Mickey Rooney has passed away at 93

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:03pm

http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/06/mickey-rooney-dead/

I (like most of you, I'm sure) grew up loving the Andy Hardy movies, and of course all of the Judy/Mickey collaborations. Very sad to hear of his passing. Updated On: 4/6/14 at 11:03 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:15pm

So very sad. He taught so many people about comedy without ever realizing it. Say hi to Judy for us, Mickey.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:16pm

A happy memory...seeing Mickey and Ann Miller in SUGAR BABIES at the Mark Hellinger theatre in October 1981. To true "star" performers doing what they loved...entertaining the masses.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:23pm

Such a great entertainer and I also loved his voice acting in animated films. R.I.P.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:26pm

Sad to hear, but I'm sorry to say that the first thing that came to my mind after "Mickey and Judy" was his repellant performance in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, which he couldn't even admit was racist years later-- even claiming that those on the Pacific Rim loved him and it.

In any event, he had a rich life and made some wonderful ones before that, er, unfortunate Huckleberry.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:28pm

He and Judy were, in many ways, the loves of each others' lives.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:29pm

One of the last of The MGM golden years and the last survivor from Mad World has passed. Saw him as Will Rogers dad in the Follies and in Sugar Babies.


Andy Hardy goes home

R.I.P.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:36pm

RIP

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:42pm

What a Life..so talented. Rest in Peace Mickey

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:52pm

RIP to a legend.

Heaven's star is shining brighter tonight.

[amoni]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:03am

True Show Biz legend. Conquered movies, Broadway and TV. As kid I was introduced to him at The Westbury Music Fair in a musical about W.C. Fields called "W.C." also starring Bernadette Peters. Then at the movies with "Pete's Dragon", the big Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall, the re-release of the hilarious "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World " and the glorious "The Black Stallion". Then back to the theater with "Sugar Babies". There really wasn't anything he couldn't do. TCM, here I come. RIP and thanks for a lifetime of entertainment.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:13am

First Shirley Temple and now Mickey Rooney. Almost all of the greats are now gone. How horrible have they watched Hollywood and its "stars" (like the Kardshains and Jersey Shore) turn into trash. RIP, Mickey.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:31am

Totally unnecessary to make that comment jv92 even if that is what you first remembered-no need to share it on this sad day.
Thanks Mickey for many joyous musical memories.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:50am

Who's going to play Yoda in the new Star Wars film?


He will be missed.

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:01am

My first thought was remembering he portrayed one of the most offensive racist caricatures I've ever seen on film in Breakfast at Tiffany's.



Truly disgusting.



But besides that I guess he entertained people so...

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:09am

I saw Mickey Rooney in Sugar Babies in San Francisco before it went to Broadway. What a night. What a show. What a performer.
Oddly, my first viewings of Mickey Rooney were in two of his...ahem...lesser films, The Private Lives of Adam and Eve and How To Stuff A Wild Bikini. They were the afternoon movies in Los Angeles. But both are indelible. Later on, I would discover Andy Hardy and the Judy Garland collaborations. But, his performance in The Black Stallion still gives me chills. So subtle, understated - taking a nothing role and making it huge. Just the way he enters that film is so controlled, nuanced and gripping.
His personal life may have been a mess - he may not have been a nice person - he may have been annoying claiming things and pontificating - he may have made too many really bad movies - but I try to separate the person from the performer (otherwise, I could never listen to Frank Sinatra recordings)
I'm not the first to write that though he was short in stature he was bigger than life.
But for once, that is a true statement.

Updated On: 4/7/14 at 03:09 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:29am

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 7:26am

I saw him in Sugar Babies in London.

A very special performer. What a life!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 7:55am

It's really reductive to blame actors for yellow-face make up, especially at the moment of celebration of a 93-yearlong life and career.

Yellow face was used in Hollywood through 2007 and if you call Mickey Rooney a "racist" because of it, you have to call Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Jones, Fisher Stevens, Mary Pickford, Peter Sellers, Eddie Murphy, Ricardo Montalban, Peter Lorre, Tony Randall, Paul Muni and Rob Schneider racists as well.

Director Blake Edwards has taken responsibility for the outlandishness of the characterization, but it should not be looked at as the sum total of Mickey Rooney's work.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 8:14am

^ Well said, PJ.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 8:33am

With Mickey, Judy and Shirley there then HEAVEN'S BACKYARD is the place to be!! Bless them all.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:05pm

Somewhere up in heaven, Mickey, Ann Miller and Judy Garland are having a blast! RIP Mr. Rooney.