Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor, vaudevillian, comedian, producer, and radio personality. In a career spanning nine decades and continuing until shortly before his death, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the silent film era. At the height of a career that was marked by declines and comebacks, Rooney performed the role of Andy Hardy in a series of 16 films in the 1930s and 1940s that epitomized American family values. A versatile performer, he became a celebrated character actor later in his career. Laurence Olivier once said he considered Rooney "the best there has ever been". Clarence Brown, who directed him in two of his earliest dramatic roles, National Velvet and The Human Comedy, said he was "the closest thing to a genius I ever worked with". Rooney first performed in vaudeville as a child and made his film debut at the age of six. At 14, he played Puck in the play and later the 1935 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Critic David Thomson hailed his performance as "one of the cinema's most arresting pieces of magic". In 1938, he co-starred in Boys Town. At 19, he was the first teenager to be nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in Babes in Arms, and he was awarded a special Academy Juvenile Award in 1939. At the peak of his career between the ages of 15 and 25, he made 43 films, which made him one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's most consistently successful actors and a favorite of MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer. Rooney was the top box-office attraction from 1939 to 1941 and one of the best-paid actors of that era, but his career would never again rise to such heights. Drafted into the Army during World War II, he served nearly two years entertaining over two million troops on stage and radio and was awarded a Bronze Star for performing in combat zones. Returning from the war in 1945, he was too old for juvenile roles but too short to be an adult movie star, and was unable to get as many starring roles. Nevertheless, Rooney's popularity was renewed with well-received supporting roles in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and The Black Stallion (1979). In the early 1980s, he returned to Broadway in Sugar Babies and again became a celebrated star. Rooney made hundreds of appearances on TV, including dramas, variety programs, and talk shows, and won an Emmy in 1982 plus a Golden Globe for his role in Bill (1981).
Acted in 288
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Mr. Louis
- 2014
- 2012
Driving Me Crazy
Mr. Cohen
- 2011
Night Club
Jerry Sherman
2000s
- 2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
(archive footage)
The Polio Crusade
Archive Footage (from March of Dimes)
- 2008
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
Santa Claus (voice)
Lost Stallions: The Journey Home
Chief
- 2007
A Christmas Too Many
Grandpa
- 2006
Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star
Movie
The Thirsting
Savy
- 2005
The Happy Elf
Santa Claus
- 2004
To Kill a Mockumentary
Max
Illusion Infinity
Simon / Henry, Sr.
- 2003
Broadway's Lost Treasures
Mickey (segment "Sugar Babies")
- 2002
Cleavage
Movie
- 2001
- 2000
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy (archive footage)
Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights
Sage
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
Griffith
Animals with the Tollkeeper
Tollkeeper
- 1997
Conan
Gobe
Killing Midnight
Professor Mort Sang
- 1996
E! True Hollywood Story
TV
- 1995
Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
O.B. Taggart
Brothers' Destiny
Father Flanagan
- 1994
Revenge of the Red Baron
Grandpa Spencer
Making Waves
Gabriel
- 1993
The Milky Life
Barry Reilly
- 1992
The Legend of Wolf Mountain
Pat Jensen
Jack's Place
TV
MGM: When the Lion Roars
TV
- 1991
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
Joe Petto
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Junion
Sweet Justice
Zeke
- 1990
Home for Christmas
Elmer
Adventures of the Black Stallion
Henry Dailey
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
Bluegrass
John Paul Jones · 2 episodes
- 1987
- 1986
Lightning, the White Stallion
Barney Ingram
Little Spies
James Turner
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
Jack Bergan
- 1985
- 1984
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Mike Halligan
- 1983
Bill: On His Own
Bill Sackter
O’Malley
Mickey O’Malley
- 1982
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
The Emperor of Peru
The Engineer
One of the Boys
Oliver Nugent · 13 episodes
- 1981
Bill
Bill Sackter
Leave 'Em Laughing
Jack Thum
- 1980
My Kidnapper, My Love
The Maker
From Raquel with Love
Paradise Cab Company cabbie
1970s
- 1979
Arabian Adventure
Daad El Shur
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
Santa Claus (voice)
Donovan's Kid
Bailey
- 1978
The Magic of Lassie
Gus
- 1977
- 1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
Rachel's Man
Laban
- 1975
From Hong Kong with Love
Marty
Ace of Hearts
Papa Joe
The Intruder
Capt. Jenkins
- 1974
- 1973
The Godmothers
Rocky Mastrasso
- 1972
Pulp
Preston Gilbert
Fol-de-Rol
The Executioner / Noah
Evil Roy Slade
Nelson L. Stool
- 1971
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
Mickey Rooney (uncredited)
The Manipulator
B.J. Lang
- 1970
Hollywood Blue
Movie
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Indian Tom
1960s
- 1969
80 Steps to Jonah
Wilfred Bashford
The Comic
Cockeye
The Extraordinary Seaman
Cook 3 / C W.J. Oglethorpe
- 1968
Skidoo
George 'Blue Chips' Packard
Vienna
Movie
- 1966
The Devil in Love
Adramelek
- 1965
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
Peachy Keane
Twenty-Four Hours to Kill
Norman Jones
- 1964
Mickey
Mickey Grady · 17 episodes
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
Everything's Ducky
Kermit 'Beetle' McKay
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Mike Zampini
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Johnny Burke
- 1960
Platinum High School
Steven Conway
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
Nick Lewis / The Devil
1950s
- 1959
The Big Operator
Little Joe Braun
- 1958
Andy Hardy Comes Home
Andy Hardy
A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed
Gus Harris
- 1957
Baby Face Nelson
Lester M. 'Baby Face Nelson' Gillis
Pinocchio
Pinocchio
Operation Mad Ball
MSgt. Yancy Skibo
Mr. Broadway
George M. Cohan
The Comedian
Sammy Hogarth
- 1956
Magnificent Roughnecks
Frank Sommers
Francis in the Haunted House
David Prescott
The Bold and the Brave
Willie Dooley
- 1955
The Twinkle In God's Eye
Rev. William Macklin II
- 1954
The Atomic Kid
Barnaby 'Blix' Waterberry
Drive a Crooked Road
Eddie Shannon
- 1953
A Slight Case of Larceny
Augustus "Geechy" Cheevers
All Ashore
Francis 'Moby' Dickerson
General Electric Theater
Al Roberts · 1 episode
- 1952
Off Limits
Herbert Tuttle
Sound Off
Mike Donnelly
- 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Red McGivney · 1 episode
The Strip
Stanley Maxton
- 1950
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
Freddie Frisby
The Fireball
Johnny Casar
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
Summer Holiday
Richard Miller
- 1947
Killer McCoy
Tommy McCoy / Killer McCoy
- 1946
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy
- 1945
Mickey the Great
Mickey McGuire
- 1944
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
Andy Hardy
- 1943
Girl Crazy
Danny Churchill, Jr.
Thousands Cheer
Mickey Rooney
The Human Comedy
Homer Macauley
- 1942
A Yank at Eton
Timothy Dennis
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy
- 1941
Babes on Broadway
Tommy Williams
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy
Men of Boys Town
Whitey Marsh
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
Andy Hardy
- 1940
Rodeo Dough
Mickey Rooney
Young Tom Edison
Thomas Alva 'Tom' Edison
1930s
- 1939
Judge Hardy and Son
Andy Hardy
Babes in Arms
Mickey Moran
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Andy Hardy
The Hardys Ride High
Andy Hardy
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
Mickey Rooney
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn
- 1938
Out West with the Hardys
Andy Hardy
Stablemates
Mickey
Lord Jeff
Terry O'Mulvaney
Hold That Kiss
Chick Evans
Judge Hardy's Children
Andy Hardy
Love Is a Headache
Mike O'Toole
March of Dimes
Mickey
- 1937
You're Only Young Once
Andy Hardy
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
Timmie Donovan
Live, Love and Learn
Jerry Crump
Hoosier Schoolboy
Shockey Carter
Captains Courageous
Dan Troop
Slave Ship
Swifty
A Family Affair
Andy Hardy
- 1936
Down the Stretch
Snapper Sinclair
Riffraff
Jimmy
- 1935
A Dream Comes True
Puck (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ah, Wilderness!
Tommy Miller
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Mickey Rooney
Rendezvous
Country Boy (uncredited)
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Puck
The Healer
Jimmy
Reckless
Eddie
The County Chairman
Freckles
- 1934
Death on the Diamond
Mickey
Chained
Boy Shipboard Swimmer (uncredited)
Hide-Out
William 'Willie' Miller
Blind Date
Freddie Taylor
The Lost Jungle
Lead Boy at Circus
Half a Sinner
Willie Clark
Mickey's Medicine Man
Mickey McGuire
Manhattan Melodrama
Blackie as a Boy
Love Birds
Gladwyn Tootle
I Like it That Way
Messenger Boy
Mickey's Rescue
Mickey McGuire
Beloved
Tommy, a Violin Student
Mickey's Minstrels
Mickey McGuire
- 1933
Mickey's Covered Wagon
Mickey McGuire
The World Changes
Otto Peterson as a Child
Mickey's Tent Show
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Touchdown
Mickey McGuire
Broadway to Hollywood
Ted Hackett III as Child
The Big Chance
Arthur Wilson
Mickey's Disguises
Mickey McGuire
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
Freckles (uncredited)
The Big Cage
Jimmy O'Hara
Mickey's Race
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Ape Man
Mickey McGuire
- 1932
Officer Thirteen
Buddy Malone
Fast Companions
Midge
My Pal, the King
King Charles V
High Speed
Buddy Whipple (uncredited)
Sin's Pay Day
Chubby Dennis
Mickey's Busy Day
Mickey McGuire
- 1931
The Hunter
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (voice) (uncredited)
Mickey's Thrill Hunters
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Wildcats
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Rebellion
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Stampede
Mickey McGuire
- 1930
Mickey's Warriors
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Whirlwinds
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Luck
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Champs
Mickey McGuire
1920s
- 1929
Mickey's Big Moment
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Mix-Up
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Surprise
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Midnite Follies
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Northwest Mounted
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Brown Derby
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Menagerie
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Explorers
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Great Idea
Mickey McGuire
- 1928
Mickey's Big Game Hunt
Mickey McGuire
Mickey the Detective
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Rivals
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Movies
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Wild West
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Little Eva
Mickey McGuire
Mickey in School
Mickey McGuire
- 1927
Mickey's Battle
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Eleven
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Pals
Mickey McGuire
Mickey's Circus
Mickey McGuire
Orchids and Ermine
Mickey McGuire
Wrote 3
1990s
- 1995
Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
Writer
1980s
- 1983
Ace Crawford, Private Eye
Writer
1970s
- 1973
The Godmothers
Writer
Produced 2
1950s
- 1954
The Atomic Kid
Producer
- 1951
Directed 2
1960s
- 1960
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
Director
1950s
- 1951
My True Story
Director
Other crew 1
Appearances73
2010s
- 2019
Marilyn and I
Self (archive footage)
- 2017
Ava Gardner: Life Is Bigger Than the Movies
Self (archive footage)
- 2014
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker
Self
- 2010
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
Self
2000s
- 2009
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
Self (archive footage)
- 2008
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
- 2006
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Self (archive footage)
- 2005
Judy Garland Duets
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self - Actor (voice)
1990s
- 1998
Internet Love
Self
- 1996
Private Screenings
Self · 1 episode
- 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self
- 1994
That's Entertainment! III
Self - Host
The Our Gang Story
Self (archive footage)
A Century of Cinema
Self
- 1991
Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
Self
- 1990
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1989
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen
Self
- 1986
There Must Be a Pony
Himself (uncredited)
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
Self
- 1985
- 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler
Self
- 1982
Night of 100 Stars
Self
Hollywood’s Children
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
- 1981
Senior Trip
Self
1970s
- 1978
Mickey's 50
Self
- 1976
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
Narrator
- 1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
- 1974
That's Entertainment!
Self - Host / Narrator
- 1972
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
- 1971
1960s
- 1968
- 1967
The Danny Thomas Hour
Self · 1 episode
Lionpower from MGM
Self - Cook 3 / Self - C W. J. Oglethorpe (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1964
- 1963
The Jerry Lewis Show
Self · 1 episode
- 1962
- 1961
1950s
- 1959
- 1957
- 1956
- 1955
- 1954
- 1953
- 1952
- 1950
1940s
- 1948
- 1944
- 1943
Show-Business at War
Self
- 1940
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Self
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
Trifles of Importance
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Self
1930s
- 1939
From the Ends of the Earth
Self
- 1938
Hollywood Handicap
Himself
Another Romance of Celluloid
Self (uncredited)