Mickey Rooney dies at 93

Hollywood veteran Mickey Rooney has died, aged 93. The actor passed away on Sunday (06Apr14). The cause of his death has not been released.
Rooney’s career spanned over nine decades. He started acting as a child and accumulated over 300 credits, including a series of films he made as America’s boy next door, Andy Hardy.
In the 1938 film Love Finds Andy Hardy, he appeared opposite Judy Garland, who went on to become his frequent co-star. The following year they appeared in the movie musical Babes in Arms, which earned Rooney an Oscar nomination.
He accumulated three more Academy Award nominations for his roles in The Human Comedy (1943), The Bold and the Brave (1956) and The Black Stallion (1979).
His other film credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, National Velvet, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Requiem for a Heavyweight.
Rooney also racked up a number of television appearances over the years, and fronted The Mickey Rooney Show in the 1950s and Mickey in the 1960s.
In 1981, he won his first Emmy Award for his portrayal of a mentally ill man in TV movie Bill.
He also was handed two honorary Oscars in 1938 and 1983, and two Golden Globe Awards.
One of the first tributes posted on Twitter.com on Sunday night (06Apr14) came from Alec Baldwin, who wrote, “An old pal of mine is gone. One of Hollywood’s rare gentlemen and a bientot (see you later) to Mickey Rooney.”
The veteran’s final years were marred by ill health and family squabbles over his fortune – in 2011 he was granted a temporary restraining order against his stepson Christopher Aber, amid claims he was being financially abused by unnamed family members.
Rooney’s financial affairs were handed over to lawyers following the legal drama, which inspired the actor to champion legislation to protect the elderly.
Last year (13), the veteran star sold his house of many years and separated from his eighth wife Jan. He leaves behind his last wife and eight children.