Remembering Mickey Rooney: A Hollywood Legend

A Vintage Nerd, Mickey Rooney, Old Hollywood Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Classic Film Blog
Another classic film icon's star has dimmed. Mickey Rooney passed on yesterday at the age of 93 and what a life legacy he left behind.

He was born Joseph Yule, Jr on September 23, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 17M old his parents included him in their vaudeville act and he never looked back. The stage was his home and his career spanned his entire lifetime. He was the most popular in the 1930's and 1940's with the Andy Hardy films. He worked with all of Hollywood's most famous stars; Carmen Miranda, Elizabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Melvyn Douglas, Freddie Bartholomew, and Donna Reed, just to name a few.

One co-star that people often associate him with is Judy Garland. They did nine films together but it was the friendship and bond between them that ran deep and lasted until her passed in 1969.

A Vintage Nerd, Mickey Rooney, Old Hollywood Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Classic Film Blog
A Vintage Nerd, Mickey Rooney, Old Hollywood Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Classic Film Blog
A Vintage Nerd, Mickey Rooney, Old Hollywood Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Classic Film Blog
Rooney was also known not just for his vast career in Hollywood but also because of his multiple marriages. He often used humor when speaking of his several ex-wives which I think showed his desire to lighten the mood. His most famous ex-wife was his first wife, Ava Gardner. And just recently separated himself from his eighth wife due to elder abuse inflicted by her son and I am sure many other reasons. The son he was living with has recently said that Rooney was at his happiest living with him and eager to continue working.

Did you know that Mickey Rooney was one of the few silent film actors we still had with us? There are so few left. His first film was in 1927, a silent called Orchids and Ermine when he was just seven years old.

Although I am left saddened by his passing, I am also left feeling inspired and invigorated to live my own life as full as he did. He had an amazing career that lasted his entire life, he had eight surviving children (a son passed on in 2006), nineteen grandchildren, and multiple great-grand children. He was revered in field of acting and demonstrated a longevity that very few are able to obtain. I admire that.

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2 comments :

  1. aw, i was so sad when i heard, too. He is definitely one of my very favorite actors and wonderful with Judy Garland. I just adore his smile and bright eyes.
    In a way, i feel the same way that you described in your last paragraph, saddened, but inspired.
    ~Abigail

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  2. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that he's passed on. After being a part of Hollywood and popular culture for nearly a century, he was one of those movie land mainstays that you couldn't help but think might somehow be with us forever (I felt the same way about Andy Griffith).

    RIP, Mickey, thank you for the countless laughs and moments of cinema magic.

    ♥ Jessica

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