Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney began his show business career as a toddler making his way on stage to steal the applause. He entered the movies not long afterward in the Mickey McGuire series (which prompted him to change his name from Joe Yule Jr. to Mickey Rooney). His talents won him many memorable roles throughout the years and his popularity peaked when he was a teenager when he appeared regularly in the Andy Hardy series and in musicals opposite Judy Garland.

During WWII, Rooney entertained the troops overseas and upon returning to Hollywood found his career in decline. He made sporadic films with little fanfare and seemed to be washed up. However, he continued to find work in television.

In 1981, Rooney played the title role in Bill, a film about a mentally disabled man, and the performance brought him a Golden Globe award. His boundless energy kept him in the spotlight in various stage shows.

In 2011, Rooney appeared before a US Senate committee on the topic of elder abuse claiming that he was the victim of such abuse by members of his own family.

Rooney was married eight times and had nine children.