Rooney was married eight times, with six of the marriages ending in divorce. In 1942, he married his first wife, actress Ava Gardner, who at that time was still an obscure teenage starlet. They divorced the following year, partly because he had apparently been unfaithful.
Ava Gardner was only 19 when she married Mickey Rooney. “The smallest husband I ever had, and the biggest mistake” — that was how she described Mickey Rooney, who'd once been Hollywood's top box-office draw.
Here below is a sweet photo collection that shows the happiness of Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner during their short marriage.
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| Mickey Rooney and his wife American actress Ava Gardner in 1942 |
Ava Gardner was only 19 when she married Mickey Rooney. “The smallest husband I ever had, and the biggest mistake” — that was how she described Mickey Rooney, who'd once been Hollywood's top box-office draw.
Here below is a sweet photo collection that shows the happiness of Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner during their short marriage.
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| Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner smiling at each other as they announced their wedding plans, Los Angeles, California, 10th December 1941 |
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| Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner, an 18-year-old actress, are shown after announcing their engagement, 10th December 1941 |
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| Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner, an 18-year-old actress, are shown after announcing their engagement, 10th December 1941 |
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| Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner, circa 1941 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney were engaged in 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner looks on as her new husband Mickey Rooney greets his mother-in-law, Mrs. J.B. Gardner, 1942 |
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| Newlyweds Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner are greeted by Gardner’s mother with a plate of fried chicken, 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney after their wedding, January 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney after their wedding, January 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney kisses his new bride Ava Gardner after their marriage in a Presbyterian church in rural Ballard, California, Jan. 10, 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney attending the 'Mrs. Miniver' premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre, 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney attending the 'Mrs. Miniver' premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre, 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney in 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney on their wedding, January 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner and Mickey Rooney, 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner plays a round of golf with her husband Mickey Rooney, 29th May 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner takes a golfing tip from her husband Mickey Rooney, 29th May 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner takes a golfing tip from her husband Mickey Rooney, 29th May 1942 |
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| Ava Gardner, her husband Mickey Rooney, and Phil Silvers, circa 1942 |
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| Mickey and Ava at a party, circa 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and bride Ava Gardner in the Daily News studio, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and his bride, actress Ava Gardner pose for cameramen after marriage ceremony at the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and his bride, actress Ava Gardner pose for cameramen after marriage ceremony at the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and his bride, actress Ava Gardner pose for cameramen after marriage ceremony at the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and his first wife American actress Ava Gardner sit at a table and make goo-goo eyes at each other, circa 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and his first wife American actress Ava Gardner sit at a table, circa 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney and wife, Ava Gardner, arrive in New York in January 1942, en route to Boston where Rooney is to appear at a Red Cross benefit |
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| Mickey Rooney dancing with his wife Ava Gardner, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney visits Ava Gardner in Hollywood hospital when she is recovering from emergency appendectomy, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney visits Ava Gardner in Hollywood hospital when she is recovering from emergency appendectomy, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney with his wife Ava Gardner, 1942 |
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| Mickey Rooney with his wife Ava Gardner, 1942 |
