Nine Lives Mickey Rooney

Marx, author of Life with Groucho and Goldwyn, writes with a sympathy that doesn't preclude mention of Rooney's faults, in this biography of his boyhood friend. Born Joe Yule Jr. to a couple in a burlesque troupe, the future actor made his first hit a scant 15 months later, singing a solo on stage. From then on, his life has been a roller-coaster ride, personally and professionally. Divorcing Yule Sr., little Joe's mother took him to Hollywood, where he arrived at prominence and his new name. Critical and popular success came to Rooney with his performances as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, in the Andy Hardy series and in the musicals co-starring Judy Garland. At 21, Rooney wed the even younger Ava Gardner, who divorced him within a year. Since then he has had seven more wives, made fortunes andthrough drinking and gamblinglost them; he was considered a Hollywood has-been at age 30. Recently, however, the onetime bad boy rose to the heights again in the stage hit Sugar Babies and as an actor in serious drama. Photos. (March 18)