He was one of the last stars of an old studio system -- a silver screen legend who was a legend before Hollywood knew he would be. He was the first-ever child star. His career took him from Vaudeville to the big screen, he experienced many career comebacks and setbacks...and his career spanned an unprecedented eight decades. And now, Mickey Rooney -- who died today at the age of 93 -- is gone. 

CBS News reports that his death was confirmed by Larry Deitz of the LA County Coroner's Office. No other information was made available, and Deitz remarked that his office would not be getting involved further because Rooney died of natural causes. 

In addition, TMZ is reporting that Mickey's last role was 2011's The Muppets, where he played a caper.

Rooney was born Joseph Yule, Jr. in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His father, Joe Yule (born Ninnian Joseph Ewell), was from Glasgow, Scotland, and his mother, Nellie W. (née Carter), was from Kansas City, Missouri. Both of his parents were in vaudeville, appearing in a Brooklyn production of A Gaiety Girl when Joseph, Jr. was born. He began performing at the age of 17 months as part of his parents' routine, wearing a specially tailored tuxedo.

He received multiple awards, including a Juvenile Academy Award, an Honorary Academy Award, two Golden Globes and an Emmy Award. Working as a performer since he was a child, he was a superstar as a teenager for the films in which he played Andy Hardy, and he had one of the longest careers of any actor, spanning 92 years actively making films in ten decades, from the 1920s to the 2010s. For a younger generation of fans, he gained international fame for his leading role as Henry Dailey in The Family Channel's The Adventures of the Black Stallion.

Until his death today, Rooney was one of the last surviving stars who worked in the silent film era. He was also the last surviving cast member of several films in which he appeared during the 1930s and 1940s.