Here is the biography of Mickey Shaughnessy:
Mickey Shaughnessy, the Irish-American character actor, was born Joseph Michael Shaughnessy on August 5, 1920, in New York City. He began his career in the Catskill Mountains tourist resort circuit, performing as a young man. During World War II, Mickey served in the Army and appeared in a service revue. After being demobilized, he made his living by touring the nightclub circuit with a comedy act.
Mickey's breakthrough as an actor came with his debut in support of Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray in George Cukor's The Marrying Kind (1952). He then signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which typecast him as a dumb but likable lug in films such as Designing Woman (1957) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960).
In addition to his film work, Mickey appeared in several notable television shows, including "One Step Beyond" and "The Chicago Teddybears" (1971). He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Hunk Houghton in the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock, in which he played a con who befriends Elvis Presley and helps him discover his true calling as a musician.
Mickey continued to work in film and television throughout the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in a wide range of productions, from comedies to dramas. He also revived his nightclub act in the early 1960s, which remained a "clean" act throughout his career.
Sadly, Mickey Shaughnessy died from lung cancer on July 23, 1985, just two weeks shy of his 65th birthday.
