Mickey Rooney dies aged 93

Born Joseph Yule Jr in Brooklyn, his parents included him in their vaudeville act when he was just 18 months old.

After his mother moved him to California, his first film role as Mickey McGuire came when he was six, in Orchids and Ermine, and he starred in a string of ‘Mickey’ movies that stretched into the 1930s.

In 1937, he took the part of Andy Hardy in A Family Affair under his new name, Mickey Rooney, and the box office hit led to another series of films that lasted eight years and famously paired him with Judy Garland.

Alongside serving in the Second World War, Rooney starred in international hit National Velvet with Elizabeth Taylor in 1944.

The actor had starred in 200 films by 1965, which had earned more than $3bn ($1.8bn) worldwide. But he was also declared bankrupt, with much of his fortune spent on alimony for his ex-wives. His eight marriages included Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner and latterly Jan Chamberlin, whom he married in 1978.

Rooney continued to work for the rest of him life, enjoying a revival with Pete’s Dragon in 1977, hit Broadway show Sugar Babies in the late 1970s, and more recently with small roles in 2006 action comedy Night at the Museum and The Muppets in 2011.

He was nominated for four Oscars and received two special Academy Awards, including one for his body of work.

Rooney died at his home surrounded by family in North Hollywood, Los Angeles on April 6.