Acting Legend Mickey Rooney Dead at Age 93

Legendary screen actor Mickey Rooney died yesterday at his home at the age of 93. He appeared in over 300 films throughout his life, spanning from silent films in the 1920s to very recent movies like "The Muppets" and "Night at the Museum."

Rooney is connected to Iowa City and University of Iowa playing the role of the late Bill Sackter and two made-for-TV movies ("Bill" and "Bill: On His Own") back in 1981 and 1983. Based on real life, these two movies told about the mentally disabled Sackter and his journey from being institutionalized in Minnesota to living on his own in Iowa City and running his own coffee shop.

I remember watching Bill in one of my social work classes at Luther College. Rooney did a great job with this role (as did a very young Dennis Quaid, who played the role of Barry Morrow). In fact, he won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Bill Sackter.

He will be missed.