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Rooney was born into a vaudeville family. He moved into film in 1927, making his name with a series of over forty silent two-reel comedies (1927 to 1933) where he was the 'Toonerville Trolley' cartoon character, Mickey McGuire.
He legally changed his name to Mickey Rooney in 1932. In 1934 he signed to MGM and was educated at the studio's School for Professional Children. His successful role as Andy Hardy in A Family Affair (1937) led to fourteen further films featuring that character from 1938 to 1946.
His fame peaked in World War II with a string of successful musicals with Judy Garland, including the Oscar nominated Babes in Arms (1939) as well as more serious roles in films such as The Human Comedy (1943) and National Velvet (1944). After his return from the service Rooney's career slumped. He appeared in a number of indifferent films; his last top-billed picture was Words and Music in 1948. The Mickey Rooney Show, also known as Hey Mulligan, appeared on NBC for 39 episodes during 1954 and 1955. In the 1960s Rooney returned to theatrical entertainment, but he kept on accepting film roles, frequently in undistinguished movies, but also including better work in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) and The Black Stallion (1979).
He was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1938 and a lifetime achievement Oscar in 1983.
He was married and divorced seven times (including to actresses Ava Gardner and Martha Vickers) before marrying his current wife, January Chamberlin, in 1978. He has five sons and four daughters.