Happy Birthday to Classic Movie Legend, Mickey Rooney, born September 23, 1920!
Even though it’s a cliche phrase, I’m going to say it anyway: What can possibly be said about Mickey Rooney that hasn’t already been said? The man has won two different kinds of Academy Award (Juvenile and Honorary), two Golden Globes, an Emmy and on top of that, has a career that spans almost 90 years. Think about that for a second. For longer than the average life expectancy of most people, Mickey Rooney has been a part of what we like to call the crazy world of show business. So, not only do I want to celebrate this man’s 92nd birthday today, I want to also celebrate this man’s extraordinary and long career by posting a picture from him each decade he has worked in…which IS every decade he’s lived.
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Mickey Rooney in a publicity shot from the 1920’s.
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Mickey Rooney with frequent co-star and long time friend, Judy Garland in Babes in Arms (1939, Busby Berkley director)
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Mickey Rooney with Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet (1944, Clarence Brown director)
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Mickey Rooney in Bridges at Toko Ri (1954, Mark Robson, director)
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Mickey Rooney in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963, Stanley Kramer, director)
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Mickey Rooney in Pete’s Dragon (1977, Don Chaffey director)
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Mickey Rooney in the awesomely, amazing 1980’s sitcom The Golden Girls.
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Mickey Rooney in Babe: Pig in the City (1999, George Miler director)
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Mickey Rooney in Night at the Museum (2006, Shawn Levy director)
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Mickey Rooney in The Muppets (2011, James Bobin director)
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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub
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I’m not a big Mickey Rooney fan but there’s no denying his talent and staying power. Nice post and great pictures!
Aurora
I have been positively impressed by virtually all of Mickey Rooney’s performances, the obvious exception being Mr. Yunioshi in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and that was just an egregious case of wrongheaded casting. Otherwise, I invariably find his portrayals to be sincere, convincing, and filled with a uniquely human touch. Among my particular favorites are the entire Andy Hardy series, anything with Judy Garland alongside, “The Human Comedy,” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”
Mickey Rooney was one of the most talented individuals ever!!! “Babes in Arms” was one of the first movies that I ever saw! So, I have always loved Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland!!! I just wish that I could have met him to tell him so! I believe that his greatest performance was as a retarded man in a TV movie. May he always remain in our hearts!