Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Akamanikidzwa kupinda muchiuto mukati meHondo Yenyika II, Rooney akashanda kwamakore anenge maviri achivaraidza varwi vanopfuura mamirioni 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 eAward Academy nokuda kweMutambi Akanakisisa muBasa Rinotsigira mu
Muna 1957 uye muna 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.