In 1963, he entered CBS's "The Twilight Zone", giving a one-man performance in the episode "The Last Night of a Jockey" (1963). Also in 1963, in 'The Hunt' for "Suspense Theater", he played the sadistic sheriff hunting the young surfer played by James Caan. In 1964, he launched another half-hour sitcom, "Mickey". The story line had "Mickey" operating a resort hotel in Southern California. His own son Tim Rooney appeared as his character's teenaged son on this program, and Emmaline Henry starred as Rooney's wife. The program lasted for 17 episodes.