Mickey Rooney - dies age 93 - R.I.P.

Hollywood legend and child star Mickey Rooney died yesterday, Sunday 6th April, of natural causes aged 93 at his north Hollywood home surrounded by his family. Born in 1920, Ninian Joseph Yule Jnr. as he was Christened, first appeared on screen aged five in the silent film 'Not to be Trusted' in 1926, and so began a career that would span nine decades and take in over 200 film credits, well in excess of 320 acting credits, seven Production credits, four for Directing and some 30 or so for Soundtrack.

Right up to his death he was still making movies with 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' in production, and a couple of others in pre-production. He acting credits and those that were certainly more noteworthy included 1944's 'National Velvet', 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' both in 1963, 'The Black Stallion' in 1979, 'Night at The Museum' in 2006, and 'The Muppets' in 2011. 

During his long career he starred with the likes of Judy Garland (in ten films), Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and he married Ava Gardner (one of his eight, yes eight, wives!). His male leads included Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Spencer Tracey, Bob Hope, Michael Caine, William Holden and Ben Stiller. For a brief time in the late 1930's he was the highest paid actor in the world grossing in excess of US$300K a year and well ahead of his contemporaries at that time. A dwindling career as the century wore on and seven divorces (one marriage lasted just 100 days!) cost him dearly and at one point he filed for bankruptcy and had to accept a myriad of 'B' grade roles to pay the bills. But he persevered, and as a jobbing actor continued on regardless right up to the end.

He was awarded two Oscar's - in 1938 a special 'Juvenille Award' for his contribution as a child actor to the industry, and in 1982 an 'Honorary Award' for 50 years in the business. He was nominated for the golden statue four other times, won two Golden Globes, one Emmy Award and numerous others.

A remarkable career, the likes of which are unlikely to be repeated - a man dedicated to his craft for   his entire 93 year lifetime!

   Mickey Rooney - R.I.P.

   1920 - 2014

  

   -Steve, at Odeon Online-