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Biography Joe Yule Jr., also known as Mickey Rooney, was born September 23, 1920in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, chorus girl Nell Carter and comicJoe Yule Sr., were vaudeville performers. Two weeks after Mickey'sbirth, he was on the road with the circuit traveling throughout NorthAmerica. At 17 months old, his talent surfaced by accident. While hidingunderneath a shoeshine stand in a Chicago theatre, fascinated by hisfather's act, he let out a sneeze. The noise caused a spotlight tofind him in the crowd. Not knowing what to do he stood up and blew onhis tiny toy mouth organ that was hanging on a string around his neck.The audience erupted with laughter. The show's manager got him apint-sized tuxedo after the incident, and young Mickey beganperforming small ballads and speeches on stage. Mickey's parents divorced when he was three. Mickey's mother took himto Kansas City, Missouri so they could live with her sister. Thenormal way of life they had there was short lived, for in 1924,Mickey's mother decided he would be perfect for Hal Roach's "Our Gang"series. They headed west to Hollywood so Mickey could try out for therole. Once there, however, they realized the pay was insufficient.Penniless, they drove back to Kansas City. They returned to Californiaagain in 1926. This time Mickey landed his first film role in themovie "Not To Be Trusted," in which he played a midget. His big break came in 1927 when he was cast for "Mickey 'Himself'McGuire," a series based on a comic strip. His mother wanted tolegally change his name to Mickey McGuire for publicity reasons, butthe comic's creator did not approve this. Instead she renamed himMickey Rooney after getting approval from his manager. In 1934, Mickeywas competing in a table tennis tournament in Los Angles and wasshowing off to the audience. MGM producer David O. Selznick noticedhis antics. He told MGM studio chief Louis Mayer that he had found akid that was a "goldmine" and begged him to sign Mickey to MGM. Mayerwas reluctant to do so. Selznick made a role for Mickey in the film"Manhattan Melodrama," which was later made famous when notoriousgangster John Dillinger was shot and killed while leaving the theaterwhere he had been watching it. Mickey's work on the film led him tobeing signed to a long-term contract with MGM. Although he had thereputation of being a troublemaker, he put his all into acting andbegan to receive rave reviews. Short in stature, but never short inconfidence, Mickey was the number one box office actor in the UnitedStates from 1939-41. He became known for his work on films such as: "AMidsummer Nights Dream," "Boys Town," "Babes In Arms" and the hit"Andy Hardy" series. He also starred with many Hollywood leadingladies including Lana Turner, Anne Rutherford and Judy Garland. During the 1950s, he worked on a television series called "HeyMulligan." It was short-lived and could not compete with the likes of"The Jackie Gleason Show " which was scheduled in the same time slot. Mickey never was one to settle down, which explains his eightmarriages. In 1942, he married Hollywood star Ava Gardner, but theysoon divorced. After entering the service for 21 months in 1944 toentertain the troops in WWII, he married Betty Jane Rase. Thismarriage was followed by similar experiences with Martha Vickers in1949 and Elaine Mahnken in 1952. In 1958 Rooney married Barbara AnnThompson, but tragedy struck when she was murdered in 1966. Stumblinginto deep depression, he married Barbara's friend, Marge Lane, whohelped him take care of his young children. The marriage lasted only100 days. He married Carolyn Hockett from 1969-1974, but financialinstability ended the relationship. Finally, in 1978 Rooney marriedJan Chamberlin, his current wife, with whom he lives in Los Angeles,California. In the early 1970s, Mickey undertook several short-lived financialventures and acted in various dinner theatres. He reluctantly wentback to the stage in the burlesque production of "Sugar Babies" in1979. The production ended up being a phenomenal success, and hiscareer was reborn. All in all, Mickey is a man with over 200 films under his belt. Heearned an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, a special JuvenileOscar he shared with Deana Durbin in 1939, five Oscar nominations, oneEmmy Award, five Emmy Nominations and two Golden Globes. Mickey'scareer has extended through many generations and in many differentdirections. Mickey Rooney: actor, survivor, inventor and Hollywoodliving legend.
Roger
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