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November 5, 2011 6:54 AM

Andy Rooney dead at 92

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Andy Rooney, longtime CBS News correspondent and contributor to

Andy Rooney, longtime CBS News correspondent and contributor to "60 Minutes," has died. (CBS)

(CBS News) 

Andy Rooney, the "60 Minutes" commentator known to generations for his wry, humorous and contentious television essays - a unique genre he is credited with inventing - died Friday night in a hospital in New York City of complications following minor surgery. He was 92, and had homes in New York City, Rensselaerville, N.Y. and Rowayton, Conn.

"It's a sad day at '60 Minutes' and for everybody here at CBS News," said Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and the executive producer of "60 Minutes." "It's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much."

Rooney had announced on Oct. 2, 2011 in his 1,097th essay for "60 Minutes" that he would no longer appear regularly.

Rooney wrote for television since its birth, spending more than 60 years at CBS, 30 of them behind the camera as a writer and producer, first for entertainment and then news programming, before becoming a television personality - a role he said he was never comfortable in. He preferred to be known as a writer and was the author of best-selling books and a national newspaper column, in addition to his "60 Minutes" essays.

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Andy Rooney

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But it is his television role as the inquisitive and cranky commentator on "60 Minutes" that made him a cultural icon. For over 30 years, Rooney had the last word on the most watched television program in history. Ratings for the broadcast rose steadily over its time period, peaking at a few minutes before the end of the hour, precisely when he delivered his essays - which could generate thousands of response letters.

"60 Minutes Overtime": Remembering Andy Rooney
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Each Sunday, Rooney delivered one of his "60 Minutes" essays from behind a desk that he, an expert woodworker, hewed himself. The topics ranged from the contents of that desk's drawer to whether God existed. He often weighed in on major news topics. In an early "60 Minutes" essay that won him the third of his four Emmy Awards, his compromise to the grain embargo against the Soviet Union was to sell them cereal. "Are they going to take us seriously as an enemy if they think we eat Cap'n Crunch for breakfast?" deadpanned Rooney.

Mainly, his essays struck a chord in viewers by pointing out life's unspoken truths or more often complaining about its subtle lies, earning him the "curmudgeon" status he wore like a uniform. "I obviously have a knack for getting on paper what a lot of people have thought and didn't realize they thought," Rooney told the Associated Press in 1998. In typical themes, Rooney questioned labels on packages, products that didn't seem to work and why people didn't talk in elevators.

Rooney asked thousands of questions in his essays over the years, none, however, began with "Did you ever...?" a phrase often associated with him. Comedian Joe Piscopo used it in a 1981 impersonation of him on "Saturday Night Live" and, from then on, it was erroneously linked to Rooney.

Rooney was also mistakenly connected to racism when a politically charged essay highly insensitive to minorities was written in his style and passed off as his on the internet in 2003.

Over the next few years, it found its way into the e-mail boxes of untold thousands, causing Rooney to refute it in a 2005 "60 Minutes" essay, and again, as it continued to proliferate, in a Associated Press article a year later.

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Rooney's first commentary in 1978
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Many assumed he wrote the screed because Rooney's longtime habit of writing or speaking plainly on sensitive topics had left him open to attacks in the past by activist groups. The racist essay was one of the many false Rooney quotes and essays bouncing around the Internet. The racism charge angered and hurt Rooney deeply, especially because as a young soldier in the early 1940s, he got himself arrested in Florida for refusing to leave the seat he had chosen among blacks in the back of an Army bus.

At the height of the AIDS crisis, Rooney had his biggest run-in with a group and it had dire consequences. In February 1990, the gay magazine The Advocate interviewed him after he associated the human choices of drugs, tobacco and gay sex with death in a CBS News special, "A Year With Andy Rooney: 1989." The magazine printed racist remarks attributed to him from the interview, which he vehemently denied making. A torrent of negative publicity followed, after which then-CBS News President David Burke suspended him for three months. The outcry for his return was deafening. Burke reinstated him after only three weeks, saying Rooney was not a man "who holds prejudice in his heart and mind." The ratings for "60 Minutes," CBS' only top-10 hit that season, dropped while Rooney was off the air.

But the negative publicity and suspension exacted a toll. Rooney said publicly he was "chilled" and admitted the new sensitivity led him to spike a later essay regarding the United Negro College Fund.



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Add a Comment See all 287 Comments
by thinkingoutloud2 November 29, 2011 1:57 AM EST
Andy Rooney was so well-loved. He was so knowledgeable with his dry sense of humor. He reminded me of my dad who passed in 1998. I just turned 50 and just couldn't remember his name until just now. What does that tell you? No matter what mood I was in, Andy always made me smile. Rest in peace, Andy. Job well-done. It really doesn't matter that I am African American. You will surely be missed.
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by josh207 November 7, 2011 1:33 PM EST
So many comments that Andy Rooney is in hell burning. I hate to break the news to you, but how do you know there is a hell? If there is a hell, how do you know your following the correct religion to avoid it? Considering there is 3000+ Christian sects out there and not to mention the many other religions that have nothing to do with your god. Also, doesn't the bible say not to judge others? To love the sinner not the sin? You might just end up beside him if your right.....
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by rch314 November 7, 2011 12:56 PM EST
Here is my personal tribute to Andy Rooney: http://hsutube.com/andy-rooney-tribute/
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by nolanmarissa November 7, 2011 11:01 AM EST
The "tribute" to Andrew Rooney (60 Minutes of Nov. 6) was far from what he deserved. As long as he was associated with 60 Minutes as an integral and very popular participant, he deserved more than almost 15 minutes of an "interview" followed by 10 minutes of commercials. For a man that had a life as full as his, your "tribute" was rather pathetic. Shame on you!!
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by PeterTroyan November 7, 2011 9:29 AM EST
Farewell, Andy Rooney. You will be sadly as well as sorely missed. Even though we might of been on oppitsite side of the isle, you opened many minds and later even agreed on many issues that you have covered in the style only you have. Complaining is a part of life. It is not perfect. Now for you, it is. Rest in Peace, Andy. Tell Edward R. and Walter hello from all of us. You are the shinning star of the Tiffany Network. God bless you. Gobless the First Admendment! amen
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by oneeggcream November 7, 2011 12:19 AM EST
Although Andy Rooney didn't like to be talked about, I have to say I was really upset when I found out he was gone! I loved him! He said what he needed to say and a lot of the time, what had to be said! He never had a problem with voicing his opinion and for that reason I had the utmost respect for. Thank you for all the years of telling it like it is/was whether it was "politically correct" or not!
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by mjgaleski2 November 6, 2011 11:23 PM EST
I am appalled at the "re-run' piece you did on 60 Minutes tonight about Andy Rooney after his recent passing. I would think that 60 Minutes could have pulled together something more fitting with comments from people, colleagues, adversaries, allies, etc that would have given tribute to his life and work in light of his extraordinary contribution to your network over decades. He never became a watered down, talking head, media mouthpiece and remained a true spirit, bright light and a unique personality that many of us in my generation grew up with, listened to, laughed with and revered. I am disappointed in the lack of respect and tribute. He was a big reason I watched. And listened. And came back to hear again and again. For 30 years. No one on your show ever moved me like that and I doubt will again. Let's face it, you shouldn't be short on material about him. You owe an apology and more so, to make this right. Tell Les Moonves to please consider a fitting tribute.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8618-500251_162-7387352.html?assetTypeId=58&messageId=11530986&tag=contentMain;contentBody#ixzz1czS0PHpZ
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by oneeggcream November 7, 2011 12:15 AM EST
It just goes to show you, no matter how much they say, "It's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much,"they really had no respect for him if this is the tribute they gave him! Maybe they will have a special show to honor him. That would be fitting but don't hold your breath!
by SeaySyms November 6, 2011 8:30 PM EST
Is it possible to locate Mr. Rooney's award winning piece on Viet Nam presented On Educational Television in the early 1970's? I would be curious to see if he wrote with his normal talent for cutting through the under-growth.
What a truly purposed life this man lived!
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by stevanovich9 November 6, 2011 6:56 PM EST
Rooney seemed like the stereotypical old bastard, a Scroogelike figure. It was too much for him to wave or say hello to somebody while he was eating. What a prick!! That comes with the territory when you make your living in the public eye. Nobody used the word liked about Andy Rooney. The word that was used was admired which means they had respect for his longevity and his body of work but disliked his personality. He was described as ornery which is nothing to be proud of. It's one thing to be ornery when you're doing your shtick and are in character, but when you're like that 24/7 it annoys others to no end.
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by RealiteBites November 6, 2011 4:15 PM EST
I remember liking Andy Rooney even when I was a litle, little child - because when he came on, it was the sign the show which was delayed because of football was finally about to start. And he was always smiling and light-hearted, in contrast to those other 'so serious' interviewers/ees.

Then as I got older and actually started watching 60 minutes, I came to enjoy his light-hearted musings on life. It was a nice foil to all the 'still serious' business of the day. A reminder that life goes on, even when 'stuff happens'.

Farewell, sir - it's been a good run :)
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