With parents who were actors, it comes as no surprise that the young Joe Yule Jr. made his debut on the stage at the age of only 15 months. He became part of the family act. He became well known for a series of some 50 silent comedies between 1927 and 1933 in which he played Mickey McGuire, a comic-strip character. In 1934 he was signed to MGM. At Mrs. Lawlor's School for Professional Children he first met Judy Garland , whom he would play against in several movies in the future, including some of the 15 "Andy Hardy" films. He gave a memorable performance as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. With movies like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and National Velvet he reached the peak of his career during WWII. He was drafted during the war, and when he returned to Hollywood his fame and box-office draw had significantly decreased. Just like other child stars, he found it difficult to get a breakt as an adult actor. After Summer Holiday his career went downhill and the 1950s for him became a string of not-so-successful movies. He got his own TV show, The Mickey Rooney Show and toured nightclubs and theatres again in the 1960s. In 1983, following 60 years as an actor, he received the "Lifetime Achievment" Oscar."


How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965): $5,000
The Secret Invasion (1964): $50,000
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963): $100,000
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961): $25,000
Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958): $35,000
Baby Face Nelson (1957): $35,000
The Comedian (1957): $10,000
Drive a Crooked Road (1954): $75,000
A Slight Case of Larceny (1953): $75,000
All Ashore (1953): $75,000
Sound Off (1952): $75,000
Quicksand (1950): $25,000
The Big Wheel (1949): $25,000
National Velvet (1944): $2,500/week
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944): $2,500/week
Girl Crazy (1943): $68,000
Thousands Cheer (1943): $2,500/week
The Human Comedy (1943): $2,500/week
Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942): $2,500/week
A Yank at Eton (1942): $2,500
The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942): $2,500/week
Babes in Arms (1939): $23,000
Out West with the Hardys (1938): $5,000
Stablemates (1938): $5,000
Boys Town (1938): $5,000
Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938): $5,000
Lord Jeff (1938): $5,000
Hold That Kiss (1938): $5,000
Judge Hardy's Children (1938): $5,000
Love Is a Headache (1938): $5,000
You're Only Young Once (1937): $5,000
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937): $500/week
Live, Love and Learn (1937): $500/week
Hoosier Schoolboy (1937): $500/week
Slave Ship (1937): $500/week
Captains Courageous (1937): $500/week
The Devil Is a Sissy (1936): $500/week
Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936): $500/week
Ah, Wilderness! (1935): $500/week
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935): $500/week
Mickey the Detective (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Rivals (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Movies (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Triumph (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Wild West (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Nine (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Parade (1928): $250/week
Mickey's Battle (1927): $250/week
Mickey's Eleven (1927): $250/week
Mickey's Pals (1927): $250/week
Mickey's Circus (1927): $250/week
Not to Be Trusted (1926): $200

Mickey's son Teddy Rooney appeared with him in Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958), portraying - who else? - Andy Hardy Jr. Loves golf and the ponies. Father of Tim Rooney and Mickey Rooney Jr., from his marriage to Betty Jane Rase (B.J. Baker). Liza Minnelli wanted Rooney to do the eulogy at the funeral for her mother, Judy Garland in June of 1969, but decided against it because she felt that Rooney might not be able to get through it, given his and Garland's long and close friendship. In his autobiography, he made a passing reference to a brothel called "The T&M Studio," where the ladies were look-alikes for Hollywood starlets. There were rumors of such a brothel, but before Rooney's book no one would ever admit to ever having been there, or even verify its existence. He wrote that Groucho Marx had taken him there (only once), and Groucho appeared to be on a first-name basis with many of the ladies. Stepfather of Christopher Aber and Mark Aber Rooney. Was nominated for Broadway's 1980 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Sugar Babies." With movie appearances stretching from 1926 to 2007, totaling 81 years, his is the longest career in cinema history, surpassing that of Lillian Gish. Was number 7 on the World Poker Tour Invitational even though he had never played Texas Hold 'Em poker before. Father of Kelly Ann Rooney, Kerry Yule Rooney, Michael Joseph Kyle Rooney and Kimmy Sue Rooney, from his marriage to Carolyn Mitchell. Former roommate of Blake Edwards. Has two grandchildren (Shannon Rooney and Dominique Rooney) and two great-grandchildren (Kaitlyn Rooney and Hunter Rooney). Attended the 2006 Twilight Zone Convention at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, August 12-13, 2006. Attended the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan. (11 June 2004). He was a close friend of the Reverend Jerry Falwell. Has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star for movies is at 1718 Vine Street. His star for TV is at 6541 Hollywood Blvd. He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1718 Vine Street, for Radio at 6372 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Television at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. With the death of James Stewart on July 2, 1997, he is the last surviving entertainer of the forty-six caricatured in Hollywood Steps Out (1941).