Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is pictured dancing with Judy Garland in 1939, the year they starred together in the Oscar-nominated Babes in Arms Getty

Veteran actor Mickey Rooney, the 'Andy Hardy' star of the 1930s and '40s, who had become the biggest movie star of his time when he was just a teenager, has died at the age of 93.

The legendary actor was struggling with poor health for the last few years and his death has been attributed to natural causes.

Rooney is best remembered for his role as Andy Hardy in the movie 'A Family Affair' but he bagged his first movie role for 'Orchids and Ermine' when he was just 6 years old.

Rooney was the box office king of the golden age of Hollywood and had a decades-long show business career.

Earlier last month, Rooney attended the Vanity Fair's Oscar bash and was also shooting for the movie, 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde' with co-star Margaret O'Brien.

"He was undoubtedly the most talented actor that ever lived. There was nothing he couldn't do," actress Margaret O'Brien told theguardian.com.

Mickey Rooney Dies at 93
Legendary Actor Mickey Rooney Dies at 93. Reuters

Rooney has won four nominations for Academy Awards and received two special Oscars including the Juvenile Award in 1939. He also won an Emmy for the Television movie 'Bill' and a Tony nomination for his Broadway hit 'Sugar Babies'.

"I loved working with Mickey on 'Sugar Babies.' He was very professional, his stories were priceless and I love them all ... each and every one. We laughed all the time," former colleague Carol Channing said in a statement.

The hard-core party loving actor was married eight times in his life, the most famous one with Ava Gardner. Rooney is survived by wife Jan Chamberlin whom he married in 1978.

Meanwhile celebrities expressed their condolences via twitter on the legendary actor's sad demise.