>> reporter: mickey rooney grew up in show business, a product of hollywood's golden age. by the time he played puck in the 1935 film "a midsummer night's dream" rooney was already a veteran. he'd made his acting debut before he was 2 in his parents' vaudeville act. vaudeville would serve him well. he would sing and dance his way through hundreds of films. >> i don't know why and i don't want it. >> reporter: in 1970, his versatility landed him the role of andy hardy, a witty character and one he would revisit in a series of films. he was a contract player for mgm at the time. rooney, his stage name replaced his birth name, joe yule jr. he was awarded a special oscar for bringing the spirit of youth to film. his turn as a tough juvenile delinquent paired him with