Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Akapinda muchiuto muHondo Yenyika II, Rooney akashanda kwemakore anenge maviri achivaraidza masoja anopfuura mamiriyoni maviri pachikuva neredhiyo, uye akapiwa Bronze Star nokuda kwokuita munzvimbo dzokurwisana. Achidzoka muna 1945, akanga akwegura zvikuru nokuda kwemabasa evechiduku, asi akaderera zvikuru nokuda kwemabasa akawanda evanhu vakuru, uye akanga asingakwanisi kuwana mabasa akawanda anotungamirira. Zvisinei, mafirimu mazhinji emari shoma, asi akagamuchirwa zvakanaka mafirimu noir aive naRooney achitamba chinzvimbo chepamusoro panguva ino nema1950. Kuzivikanwa kwaRooney kwakagadziridzwa nemabasa ekutsigira akagamuchirwa zvakanaka mumafirimu akadai sa "The Bold and the Brave" (1956), "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962), "Iri Nyika Yakapenga, Kupenga, Kupenga, Kupenga" (1963), "Dhiragoni yaPete" (1977), uye "The Black Stallion" (1979). Nokuda kwemabasa ake mu "The Bold and the Brave" uye "The Black Stallion", Rooney akagamuchira mazita eA Academy Award nokuda kweMutambi Akanakisisa muBasa Rinotsigira muna 1957
uye 1980 zvichiteerana. Mukutanga kwema1980, akadzokera kuBroadway mu "Sugar Babies", basa rakamupa mazita eTony Award uye Drama Desk Award ye Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, uye zvakare akava nyeredzi yakakurumbira. Akaita mazana ezviratidziro paTV, kusanganisira mitambo, zvirongwa zvakasiyana-siyana, uye hurukuro dzinoratidza.