​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Joseph Michael "Mickey" Shaughnessy (August 5, 1920 - July 23, 1985) was an Irish American character actor who specialized in playing lovable, but not-too-bright lugs. One of his best-known roles was as the tough, experienced mentor of Elvis Presley's character in Jailhouse Rock. The New York City-born Shaughnessy died at the age of 64 of lung cancer at Cape May Court House, New Jersey. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mickey Shaughnessy, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia