Mickey Rooney, the Original Energizer Bunny

Mickey Rooney, born Joseph Yule Jr., was an actor, comedian, and all-around dynamo who took the entertainment industry by storm. A pint-sized performer with a larger-than-life personality, Rooney became a household name from the 1920s all the way through to the 21st century, but it wasn’t just his long career that made him a legend, it was his incredible energy.

Rooney was born on September 23, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, but it seemed like he was born with a set of drums instead of lungs. According to his family, Rooney was always bouncing around and making noise, much to their consternation. However, his boundless energy became his greatest asset when he began performing on stage, screen, and even in the ring!

In the 1940s, Rooney starred in a series of “Mickey and Judy” musicals with Judy Garland, and his performances were like nothing audiences had ever seen. Dancing, singing, and acting with feverish intensity, Rooney put on a show that would have made even the most athletic acrobat winded! He was like a human tornado, whirling around the stage with reckless abandon, and leaving everyone else in his wake. Once, during a dance number with Garland, he was so full of energy that he spun her right off the stage!

Of course, Rooney wasn’t just a performer, he was also an accomplished athlete. In the early 1930s, he began boxing under the name Mickey Yule and even won a few amateur fights. When World War II broke out, he joined the Army and was stationed at the Front Royal Signal Corps Photographic Center in Virginia, where he directed training films and continued to box.

Rooney’s energy was so infectious, it even touched the lives of those around him. His co-stars would often find themselves swept up in his energetic frenzy, and audiences couldn’t help but be energized by his performances. Some even credit him with single-handedly ending the Great Depression, although that might be a bit of a stretch.

In the end, Rooney lived a long and full life, passing away in 2014 at the age of 93. But his legacy lives on, not just in the movies and TV shows he starred in, but in the way he inspired people to embrace their own energy and passion. So here’s to you, Mickey Rooney, the original Energizer Bunny. Thanks for keeping us on our toes!