<p>Rooney, icon of the popular political analysis show "60 Minutes", died Friday at a New York hospital from "complications following minor surgery" last month, CBS said in an extensive eulogy to the man and his work.<br /><br />The commentator, who gave his last television essay last month, began his career in journalism during World War II and joined CBS in 1949 as a writer for an entertainment programme.<br /><br />CBS said that Rooney joined the "60 Minutes" show in 1978 with some sharp-witted essays covering a wide range of subjects, from the existence of God to such current affairs in the US as unemployment and the US' controversial Middle East invasion in March 2003.<br /><br />"Words cannot adequately express Andy's contribution to the world of journalism and the impact he made - as a colleague and friend - upon everyone at CBS," Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, was cited as saying on the CNN web site.<br /><br />"His wry wit, his unique ability to capture the essence of any issue, and his larger-than-life personality made him an icon, not only within the industry but among readers and viewers around the globe," he said.<br /><br />Rooney lived in Manhattan, though he had properties in Rensselaerville, New York, and in Rowayton, Connecticut. His wife Marguerite, with whom he was married for 62 years, died of a heart attack in 2004.<br /><br />He is survived by four children, and the network said that the funeral services will be private but did not say when they will be held.<br /><br />The winner of four Emmy Awards, Rooney was with the network for 60 years, 30 of them behind the cameras as a writer and producer before becoming a familiar face in homes across the US, CBS said.<br /><br />"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".<br /><br />"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," he said.</p>
<p>Rooney, icon of the popular political analysis show "60 Minutes", died Friday at a New York hospital from "complications following minor surgery" last month, CBS said in an extensive eulogy to the man and his work.<br /><br />The commentator, who gave his last television essay last month, began his career in journalism during World War II and joined CBS in 1949 as a writer for an entertainment programme.<br /><br />CBS said that Rooney joined the "60 Minutes" show in 1978 with some sharp-witted essays covering a wide range of subjects, from the existence of God to such current affairs in the US as unemployment and the US' controversial Middle East invasion in March 2003.<br /><br />"Words cannot adequately express Andy's contribution to the world of journalism and the impact he made - as a colleague and friend - upon everyone at CBS," Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, was cited as saying on the CNN web site.<br /><br />"His wry wit, his unique ability to capture the essence of any issue, and his larger-than-life personality made him an icon, not only within the industry but among readers and viewers around the globe," he said.<br /><br />Rooney lived in Manhattan, though he had properties in Rensselaerville, New York, and in Rowayton, Connecticut. His wife Marguerite, with whom he was married for 62 years, died of a heart attack in 2004.<br /><br />He is survived by four children, and the network said that the funeral services will be private but did not say when they will be held.<br /><br />The winner of four Emmy Awards, Rooney was with the network for 60 years, 30 of them behind the cameras as a writer and producer before becoming a familiar face in homes across the US, CBS said.<br /><br />"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".<br /><br />"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," he said.</p>