Andy Rooney

Andy Rooney, who broke into the news business while serving in World War II, carved out a 62-year career at CBS, ending as a regular commentator on "60 Minutes." His last regular appearance on the broadcast will be on Oct. 2, 2011.

Andy Rooney worked as a reporter for the "Stars And Stripes" newspaper during World War II.

Andy Rooney was 59 when he began on "60 Minutes" in July 1978 with an essay about misleading reporting of automobile fatalities on the Independence Day weekend. In this 1978 file photo, Rooney is shown in his New York office.

Veteran newsmen and longtime friends Andy Rooney, left, and Walter Cronkite chat at the Cronkite Awards event at Arizona State University, where Rooney was receiving the Cronkite Award Nov. 6, 2003.

Rooney was 59 when he began on "60 Minutes" in July 1978 with an essay about misleading reporting of automobile fatalities on the Independence Day weekend. He became a regular contributor, delivering sometimes folksy, sometimes peppery observations on ordinary life under the title, "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney."

Rooney joined CBS in 1949 as a writer for "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" and also wrote for "The Garry Moore Show." At the same time, he was writing for CBS News public-affairs broadcasts such as "The Twentieth Century" and "Calendar."

He wrote his first television essay in 1964, "An Essay on Doors." Continuing the collaboration with CBS News correspondent Harry Reasoner as on-camera narrator, Rooney composed contemplations on such subjects as bridges, chairs and women.

With "An Essay on War," which aired on PBS in 1971, Rooney made his first appearance delivering his words.

Scott Pelley and Andy Rooney during the July 2009 memorial for "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt, at Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Time Warner Building in New York.

"60 Minutes" correspondent Andy Rooney is seen prior to Walter Cronkite's memorial service at Avery Fisher Hall, in New York's Lincoln Center, on Sept. 9, 2009.

Correspondent Andy Rooney, center, is seated in the pews before the beginning of the funeral service for Walter Cronkite at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, July 23, 2009.

"60 Minutes" correspondent Andy Rooney arrives for Walter Cronkite's funeral at St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Ave. in New York, Thursday, July 23, 2009. Rooney was expected to speak at the funeral for Cronkite, who died last Friday at his Manhattan hom — AP Photo/Kathy Willens

"60 Minutes" correspondent Andy Rooney arrives for Walter Cronkite's funeral at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, July 23, 2009.

Larry King, left, talks to fellow broadcaster Andy Rooney, right, at a party held by CNN celebrating King's fifty years of broadcasting, New York, April 18, 2007.

Andy Rooney does an award presentation at the 59th Annual Writers Guild Awards in New York,, Feb 11, 2007. Hosted by the writers Guild of America East, the awards celebrate and recognize the best and brightest writers from television, film, news, and radio.

Andy Rooney, a longtime CBS News "60 Minutes" colleague, arrives for Ed Bradley's memorial service at the Riverside Church in New York, Nov. 21, 2006, in this image taken from video.

CBS News correspondents Mike Wallace and Andy Rooney attend the screening of "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" at the MGM screening room on April 13, 2005, in New York.

Past and present correspondents of "60 Minutes" join Don Hewitt, the executive producer,lower left, on stage for a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards held in New York, Sept. 3, 2003. Left to right, at rear, Christiane Amanpour, Diane Sawyer, Steve Kroft, Meredith Vieira, and executive editor Philip Scheffler. Middle row, Bob Simon, Lesley Stahl, Ed Bradley, Morley Safer and Andy Rooney. The awards are held by the National Television Academy.

In this June 19, 1998 file photo, commentator Andy Rooney, of "60 Minutes," poses in his office at CBS in New York.