Mickey Rooney Jr, original Disney Mouseketeer and son of screen legend, dies aged 77-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Mickey Rooney Jr died at his home on Saturday (Picture: Bettmann Archive)

Mickey Rooney Jr has died at the age of 77, it has been confirmed.

The musician, who was an original Disney Mouseketeer and the son of late Hollywood acting legend Mickey Rooney, died on Saturday.

A cause of death has not been revealed, but Rooney Jr’s longtime companion Chrissie Brown told The Hollywood Reporter that he died at his home in Glendale, Arizona.

Rooney Jr’s friend and fellow Mouseketeer Paul Petersen, led tributes for the late star and wrote in a Facebook post: ‘Mickey Rooney, Jr peacefully passed away this morning in Arizona. For the past many years, he lived with and was in the care of Chrissie Brown and her family.

‘I first met Mickey, the oldest of nine siblings sired by his famous father when he and Timmy were hired by Disney to be Mouseketeers in 1955. Mickey Junior was tall and talented. He could sing, dance and act…and get in trouble. We three were fired for Conduct Unbecoming a Mouse!’

Petersen continued: ‘Mickey Junior was the personification of “damaged goods.” He gave all he could. I was born on the same day as Mickey’s father and “The Mic” gave me, unsolicited mind you, the most useful advice I ever got.

Rooney Jr’s cause of death is yet to be revealed (Picture: Getty Images)

The musician was the first child of Hollywood star Mickey Rooney (Picture: Rex Features)

‘It is one of my greatest sorrows that he didn’t do the same for his son. Mickey Rooney Junior. Rest In Peace at last. We will see to your wishes.’

Rooney Jr was the eldest of film star Rooney’s nine children, and son of Betty Jane Baker, who became the second of Rooney’s eight wives.

Alongside his brother Tim Rooney, Rooney Jr joined The Mickey Mouse Club in 1955 as a back-up cast member.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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