End Credits #17: Cinema's 2014 Lost Treasures Mickey Rooney, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
These are several of Cinema's sad departures of 2014 taken from my personal notes soon after the events took place:
Horribly sad news: Mickey Rooney has passed away at age 93. I don't care if he was 153, he shouldn't have left us. Plus he had no business being that damn talented. Anyone catch him in Playhouse 90's The Comedian? I've never seen such a powerhouse performance in my life! What about his fascinating, introverted car mechanics in the noir films Quicksand and Drive A Crooked Road? He contributed memorable performances in The Bold and the Brave and Requiem For A Heavyweight, Boys Town and The Human Comedy. He could command our attention in everything from Babes in Arms to Baby Face Nelson and fully enhance any part from 'Killer' Mears (in The Last Mile) to Killer McCoy. I don't care if his character in Breakfast at Tiffany's was politically incorrect... I adored him in that as well... besides, he was FUNNY!
Boys Town (1938)
National Velvet (1944)
Quicksand (1949)
Drive a Crooked Road (1954)
Baby Face Nelson (1957)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) "Miss Gorightry... I must protest!"
A Night at the Museum (2006) "Are you crackin' wise? I oughta punch you in the nose, Hopscotch."
And what about in real life? He was so full of energy, an advocate for the rights of the elderly and a terrific guest at the TCM 2012 Classic Film Festival.
MICKEY ROONEY (September 23, 1920 - April 6, 2014) R.I.P.
Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (November 30, 1918 - May 2, 2014) has died at age 95. He was best known for his roles as Stuart Bailey on 77 Sunset Strip (1958 - 1964) and Lewis Erskine on The F.B.I. (1965 - 1974). He was a consummate performer, very distinguished and talented. His characters typically exhibited a high degree of confidence and professionalism. He added a special value to the motion pictures House of Strangers (1949), Band of Angels (1957) and Wait Until Dark (1967) amongst others but was primarily known for his television movies and show appearances.