FOUND A GRAVE

Mickey Rooney

He achieved fame in the ‘Andy Hardy’ film series of the 1930s and 1940s, before moving on to a wide range of movie roles. Born Joe Yule, Jr., the son of vaudeville performers, he first appeared on stage at the age of fifteen months. He was brought up as a central part of his parent’s act and in 1926, he initiated his Hollywood career in the short “Not to Be Trusted”. This was followed with his own film series “Mickey McGuire” from 1927 until 1933. He graduated to teenage parts with two highly impressionable roles opposite Spencer Tracy in “Captains Courageous” (1937) and “Boys Town” (1938). In 1939, he shared a special Academy Award with Deanna Durbin and also had the distinction of surpassing Shirley Temple as top box office attraction of that period. Rooney co-starred with Judy Garland in several musicals including “Babes in Arms” (1939) and “Babes on Broadway” (1941). He also co-starred with Elizabeth Taylor in “National Velvet” (1944). During World War II, Rooney joined the United States Army and entertained the troops. He resumed his career following the war, but never again enjoyed the success he once experienced a decade earlier. Additionally, he was suffering from financial difficulties by the early 1950s. Rooney was credited with roughly two-hundred film and TV roles, as he worked up until his death. Among his other notable films include “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961, as ‘Mr. Yunioshi’), “Requiem for a Heavyweight” (1962) and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963). From 1979 until 1982, he co-starred with Ann Miller on Broadway in the production of “Sugar Babies”. In 1982, he earned a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the title character in the TV-movie “Bill” and in 1983, he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime contributions. He was a two-time recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rooney was married eight-times which included unions with actresses Ava Gardner and Martha Vickers.