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thatcrazycajunAfter a long life (to the ripe old age of 93!) and a career almost as long and tumultuous, multi-talented entertainer Mickey Rooney—actor, singer, dancer, voiceover man and storyteller—has died of as-yet-unspecified causes at his North Hollywood home yesterday. The Los Angeles Times has an obituary here.
From his very earliest days (literally; at 18 months he was already toddling on a vaudeville stage with his parents), Mr. Rooney entertained us all so much for so long it's not even funny (although most of the time he surely was). Even after child and then teen stardom faded and personal problems with marriages and money (he walked up the aisle no less than eight times, prompting him to joke, "My marriage license reads, 'To whom it may concern'"), he was still able to reinvent himself as a character actor and voice artist. My personal favorite perf of his is his voicing of the title character in the classic Rankin-Bass animated TV special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town; but he had so many others you could spend at least a full day or two watching them before you ran across a single dud—and I'd bet real money you wouldn't find one.
When you have talents no less than Cary Grant, Anthony Quinn and Sir Laurence freakin' Olivier all name you as the best actor they know in Hollywood, your career has to have had something going for it besides longevity and perseverance—though the Mick had both and to spare. He passed away peacefully, from all accounts, surrounded by his family; deepest and most sincere condolences to them, as well as his many friends, colleagues and fans. And to his own eternal soul (should he or any of us turn out to actually have one), wherever it may now reside: thank you, sir, and I pray you have at last found peace.
From his very earliest days (literally; at 18 months he was already toddling on a vaudeville stage with his parents), Mr. Rooney entertained us all so much for so long it's not even funny (although most of the time he surely was). Even after child and then teen stardom faded and personal problems with marriages and money (he walked up the aisle no less than eight times, prompting him to joke, "My marriage license reads, 'To whom it may concern'"), he was still able to reinvent himself as a character actor and voice artist. My personal favorite perf of his is his voicing of the title character in the classic Rankin-Bass animated TV special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town; but he had so many others you could spend at least a full day or two watching them before you ran across a single dud—and I'd bet real money you wouldn't find one.
When you have talents no less than Cary Grant, Anthony Quinn and Sir Laurence freakin' Olivier all name you as the best actor they know in Hollywood, your career has to have had something going for it besides longevity and perseverance—though the Mick had both and to spare. He passed away peacefully, from all accounts, surrounded by his family; deepest and most sincere condolences to them, as well as his many friends, colleagues and fans. And to his own eternal soul (should he or any of us turn out to actually have one), wherever it may now reside: thank you, sir, and I pray you have at last found peace.
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Mastery is Shown in the Constraints
Date: 2014-04-07 09:35 am (UTC)