Mickey Rooney Net Worth - Pulptastic
What was Mickey Rooney’s net worth and salary?
Mickey Rooney, the film and stage actor known for his role as Andy Hardy, had a net worth of $20,000 at the time of his death in 2014. Despite appearing in over 300 films and winning numerous awards, including an Academy Award and an Emmy, Rooney’s estate was only valued at $18,000 after his passing.
Rooney was married eight times and had 11 children. In his later years, he became a vocal advocate fighting elder abuse, specifically with regards to their finances. Before he died, Rooney was forced to sue his own stepson for grossly mismanaging his estate and losing millions of dollars.
Mickey Rooney’s Hollywood Success
During the late 1930s, Mickey Rooney was the biggest and highest-paid star in Hollywood, earning $150,000 per year, which is equivalent to $2.5 million per year today. In 1949, he signed a five-film deal with MGM for $25,000 per movie, which was then-unprecedented and equivalent to earning around $275,000 per movie today.
Mickey Rooney’s Struggles with Finances
Despite his success in Hollywood, Mickey Rooney struggled financially throughout his life. He made bad investments and went through eight marriages, which contributed to his financial woes. Rooney declared bankruptcy twice and at the time of his death, his total estate was only valued at $18,000.
In addition to his financial struggles, Rooney also owed large medical bills and back taxes at the time of his death. Despite his fame and success, Rooney’s financial situation highlights the importance of making wise financial decisions and planning for the future.
Mickey Rooney’s Early Life and Career
Mickey Rooney, born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr. in 1920 in Brooklyn, was the only child of Scottish vaudevillian Joe Yule and former chorus girl Nellie W. Carter. After his parents separated, Rooney moved with his mother to Hollywood where he made his movie debut at age six in the short film “Not to be Trusted.” Rooney attended the Hollywood Professional School and later Fairfax High School.
Rooney’s first major starring role was as Mickey McGuire in a series of short films from 1927 to 1936. During this time, he appeared in films such as “Fast Companions,” “My Pal, the King,” “The Big Cage,” “The Chief,” “Love Birds,” “Blind Date,” and “Reckless.” In 1935, he gained attention for portraying Puck in the Warner Bros. adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Mickey Rooney’s Film Career
In 1937, Rooney found success playing the girl-crazy teenager Andy Hardy in “A Family Affair,” leading to 13 additional films in the series. He also starred with Judy Garland in popular musicals and received an Oscar nomination at 19 for “Babes in Arms.” Rooney’s dramatic breakthrough came in 1938’s “Boys Town,” for which he received a special Juvenile Academy Award. He became the biggest box-office star between 1939 and 1941 and received another Oscar nomination for “The Human Comedy” in 1943.
Rooney also drew acclaim for his part in “National Velvet” in 1944, starring alongside a young Elizabeth Taylor.
Mickey Rooney’s Military Service and Struggle to Regain Screen Success
In 1944, Rooney was drafted into the military and spent almost two years entertaining troops in the US and Europe. He received the Bronze Star Medal and other military honors for his service.
Upon returning to civilian life, Rooney struggled to regain his previous screen success. He could no longer play teenage characters and his height (5′ 2″) made it difficult for him to compete with Hollywood’s leading men. Some of his few films during this time included “Killer McCoy,” “Summer Holiday,” and “Words and Music,” his final film with Judy Garland. He briefly starred on the CBS radio program “Shorty Bell” and reprised his role of Andy Hardy on a radio version of “The Hardy Family.”
Mickey Rooney’s Career Highlights
Mickey Rooney’s career had its ups and downs, but he bounced back in 1954 with his first television series, “The Mickey Rooney Show.” Throughout the 50s, he starred in several films and earned his third competitive Oscar nomination for “The Bold and the Brave.” In the 60s, Rooney had prominent roles in classic films like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and made appearances on popular TV shows like “Wagon Train.” He also launched his own sitcom, “Mickey,” in 1964.
In the late 70s and 80s, Rooney found success on Broadway with his debut in the musical “Sugar Babies,” which earned him both Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Actor. He also received his fourth and final Oscar nomination for his role in the film “The Black Stallion.” In 1981, Rooney won both Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for his performance in the made-for-television film “Bill.” In 1983, he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievements.
Mickey Rooney’s Later Years
Despite financial struggles related to gambling and family members, Mickey Rooney continued to perform in stage productions such as “The Will Rogers Follies” and films like “Babe: Pig in the City.” He declared bankruptcy for the second time in 1996 but still appeared in a musical revue with his wife from 2005 to 2011. Rooney also made cameo appearances in “Night at the Museum” and “The Muppets” before reprising his role in the “Night at the Museum” sequel, “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” in 2014.
Mickey Rooney’s Eight Marriages and Large Family
Rooney was married eight times, beginning with his marriage to actress Ava Gardner in 1942. He divorced Gardner the following year and went on to marry Betty Jane Phillips in 1944, with whom he had two sons. They divorced after the end of World War II. Next, Rooney married actress Martha Vickers in 1949, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1951. His fourth marriage, to actress Elaine Mahnken, lasted from 1952 to 1958.
In 1966, while Rooney was shooting a film in the Philippines, his fifth wife, actress and model Barbara Ann Thomason, was murdered by stuntman Milos Milos, with whom she had been having an affair. Milos Milos subsequently killed himself. Following this, Rooney married Thomason’s best friend, Marge Lane, in a marriage that only lasted 100 days. He was subsequently betrothed to Carolyn Hockett from 1969 to 1975.
Finally, in 1978 he wed his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin. Although they separated in 2012, their marriage lasted until Rooney’s passing in 2014. Overall, Rooney had nine children, two stepchildren, 19 grandchildren, and many more great-grandchildren.
