Book claims Mickey Rooney's 'nice guy' persona was merely a front for a much darker character
According to the new book, ‘True Confessions of a Shameless Gossip,’ by Australian journalist Craig Bennett, the ‘nice guy’ persona that Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney portrayed was merely a front for a much darker character.
Kelly Rooney, the daughter of late Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney, is outraged over the explosive claims being made in an upcoming book.
“It’s disgusting to me,” Kelly told Fox News exclusively.
“My dad fought for our country and helped veterans towards the end of his life. There’s a lot of other things we should be talking about where we could be lifting people up.”
KELLY ROONEY'S DAUGHTER TELLS ALL
UK’s Daily Mail recently reported Australian journalist Craig Bennett alleged in “True Confessions of a Shameless Gossip” that Rooney “wore out” the casting couch by lining up young aspiring actresses for “auditions” that didn’t exist. Bennett also claimed that the “nice guy” persona Rooney portrayed was merely a front for a much darker character.
“In person, Mickey could be blisteringly bombastic,” said Bennett, as reported by the outlet. “A former Hollywood PR friend of mine labeled Mickey as abrasive, nasty, curt and rude.”
It wasn’t the only damning claim made in the book. When it came to Elizabeth Taylor, his co-star on 1944’s “National Velvet,” Bennett wrote he “was scathing about – as he put it – Elizabeth’s grand sense of entitlement and lack of talent.”
Kelly said she is saddened such a book aims to tear down her father’s legacy in Hollywood. Rooney, the entertainer who bounced on stage before he was 2 and rarely left the spotlight for the next nine decades, passed away in 2014 at age 93.
MICKEY ROONEY 'WORE OUT' CASTING COUCH FOR AUDITIONS THAT DIDN'T EXIST, NEW BOOK CLAIMS
Elizabeth Taylor previously worked with Mickey Rooney as a child actress. (Associated Press)
“The title of this book, to me, says a lot,” said Kelly. “The last word is ‘gossip.’ My father and Elizabeth Taylor were lifelong friends and they’re no longer here to defend themselves… My father is not here to react to this. When he was younger, before I was even born, [the media] always made accusations about my dad. And I spoke to him about it, he was very open and honest with all of us — and [his actions were] not in the nature of [what] this gentleman – I don’t even want to call him a gentleman – was referring to.”
Kelly said throughout Rooney’s career, he always responded to the accusations made concerning his personal life and even addressed them in his own memoirs. And while Rooney, as Kelly said, “was no saint,” he was an open book when it came to his own life.
“If someone was disrespectful to him or his family or loved ones, of course, he would become reactionary,” said Kelly. “It saddens me people have to reach back, look at some of these amazing Hollywood legends and tear them down… It’s just like what’s happening in politics — everyone’s gotta tear everybody down. I would love to stay away from that type of negativity and instead show a respectful light on my father, just like any of his children would.”
Kelly pointed out that in his lifetime, Rooney was married eight times. And when it came to his children, Rooney was very candid about the many relationships he developed in Hollywood over the years.
Mickey Rooney and wife Jan (C) pose with family and relatives at the ceremony honoring them with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 26, 2004, in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
“He was a very young guy surrounded by beautiful people,” said Kelly. “I didn't live at the time when he did, but… my dad was already gossiped about while living in the public eye. And I’m sure, and I know without a doubt, my dad was a very respectful person and a gentleman… I know that between he and Elizabeth Taylor, they had a lifelong friendship. She never spoke ill of my father. She was a very kind, gracious, beautiful woman.”
Despite the allegations made in Bennett’s book, Kelly said she has no plans of reaching out to Bennett.
“It does hurt us, but my dad always taught us there was no use to go after [the press] because it’s always going to happen. And gossip has been circulating on and off about my dad since he passed away… For me to reach out to this guy who is writing a gossip book — it does nothing for me. It does nothing for my dad. It just saddens me that someone has to do that — tear people down, especially those who are not here to defend themselves.”
Mickey Rooney with his children at the beach. (Courtesy of Kelly Rooney)
Kelly and her father were very close, she told Fox News earlier this month, especially after their lives were shattered by tragedy. Her mother, aspiring actress Barbara Thomason and Mickey’s fifth wife, was shot to death at age 29 in 1966 by his friend, Milos Milosevic. The 24-year-old budding actor used the same gun to kill himself. Kelly was 7 years old at the time of the murder-suicide.
MICKEY ROONEY THROUGH THE YEARS
Rooney stressed that while rumors long persisted Thomason and Milosevic were lovers, that’s far from the truth.
“My dad and [Milos] became friends,” explained Rooney. “My dad was trying to help him in the business. And unbeknownst to my mother, he fell in love with her and became obsessed with her. … She and my dad had such a loving relationship. When you saw them together, it was that look of love. My mother loved him dearly. And my dad loved her dearly. She was a hands-on mom who taught us to say our prayers and brushed our teeth. We had a lot of love from my mom. Losing her put a real hole in our hearts.”
Santa Monica, Calif.: Shown here at St. John's Hospital is Mickey Rooney, wife Barbara Thomason and their new daughter Kelly Ann. (Getty)
According to Rooney, Mickey would go on to declare Thomason as the great love of his life and would blow a kiss to the heavens when he later performed on stage.
“My dad called me in 1992 and said, ‘Kel, I want you to hear something,’” Rooney recalled. “'… I have to apologize to you because I couldn’t save her. And I’m so sorry.’ I know he carried around a big bag of guilt about that.”
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