Just breaking on social media: Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney died today at the age of 93. Another bright light from the industry's Golden Age has gone dark, but not before spending most of the past century entertaining America and the world. Pete's Dragon. The movies with Judy Garland. It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. His long history of television appearances through the decades. What a guy. What a personality. What a career. Thanks for everything.
Dang. I figured he'd bury us all. Mostly, I remember him from his guest appearance on The Simpsons in the episode with the Radioactive Man movie. "Jiminy Jillickers!"
That's three cast members of It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World we've lost recently. First the great, unparalleled Jonathan Winters. Then Sid Caesar a few short weeks ago. Now Mickey. At least we have all their films and TV appearances to remember their collective genius with.
Wow, 93; that's one hell of a run. He was a show business legend. Andy Hardy has put on his last show.
Mickey, the great Buddy Hackett and Jim Backus in a plane cockpit. They don't make 'em like this anymore. [yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i415QwSj0Og[/yt]
I really thought Mickey would make it to a 100, if just for his energy. A gifted talent. Perhaps the most appropriate film title is Andy Hardy Comes Home. Mickey hams it up with Jayne Mansfield at an awards show. Unfortunately this clip has a huge distracting watermark from the uploader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vFBXCTWe_E
A celebrity whose young adult years preceeded the Atomic Bomb, Manned Space Flight, Civil Rights, Women's Lib, Computers and so much else that this world takes for granted is from a bygone era that almost seems impossible to still have living representatives of, in the first place. Though he lived a full and lengthy life, it's a loss of Living History, to all of us. The world's been losing too many celebrities, recently, as it is. Let's hope this trend slows down, somewhat ...
He was a huge talent that entertained generations who will not soon forget him and his fine work. RIP
So true. Enjoy them while we can, because once they're all gone we'll likely never witness their like again.
Saw him at a UK autograph event about 5 years ago. He was one hell of a miserable ass. He had a face like thunder, no queue, wouldn't talk to anyone, and was just sitting behind a table doing pre signed photos. The wonderfully friendly Ernest Borgnine was a few yards away, and the difference between the two of them couldn't have been greater, both in personality and queue length.