MY LOVE OF 40 YEARS
Jan Rooney
Jan Rooney is a true Californian. Born in Hollywood and raised in the San Fernando Valley. At 3, she made her first recording, “Sioux City Sue” and her singing career was born. In Hollywood, she developed and displayed a wide range of talents: singer, actress, T.V., films, commercials, voice-overs and radio co-host.
In her nightclub appearances she sings, plays guitar and piano. At one memorable engagement, she caught the ear of Warren Beatty who introduced her to David Geffen. David was so impressed with her talent that he oversaw the recording of her original songs.
Her numerous recordings include Christian Albums, Film Soundtracks, the Original Cast Album of “Sugar Babies, the “Burlesque Musical”, “Outlaws,” and her latest CD “Let’s Put On A Show!”
Jan’s extraordinary live performances have wowed audiences in venues throughout the world on a variety of stages from the showrooms of Las Vegas, many Performing Arts Centers, the stages of England to the world famous Hollywood Bowl. In addition to her husband, she has worked with many luminaries including Chet Atkins, Donny Osmond and Placido Domingo among others. In 2004 she performed off-Broadway and then toured England in the highlyacclaimed musical “Let’s Put On A Show!” In 2007 she returns to England with that show and to play The Fairy Godmother in the Christmas pantomine, Cinderella.
Her acting credits are equally as varied. She has appeared in numerous films, television shows, cartoon voice-overs, and commercials. One of the high-lights of her film career is the feature, “The Party” directed by Robert Altman. She recently completed thefeatures “A Christmas Too Many,” “To Kill A Mockumentary,” “The Yesterday Pool,” “Stallion Hearts,” and “Tropic Thunder” directed by Ben Stiller.
On television, many fans remember her appearances on “The Love Boat” where she appeared as a singing Nun and in the TV classic “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” Jan has been a guest on many talk shows including “Good Morning America”, “The Today Show” with Matt Lauer, “David Letterman”, “Geraldo”, “Joe Franklin”, on “Sally Jessy Raphael” with Phyllis Diller and "E!”.
Jan has done numerous commercials and infomercials over the years including Hamilton Beach, Rainier Ale, (in a fabulous sendup of the classic Nelson Eddy and Jeannette MacDonald, Mountain Love song) and National Heart Scan. Currently she is the national spokesperson for Garden State Life Insurance Company.
An avid artist, she has worked in animation for Hanna-Barbera. Between tours, she enjoys painting in acrylics and watercolors.
In recognition of her outstanding talent and achievement in live stage performance, in April of 2004, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce awarded her a “Star” on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star is located at the corner of Hollywood and Highland. She is happy to share that star with the leading man in her life, her husband for over 30 years, the legendary actor Mickey Rooney.
They lived in Ventura County near their grandsons, Hunter and Harrison. They spend their free time writing film scripts, music and are in the process of writing a book about their life together.
In Feng Shui, the number 8 is considered the luckiest number.
She is fond of this written quote from Ginger Rodgers, “Jan will be Mickey’s best and last wife.”