Andy Bockelman - Celebrity News Service Reporter
Beverly Hills, CA (CNS) - An American entertainment legend will receive his due at an upcoming event.

Actor Mickey Rooney, star of film, stage and TV, will be the guest of honor at the 54th Annual Thalians Ball, a night to pay tribute to both long-time star and the USO shows, which support the American Armed Forces. The Nov. 1 affair will take place in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

89-year-old Rooney, who has been a fixture of the film industry since his childhood in the 1920s, will be reunited with many of the co-stars he has had throughout his career. As one of the stars of MGM Studios, Rooney has been paired with numerous actresses, many of whom are scheduled to appear and perform as part of the night's festivities. Actresses Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee, founders of the Thalians, are the hosts for the evening, and they will be joined by a contemporary version of Uncle Sam. Reynolds and Lee are scheduled to perform, as are Shirley Jones, Nancy Sinatra, Connie Stevens, Mitzi Gaynor and Ann Blyth.

Terry Fator, the comedian and ventriloquist winner of the 2007 edition of "America's Got Talent" is also scheduled to perform. Fator has been a facet of Las Vegas entertainment for than a decade, headlining at the Mirage. Comedian Bruce Vilanch and musical act The Golddiggers will also be on stage.

Among those to be attendance are Lou and Carla Ferrigno, Dick Van Patten, Alex Trebek, Gloria Allred, Barbie Benton, Joan Van Ark, Stella Stevens, Jack LaLanne, Elke Sommer and Garry Marshall.

Tickets to the 54th Annual Thalians Ball start at $400 per seat, which will benefit the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai. As part of the formal festivities, the evening will feature a gourmet menu, a silent and live auction and dancing to the live music of Lynn Keller and the Suits.