Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule, Jr., September 23, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, chorus girl Nell Carter and comic Joe Yule, Sr., were vaudeville performers. Two weeks after Mickey’s birth, he was on the road with the circuit, traveling throughout North America.

Mickey’s big break came in 1927, when he was cast for “Mickey ‘Himself’ McGuire,” a series based on a comic strip. Short in stature, but never in confidence, Mickey was the number one box office actor in the United States from 1939-1941. He became known for his work on films such as: “A Midsummer Nights Dream,” “Boys Town,” “Babes In Arms” and the hit Andy Hardy series.

Mickey reluctantly went back to the stage in the burlesque production of "Sugar Babies" in 1979. The production ended up being a phenomenal success, and his career was reborn.

All in all, Mickey has appeared in more than 200 films. He earned an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, a special Juvenile Oscar he shared with Deana Durbin in 1939, five Oscar nominations, one Emmy Award, five Emmy Nominations and two Golden Globes.

In 1978, Rooney married Jan Chamberlain. They live in Los Angeles, Calif., and continue to perform on stages across the country.

Today, Mickey continues to be a big supporter of Boys Town, visiting sites across the country. Rooney says, "I've been in more than 350 movies, and the one they mention the most is ‘Boys Town,’ and I'm proud of that." Rooney has also been dubbed "Boys Town Mayor For Life," a title he takes seriously.