What was it like to work with Mickey Rooney?

Working with Mickey Rooney was often described as a unique and memorable experience. He was known for his incredible energy, charisma, and talent, which made him a beloved figure in Hollywood for decades. Rooney’s work ethic was legendary; he was dedicated to his craft and brought a sense of professionalism to his roles.

Entertaining and Professional

Colleagues often noted his enthusiasm on set, his ability to improvise, and his willingness to collaborate. Despite the ups and downs of his personal life, Rooney’s passion for performing remained strong throughout his career. Many actors who worked with him appreciated his mentorship and the wealth of experience he brought to any project.

Mickey Rooney's Skills: Voice Acting in Animation

I had the privilege of working with Mickey Rooney when he voiced Tod the fox in the Disney animated feature The Fox and the Hound. The voice recording process for long-form cartoons is unique; the actors come in multiple times for half-day sessions, and the entire process can last a year or more. During this time, actors have months between recording sessions while new sequences are completed and old ones revised.

A World-Class Voice Actor

In Rooney's case, he would come to the stage, look at storyboards with the directors to get Tod's attitude and actions in various sequences, plunk down on a stool in front of the mic, and work his way through script pages. His ability to depict a range of emotions was remarkable. When the sequence director in the booth wanted him to play a line with a sad tone, Rooney would deliver it wistfully and choked. In the next take, it would be with a hoarse sob that sounded like black despair. If the request was for a happy tone, he would put a buoyant top-spin on the words and make you believe it.

More Than Just a Voice Actor

Rooney’s talent extended beyond the voice booth, and during lunch breaks, he would often do most of the talking, his subjects were often about old Hollywood and the times with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in the golden era. One lunch, Mickey R. half-joked about his many marriages, saying, "You gotta understand if you went to bed with a girl back in the '40s, you married her." This was heard with a mix of amusement and respect, as it highlighted the depth of his experience in Hollywood.

Legacy in Hollywood

Mickey Rooney’s ability to connect with audiences, whether in dramatic roles or his famous comedic performances, left a lasting impact on those who had the chance to work alongside him. Overall, working with Mickey Rooney was likely a mix of inspiration, learning, and a great deal of fun, given his larger-than-life personality and extensive experience in the entertainment industry.

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Mickey Rooney Voice Acting Hollywood Legend