Mickey Rooney, the veteran Hollywood star who spent 80 years of his life starring in more than 200 films, has died at the age of 93.

His death was confirmed last night after he succumbed to natural causes following a long battle with illness.

He began his lengthy career in 1937 when he took on the role of Andy Hardy in A Family Affair. He would go on to portray the character in thirteen more films with the final one being Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958).

Just two years after his breakthrough role, the Academy Awards recognised Rooney twice for his rising talent with both a Best Actor nomination for the rom-com Babes in Arms (1939) and a Special Juvenile Oscar (which he would share with fellow young star Deanna Durbin).

That same year, he also starred in the title role of young hero Huckleberry Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

He would go on to receive three more nominations in his renowned career with the first one being his role as teenager Homer Macaulay in coming-of-age drama The Human Comedy (1943).

The other two were both Supporting Actors nods for war drama The Bold and the Brave (1956) and the other being veteran horse trainer Henry Dailey in The Black Stallion (1979). He would go on to reprise his role as Dailey in the television spinoff series The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (1990-1993).

Almost fifty years after winning his juvenile Oscar, Rooney was eventually awarded the Honorary accolade in 1983.

He also became well known for appearances in National Velvet (1948), Baby Face Nelson (1957), It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and his controversial portrayal of Asian landlord Mr. Yunioshi in the cinematic classic Breakfast at Tiffanys (1961).

Rooney was also popular amongst young audiences with appearances in Pete’s Dragon (1977), Night at the Museum (2006) and a brief musical cameo in The Muppets (2011). He also lent his voice to several animated films with the most memorable being his role as canine dog Copper in the Disney flick The Fox and the Hound (1981).

Remarkably, he married eight times throughout his prestige life although he did file for bankruptcy in 1962, after using up his $12 million wealth.