Rooney's Gaydar Fail: Mistaken Identity on Set

During the production of the short-lived 1982 sitcom 'One of the Boys,' Hollywood veteran Mickey Rooney displayed a peculiar misunderstanding of his co-stars Nathan Lane and Dana Carvey.

Rooney, who had been a massive star in the 1930s, seemed to favor Lane, viewing him as an "old school" talent. Conversely, he largely overlooked Carvey, a stand-up comedian, even mispronouncing his name. Rooney mistakenly inferred that Carvey might be gay, a notion Lane found ironic as he himself is gay.

Lane and Carvey shared anecdotes on the 'Fly on the Wall' podcast about Rooney's assumptions. Carvey recounted Rooney putting an arm around him and stating to Lane, "I'm just glad we like girls." The show, despite Rooney's prediction of massive success, only lasted 13 episodes.

Rooney's interactions also included frequent, boastful references to his own past glory and financial success, often contrasting it with the struggles of other stars like Judy Garland. He also seemed to hold a dismissive view of modern entertainment, expressing disbelief at the success of younger artists.