ku dhammee weedha soo socota: waxaa lagu soo xiray ciidanka intii lagu jiray dagaalkii labaad ee aduunka, Rooney wuxuu u adeegay ku dhawaad labo sano isagoo madadaalinayay in ka badan laba milyan oo ciidan masraxa iyo raadiyaha, waxaana lasiiyay xiddig naxaas ah oo uu ku soo bandhigay goobo dagaal. Markii uu soo laabtay 1945, wuxuu ahaa mid aad u da' weyn oo loogu talagalay doorarka dhallinyarada, laakiin aad ayuu u gaaban yahay inta badan doorarka dadka waaweyn, mana awoodin inuu helo doorar badan. Si kastaba ha noqotee, miisaaniyad yar oo badan, laakiin filimno madow oo si wanaagsan loo soo dhaweeyay ayaa Rooney ku lahaa doorka ugu weyn muddadan iyo 1950-meeyadii. Caan ka ahaanshaha Rooney waxaa dib loo cusbooneysiiyay doorka taageera ee filimada sida "The Bold and the Brave" (1956), "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962), "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963), "Pete's Dragon" (1977), iyo "The Black Stallion" (1979). Doorkiisii "The Bold and the Brave" iyo "The Black Stallion", Rooney wuxuu helay magacaabis loogu magac daray Abaalmarinta Akadeemiyada ee Jilaaga ugu Fiican ee Ku Xigeenka
1957 iyo 1980 siday u kala horreeyaan. Horraantii 1980-meeyadii, wuxuu ku soo laabtay Broadway "Sugar Babies", oo ah doorka uu ku helay magacaabista Tony Award iyo Drama Desk Award ee Jilaaga ugu Fiican ee Doorka Hogaaminta ee Muusikada, wuxuuna mar kale noqday xiddig caan ah. Wuxuu sameeyay boqolaal muuqaal oo TV ah, oo ay ku jiraan riwaayado, barnaamijyo kala duwan, iyo barnaamijyada wada hadalka.