Mickey Rooney Jr., son of acting legend Mickey Rooney and original Mouseketeer on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” has passed away.
He was 77.
Rooney Jr. died Saturday at his home in Glendale, Ariz., according to The Hollywood Reporter. The cause of death is not known.
Rooney Jr. was born in Birmingham in 1945. His father was actor Mickey Rooney, who died in 2014. His mother was former Miss Alabama (as Betty Jane Rase) and singer Betty Jane Rose, who died in 2002. His mother was the second of Rooney’s eight wives. They met while Rooney was stationed in Alabama. They were married in 1944 and divorced in 1948. She also worked as a backup singer on recordings for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and others.
The eldest son of his movie star father, Rooney Jr. was a Mouseketeer on the original “Mickey Mouse Club” (1955-1959), along with his brother Tim, though he did not appear in the original role call opening.
Fellow original Mouseketeer Paul Petersen posted on Facebook, “Mickey Junior was tall and talented. He could sing, dance and act…and get in trouble.”
Rooney Jr. also appeared as an actor in the 1967 film “Hot Rods to Hell” and then in 1980′s “Honeysuckle Rose” with Willie Nelson. He was also a musician who played in bands with Nelson.
Rooney Jr.’s siblings include Michael Rooney, Jonelle Rooney, Teddy Rooney, Kimmy Sue Rooney, Kelly Ann Rooney, Kerry Rooney, and Jimmy Rooney.