Mickey Rooney Dead at 93

[CatWoman]

Mickey Rooney, who spent nearly his entire life in the show business, died today. He was 93.

Rooney had been in ill health for quite some time.

He was one of the most famous child actors in entertainment history. He played the role of Andy Hardy in "The Hardy Boys" in 20 films.


Rooney also teamed up with Judy Garland for "Babes in Arms" which was a huge hit back in 1939.



He was the first teenager ever to be nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in "Strike Up the Band" in 1940.

Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor starred in one of the biggest movies of the 40s -- "National Velvet" -- which launched Taylor's career.

Rooney also starred with Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Rooney appeared most recently in "The Muppets" in 2011 with Amy Adams and Jason Segal and "Night at the Museum" in 2006 with Ben Stiller.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/06/mickey-rooney-dead/#ixzz2yAPjiNEg

-

[Glorfindel]

1. Aw, geez...he was one of the greats

I'm so sorry he's dead. He brought great happiness to millions over a long career. His like will probably never be seen again.

[notadmblnd]

2. That's sad. last thing I saw him in was a production of "The Wizard of Oz"

at the Fox Theater in Detroit. He was the wizard and Ertha Kitt was the wicked witch of the West. It had to have been in the late 90's.

[Eleanors38]

25. That sounds like a good one.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

3. He will live forever through his life's work. A truly historic figure. Rest well, sir. nt

[Paulie]

6. Exactly. Immortal.

but for bringing joy to millions now and in the future.

[CANDO]

4. Wow....I'll turn 50 in July

I don't know what the term for it is..perhaps realizing your own mortality. But even though you feel healthy and vital at age 50, you start getting flashes of how fleeting a human life can be. Even one lasting 90+ years. Cherish your life. Spend quality time with your family. They are the only ones who will ever know you existed. It seems like just yesterday I was a teenager with my entire life ahead of me.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

11. You're not in that boat by yourself, CANDO. I turn 50 in August and I have the same thoughts. I

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2014, 01:23 AM - Edit history (1)

don't know how people that are older stay sane knowing what's ahead and knowing time is getting shorter by the day.

I am trying to cherish each and every day.

[ailsagirl]

15. One of the worst things about getting older...

(among others), is the stark shock one receives when a long-ago friend passes away. And at a way too young of age.

[Octafish]

27. +1

And the time together goes by so fast, it doesn't seem possible.

[ailsagirl]

33. ...

It really doesn't, sadly

[PasadenaTrudy]

21. I turned 50 in January

So many losses, that's the hardest part about getting older. I've already lost both parents and my sister, I have one sibling left. I try to stay in the present in my head the best I can. A close friend, who has been a second mom to me was in a skilled nursing home for 5 days last week. I visited every day and fed her lunch. Talk about a bleak and depressing place! I'm still recovering from it. She has Alzheimer's and is pretty well out of it so I don't think she was as impacted, thank goodness. All I know is, I don't want to spend my last years in a human warehouse.

[Eleanors38]

26. I'm just shy of '66. One notable experience:

Those very occasional memorials & funerals you attend become more and more frequent.

[mulsh]

5. RIP

Here's a video of Rooney and Garland later in life.

[link:

|

[UTUSN]

10. ...

[SheilaT]

12. She kicks off her high heels and

she's still taller than him. And I think she was only 4'11".

Yes, it is the first thing I noticed. I knew he was short but I didn't realize he was that short.

[Eleanors38]

28. "pallie... Svengalli" LOL!

[Capt.Rocky300]

7. I met him once many years ago in a hotel restaurant............

near O'Hare airport. He was having lunch with one of his grandsons at the next table. He was gracious and charming. R.I.P. Mr. Rooney.

[YoungDemCA]

8. Not to be confused with Andy Rooney...

...who also died fairly recently (2011).

RIP.

[cyberswede]

9. "He played the role of Andy Hardy in "The Hardy Boys" in 20 films."

I don't think the Andy Hardy films were about "The Hardy Boys." TMZ, man...

Mickey Rooney was great - a classic. I loved him in "Boys' Town."

[BuelahWitch]

13. Thank you!

Dufuses at TMZ got that WRONG!
I loved Boys' Town too. He stole the movie!

[NBachers]

14. One of my favorite Mickey Rooney movies- he played Killer Mears, breaking outta the Big House

[IronGate]

24. I loved his character in The Bridges At Toko-Ri.

RIP Mickey, you gave us such fond memories and great movies.

[Eleanors38]

29. Great performance in that movie.

[John1956PA]

16. One of last surviving actors whose career included a major number of pre-WWII movies.

I admired his performances. My favorite role of his was one of two buddies who were driving to Las Vegas when they got caught up in a treasure-hunt frenzy with twelve other motorists in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

Other than Olivia de Havilland and Luise Rainer (the latter was an actress who won two academy awards in the 1930s and who retired shortly thereafter) there are no surviving actors or actresss who had major roles in movies produced before World War II.

[Liberal_Dog]

17. Sad News

Here is Mickey Rooney in the TZ episode "Last Night Of A Jockey".

[theboss]

18. You can't say he didn't get everything he could out of life.

Conservatively, he starred in 2,165 movies and had 63 wives. That's just good livin'.

I loved his cranky old man interviews. "I was the number one star in the world! The world!"

[warrior1]

19. RIP

[joeybee12]

20. He was around forever...RIP Mr. Rooney...knr

[PasadenaTrudy]

22. I met him on a plane once

Flying back from East coast. Nice, friendly little fellow.

[polichick]

23. RIP Mickey - thanks for all those great performances!

[SummerSnow]

30. This morning on TCM they showed

Captains Courageous (1937). Rooney played Lionel Barrymore's son. Good movie



Here he is with Freddie Bartholomew in the movie

[vankuria]

31. Besides being a showbiz legend

he was a decorated veteran and animal rights activist. He also testified before Congress about elder abuse. Very talented man, may he rest in peace on an extraordinary life, well lived.

[central scrutinizer]

32. My mom took his picture in 1939

He and Spencer Tracy were riding the train through Nebraska to shoot Boys Town and the two of them came out onto the opening between the train cars and waved to the crowd.