“Mickey Rooney Jr., the eldest son of Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney who went on to a show business career of his own that included being an original – if short-lived — Mouseketeer, an actor and a member of Willie Nelson’s band, died Saturday at his home in Glendale, AZ. He was 77.

“His death was announced by Paul Petersen, the former actor and founder of advocacy group A Minor Consideration. Petersen, who posted the news on Facebook, did not specify a cause but said Rooney died peacefully.

“The first child of Mickey Rooney and his first wife, the singer Betty Jane Rase, Rooney Jr. and his brother Tim Rooney were hired by Walt Disney in 1955 as original Mouseketeers for The Mickey Mouse Club. Both Rooneys, as well as fellow Mouseketeer Petersen, were fired before the end of the first season.”

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