"The Mick" in 2000

Born Joe Yule, Jr., in Brooklyn, NY. Compact, energetic performer who made his stage debut at the age of 18 months as part of his family's vaudeville act. Rooney made his film debut at age six and, from 1927 to 1933, starred in over 50 episodes of the two-reel comedy series, "Mickey McGuire." It is said that Walt Disney was so impressed with youngster Mickey that he actually named his famous mouse after him. He adopted the name "Mickey Rooney" in 1932 and began landing bit parts in feature films, signing with MGM in 1934. Rooney was loaned out to Warner Bros. in 1935 and played a memorable Puck in the Max Reinhardt/William Dieterle production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. He enjoyed a popular, 15-film tenure as the brash title character in the "Andy Hardy" series (1937-47), turned in a fine performance in BOYS TOWN (1938) and enjoyed great success opposite Judy Garland in a number of breezy musicals. His roles in THE HUMAN COMEDY (1943) and NATIONAL VELVET (1944) confirmed his status as the nation's most popular film star. Rooney established himself as a solid character actor in the postwar period, particularly with his roles in BABY FACE NELSON (1957) and BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961). He made a triumphant stage debut in the late 1970s in the glitzy Broadway musical, Sugar Babies, and won widespread acclaim for his sensitive portrait of a retarded man in the 1981 TV drama, "Bill". Rooney's eight wives have included actresses Ava Gardner and Martha Vickers. His fifth wife and mother of four of his ten children, Barbara Thomason, was killed in a murder-suicide by actor Milos Milocevic in 1966. In his autobiography, Life Is Too Short (1991), Rooney made a passing reference to a brothel called "The T & M Studio" where the women were look-alikes for Hollywood starlets. There were rumors of such a brothel, but before Rooney's book, no one would ever admit to having been there, or even verify its existence. Rooney swore that Groucho Marx had taken him there (only once), and that Groucho appeared to be on a first-name basis with many of the employees. The brothel, or one very much like it, contributed to the main plot line of L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997).

Special Award 1938: (w. Deanna Durbin) "For their significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth, and as juvenile players setting a high standard of ability and achievement." Winners presented Miniature Statuettes  Nominated for Actor 1939: BABES IN ARMS  Nominated for Actor 1943: THE HUMAN COMEDY  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1956: THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1979: THE BLACK STALLION  Honorary and Other Awards 1982: "In recognition of his 60 years of versatility in a variety of memorable film performances." Winner presented a Statuette. 4 nominations, 1 Special Award, 1 Honorary Award