What Was Mickey Rooney Cause of Death? What is His Legacy?

Mickey Rooney was one of the most prolific and versatile actors in Hollywood history, with a career spanning nearly nine decades and more than 300 films. He was also one of the last surviving stars of the silent film era and a top box-office attraction in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He died on April 6, 2014, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of entertainment and a tumultuous personal life.

What Was Mickey Rooney Cause of Death?

According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, Rooney died of natural causes in his Studio City home. He is said to have also suffered from complications of diabetes. Rooney had been in declining health for several years and had moved in with his son Mark and his wife Charlene in 2012, after separating from his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin.

Mark said that his father had finally found happiness, health, and a feeling of safety with them, and was able to enjoy life again. Rooney had just completed his last movie role in the next installment of “Night at the Museum” with Ben Stiller and had plans for more projects.

The Twilight Zone shared a post on Twitter:

Sorry to hear about the death of Mickey Rooney, a legend who starred in numerous Rod Serling scripts over the years. pic.twitter.com/FMmMDwFvsL

— The Twilight Zone (@TheNightGallery) April 7, 2014

What Were Mickey Rooney’s Career Highlights?

Rooney began his acting career shortly after his first birthday, appearing on vaudeville stages with his parents. He made his film debut at the age of six in the silent “Not to Be Trusted”, and followed it up with several shorts based on the “Mickey McGuire” comic strip. He adopted the stage name Mickey Rooney when he was seven, and became a child star.

At 14 and 15, he played Puck in the play and subsequent film adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. At 16, he began playing Andy Hardy, a wholesome teenager in a series of 16 films that epitomized mainstream American self-image.

He gained critical acclaim and recognition at 17 as Whitey Marsh in “Boys Town”, and at 19 as Mickey Moran in “Babes in Arms”, for which he received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He was also awarded a special Academy Juvenile Award in 1939.

He received his second Oscar nomination for his role as Homer Macauley in “The Human Comedy” in 1943. Rooney was known for his versatility and energy, as he could sing, dance, play various instruments, do impressions, and perform comedy and drama. He had a famous screen partnership with Judy Garland, with whom he starred in several musicals, such as “Babes in Arms”, “Strike Up the Band”, and “Girl Crazy”.

He also worked with other notable actors and directors, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Clarence Brown in “National Velvet”, Spencer Tracy in “Boys Town” and “Men of Boys Town”, Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, Laurence Olivier in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Entertainer”, Orson Welles in “The Black Rose”, Anthony Quinn in “Requiem for a Heavyweight”, and Francis Ford Coppola in “The Black Stallion”.

He earned four Oscar nominations and received two honorary statues during his career. He also won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his title role in the television movie “Bill” in 1982.

Check out some of the most recent trending articles:

• Nipsey Hussle Cause of Death: A Tragic End for a Beloved Rapper
• Taylor Hawkins Cause of Death Revealed: How Did He Become a Rock Star?

What Challenges and Controversies Did Actor Rooney Face in His Personal Life?

Despite his professional success, Rooney faced many challenges and controversies in his personal life. He was married eight times, most famously to actress Ava Gardner as his first wife. His marriages were often short-lived and plagued by infidelity, abuse, addiction, and financial troubles. He had nine children from five of his marriages, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He also had a strained relationship with some of his children, who accused him of neglecting them or exploiting them for money. He filed for bankruptcy twice, in 1962 and 1996, due to mismanagement of his finances by his agents, managers, wives, and stepchildren. He claimed that he lost most of his fortune to gambling, alimony, taxes, and legal fees.

He also struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction for many years, which affected his health and career. In his later years, Rooney became an advocate for elder abuse prevention, after revealing that he had been abused by his stepson Chris Aber, and his wife Christina Aber for several years.

He testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in 2011, saying that they had deprived him of food and medication, stolen his money and identity, threatened him with violence, and isolated him from his family and friends.

He obtained a restraining order against them and sued them for $2.8 million in damages. He also separated from his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin, who allegedly sided with the Abers and also abused him. He moved in with his son Mark and his wife Charlene, who took care of him until his death.

What is Mickey Rooney’s Legacy?

Mickey Rooney was one of the most enduring and influential figures in Hollywood history, who entertained generations of audiences with his talent and charisma. He was a pioneer of the film industry, who witnessed and participated in its evolution from silent films to talkies, from black-and-white to color, and from the studio system to independent cinema.

He was also a trailblazer of the television and stage mediums, who appeared in numerous shows and plays, such as “The Mickey Rooney Show”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Sugar Babies”, and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.

He received many honors and awards for his contributions to the entertainment world, such as the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also recognized by the Guinness World Records as having the longest career of any actor in history.

Mickey Rooney was a legend who left behind a rich and diverse body of work that will continue to inspire and delight future generations. He was also a human being who faced many hardships and mistakes but never gave up on his passion and dreams. He once said, “You always pass failure on your way to success”. He was a star who shone brightly until the end.