Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney, who spent nearly his entire life in show business, sadly passed away on Sunday, at the grand old age of 93.

Born Joseph Yule, Jr. in Brooklyn, New York, he began his career aged just 18 months old, pushed onto the stage before he could even talk, in his parents' vaudeville act, Yule and Carter. From there his career spanned nine decades - almost the entire history of motion pictures, appearing on radio, in movies, TV shows, plays, casino - and gossip columns (especially after having being married eight times! Phew!)

In 1926, he made his first film, the silent "Not to Be Trusted", and his career has ended with his last movie role in the latest installment of "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller, but he hit the Hollywood stratosphere with his portrayal of Andy Hardy in more than a dozen films produced between 1937 and 1946. 

For me, I'm very fond of his work in the golden age of radio where he was most prominent in the 1940s and 1950s, especially so in the series, The Hardy Family, a situation comedy based on the famous Andy Hardy motion pictures, and which reflected the common joys and tribulations of the average family in wholesome, small town America. 

Andy Hardy was an energetic, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, forever caught up in capers and high jinks. Inevitably, his father Judge Hardy, would hear of his antics, give him a thorough ear-bashing and would reiterate the basics of fairness and morality, and everyone listening would learn a valuable lesson.

If you'd like to remember Mickey Rooney by listening to The Hardy Family, or any of the other shows he starred in, click here to view his star biography on RUSC - there's a wonderful selection.

Happy listening my friends,