) .... Singing Voice of Mickey Rooney
... aka Judy Garland: L'ombre d'une étoile (Canada: French title) - Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001) (V) (voice) .... Sparky (Junkyard Dog)
- Phantom of the Megaplex (2000) (TV) .... Movie Mason
- Internet Love (2000)
- "Safe Harbor" .... Art Sumski (1episode, 1999)
- Life Insurance (1999) TVEpisode .... Art Sumski - "Chicken Soup for the Soul" .... Old Man (1episode, 1999)
- Goodbye, My Friend (1999) TVEpisode .... Old Man - The First of May (1999) .... Boss Ed
- Holy Hollywood (1999)
- Babe: Pig in the City (1998) .... Fugly Floom, the Speechless Man in Hotel
- "Remember WENN" .... Mr. Hardy (1episode, 1998)
- The Follies of WENN (1998) TVEpisode .... Mr. Hardy - Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights (1998) .... Sage
- "Mike Hammer, Private Eye" .... Lucius (1episode, 1998)
- Lucky in Love (1998) TVEpisode .... Lucius - "ER" .... Dr. George Bikel (1episode, 1998)
- Exodus (1998) TVEpisode .... Dr. George Bikel - Michael Kael contre la World News Company (1998) .... Griffith
... aka Michael Kael in Katango
... aka Michael Kael vs. the World News Company - Animals and the Tollkeeper (1998) .... Tollkeeper
- The Face on the Barroom Floor (1998)
- "Stories from My Childhood" .... Ole Lukoje (1episode)
... aka Mikhail Baryshnikov's Stories from My Childhood (USA: complete title)
- The Snow Queen TVEpisode (voice) - "Conan" .... Gobe (2episodes, 1997)
... aka Conan the Adventurer (USA: DVD box title)
- The Heart of the Elephant: Part 1 (1997) TVEpisode .... Gobe
- The Heart of the Elephant: Part 2 (1997) TVEpisode .... Gobe - "Kleo the Misfit Unicorn" (1997) TVSeries .... Talbut
- Boys Will Be Boys (1997) (TV) .... Wellington
- Kings of the Court (1997) (V)
- Killing Midnight (1997) .... Professor Mort Sang
- "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" .... Harold Lang (1episode, 1996)
- A Shaolin Treasure (1996) TVEpisode .... Harold Lang - Brothers' Destiny (1995) (TV) .... Father Flanagan
... aka Long Road Home
... aka The Road Home - "Full House" .... Mr. Dreghorn (1episode, 1994)
- Arrest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1994) TVEpisode .... Mr. Dreghorn - The Outlaws: Legend of O.B. Taggart (1994)
- Revenge of the Red Baron (1994) .... Grandpa Spencer
... aka Plane Fear - Making Waves (1994) .... Gabriel
- "Murder, She Wrote" .... Matt Cleveland (1episode, 1993)
- Bloodlines (1993) TVEpisode .... Matt Cleveland - The Legend of Wolf Mountain (1993) .... Pat Jensen
- Maximum Force (1992) .... Chief of Police
- Abenteuer von Pico und Columbus, Die (1992) .... Narrator
... aka The Magic Voyage (USA) - Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker (1992) .... Joe Petto
- Vida láctea, La (1992) .... Barry Reilly
... aka The Milky Life - Sweet Justice (1992) (uncredited) .... Zeke
... aka Killer Instincts (Europe: English title: video title) - The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) (TV) .... The Director
- "The Black Stallion" .... Henry Dailey (7episodes, 1990-1991)
... aka Étalon noir, L' (France)
... aka The Adventures of the Black Stallion
... aka The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (USA: new title)
- Diamonds (1991) TVEpisode .... Henry Dailey
- Black at Heart (1991) TVEpisode .... Henry Dailey
- Trapped (1990) TVEpisode .... Henry Dailey
- Last Race (1990) TVEpisode .... Henry Dailey
- Pony Express Ride (1990) TVEpisode .... Henry Dailey
(2 more) - My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991) .... Junion, Jesse's Roommate at Retirement Home
- Home for Christmas (1990) (TV) .... Elmer
- Erik the Viking (1989) .... Erik's Grandfather
... aka Erik viking (Sweden) - Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989) (voice) .... Flip
- Bluegrass (1988) (TV) .... John Paul Jones
- "The Golden Girls" .... Rocco (1episode, 1988)
- Larceny and Old Lace (1988) TVEpisode .... Rocco - Little Spies (1986) (TV) .... James Turner(The Hermit)
- Lightning, the White Stallion (1986) .... Barney Ingram
... aka The White Stallion (USA) - The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1986) (TV) .... Jack Bergan
- The Care Bears Movie (1985) (voice) .... Mr. Cherrywood
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984) (TV) .... Mike Halligan
- Bill: On His Own (1983) (TV) .... Bill Sackter
- "The Love Boat" .... Santa Claus (1episode, 1982)
- A Christmas Presence (1982) TVEpisode .... Santa Claus - The Emperor of Peru (1982) .... The Railway Engineer
... aka Odyssey of the Pacific
... aka Traversée de la Pacific, La (France)
... aka Treasure Train (USA: TV title) - "One of the Boys" .... Oliver Nugent (8episodes, 1982)
- On the Rebound (1982) TVEpisode .... Oliver Nugent
- His Old Flame (1982) TVEpisode .... Oliver Nugent
- The Lass Is Always Greener (1982) TVEpisode .... Oliver Nugent
- Double Date (1982) TVEpisode .... Oliver Nugent
- Too Much to Loose (1982) TVEpisode .... Oliver Nugent
(3 more) - Bill (1981) (TV) .... Bill Sackter
- The Fox and the Hound (1981) (voice) .... Adult Tod
- Leave 'em Laughing (1981) (TV) .... Jack Thum
- My Kidnapper, My Love (1980) (TV) .... The Maker
... aka Dark Side of Love - O'Malley (1980) (TV) .... Mike O'Malley
- The Black Stallion (1979) .... Henry Dailey
- Arabian Adventure (1979) .... Daad El Shur
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) (TV) (voice) .... Santa Claus
- "Disneyland" .... Old Bailey (2episodes, 1979)
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title)
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title)
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title)
- Donovan's Kid: Part 2 (1979) TVEpisode .... Old Bailey
- Donovan's Kid: Part 1 (1979) TVEpisode .... Old Bailey - Donovan's Kid (1979) (TV) .... Old Bailey
- The Magic of Lassie (1978) .... Gus
- Pete's Dragon (1977) .... Lampie
- "A Year at the Top" .... Uncle Mickey Durbin (1episode)
- Pilot (????) TVEpisode .... Uncle Mickey Durbin - The Domino Principle (1977) .... Spiventa
... aka The Domino Killings (UK) - Find the Lady (1976) .... Trigger
... aka Call the Cops!
... aka Kopek and Broom - Bons baisers de Hong Kong (1975) .... Marty
... aka From Hong Kong with Love (International: English title) - Juego sucio en Panamá (1975) .... Papa Joe
... aka Ace of Hearts (USA) - The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) (TV) (voice) .... Santa Claus
- Journey Back to Oz (1974) (voice) .... Scarecrow
- Rachel's Man (1974) .... Laban
... aka Ish Rachel (Israel: Hebrew title) - Thunder County (1974) .... Gas Station Attendant
... aka Cell Block Girls
... aka Convict Women
... aka Swamp Fever (USA: video title)
... aka Women's Penitentiary XI (USA: video title)
... aka Women's Prison Escape - The Godmothers (1973) .... Rocky Mastrasso
- Pulp (1972) .... Preston Gilbert
- "Night Gallery" .... August Kolodney (1episode, 1972)
... aka Rod Serling's Night Gallery (USA)
- Rare Objects (1972) TVEpisode .... August Kolodney - Richard (1972) .... Guardian Angel
- Evil Roy Slade (1972) (TV) .... Nelson Stool
- The Manipulator (1971/I) .... B.J. Lang
... aka B.J. Lang Presents
... aka B.J. Presents (USA) - "Dan August" .... Kenny O'Malley (1episode, 1971)
- The Manufactured Man (1971) TVEpisode .... Kenny O'Malley - Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) (TV) (voice) .... Kris
- "The Name of the Game" .... Les (1episode, 1970)
- Cynthia Is Alive and Living in Avalon (1970) TVEpisode .... Les - Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County (1970) .... Indian Tom
... aka A Woman for Charley (UK: TV title) - 80 Steps to Jonah (1969) .... Wilfred Bashford
- The Comic (1969) .... Cockeye
... aka Billy Bright (USA) - The Extraordinary Seaman (1969) .... Cook 3/C W. J. Oglethorpe
- Skidoo (1968) .... Blue Chips Packard
- Vienna (1968)
- Ready and Willing (1967) (TV)
- "The Jean Arthur Show" .... Eddie Julian (1episode, 1966)
- Episode #1.1 (1966) TVEpisode .... Eddie Julian - Ambush Bay (1966) .... Gunnery Sgt. Ernest Wartell
- "The Fugitive" .... Charlie Paris (1episode, 1966)
- This'll Kill You (1966) TVEpisode .... Charlie Paris - Arcidiavolo, L' (1966) .... Adramalek
... aka Diavolo innamorato, Il (Italy)
... aka The Devil in Love (USA) - "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" .... George M. Cohan/ ... (2episodes, 1964-1965)
... aka The Chrysler Theater
... aka Universal Star Time (syndication title)
- Kicks (1965) TVEpisode .... Lefty Duncan
- The Seven Little Foys (1964) TVEpisode .... George M. Cohan - How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) .... Peachy Keane
- Twenty-Four Hours to Kill (1965) .... Norman Jones
... aka 24 Hours to Kill - "Mickey" (1964) TVSeries .... Mickey Grady (unknown episodes, 1964-1965)
- "Combat!" .... Harry White (1episode, 1964)
- Silver Service (1964) TVEpisode .... Harry White - The Secret Invasion (1964) .... Terence Scanlon (demolition)
- "Rawhide" .... Pan Macropolous (1episode, 1964)
- Incident at the Odyssey (1964) TVEpisode .... Pan Macropolous - "Burke's Law" .... Archie Lido (1episode, 1964)
... aka Amos Burke, Secret Agent (USA: new title)
- Who Killed His Royal Highness? (1964) TVEpisode .... Archie Lido - "Arrest and Trial" .... Hoagy Blair (1episode, 1964)
- Funny Man with a Monkey (1964) TVEpisode .... Hoagy Blair - "Kraft Suspense Theatre" .... Sheriff Williams (1episode, 1963)
- The Hunt (1963) TVEpisode .... Sheriff Williams - It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) .... Ding 'Dingy' Bell
... aka It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (USA: promotional title) - "The Twilight Zone" .... Grady (1episode, 1963)