his parents were vaudeville entertainers. he earned his first oscar nomination with judy garland. >> took on more serious roles and in 1980 became a born again christian. he merged as an activist against elder abuse testifying before a senate subcommittee. he shared his private pain publically about people taking advantage of his age and making decisions about his life. he won control again over his own life and took it all in grace and humor. >> when i was younger, steve, i used to have waves in my hair. now there's nothing but beach. >> he lived most of his life in the hollywood spotlight. he won two oscars an emmy and other awards. his secret of success? >> you just have to have the power to express your individuality. if you stop and realize it, there's never going to be, never will be another you. >> so right about that. there will never be another mickey rooney. he leaves behind an 8th wife and family. i got to meet him on the 700 club just a delightful man. >> same as the person he appeared to be? >> definitely so. >>

his parents were vaudeville entertainers. he earned his first oscar nomination with judy garland. >> took on more serious roles and in

. >> born in 1920, his parents were vaudeville entertainers.. he played along big names, judy garland in "babes in arms" q earning his first oscar nomination. ♪ >> the champagne. >> after his rush of stardom, he was battered by a stalled career, drug and gambling addictions. earned $12 million before he was 40 and he spent more and was forced to file for bankruptcy. he also married eight times throughout his life. one of his wives, ava gardner. in 1980, he took a stronger commitment to his faith, becoming a born again christian. in 2011, he emerged as an activist. you may remember this against elder abuse. he shared his private pain publicly about people taking advantage of his age, in making decisions about his life. he ultimately won control again over his own life and he took it all in grace and humor. >> when i was younger, i used to have waves in my hair. really. i used to have waves in my hair. now there is nothing but beak. >> he lived most of his life in the hollywood spotlight, more than 200 feature films, two oscars and emmy and other

but at the same time, it has old-fashioned entertainment value the likes of which is a combination of vaudeville, and broadway musical. has it all. >> yes, it does. having a great time. >> so the reaction you've been getting must be crazy. how do you keep up that energy level, watching you go through that and you got to be exhausted, tired -- >> it is exhausting as it is exhilarating. i go home to bed in my oxygen tent at the end of every night. >> i would think you suck in a little oxygen. >> yes. >> you're a much younger man than i thought. >> you're so kind. >> you play such an array that i didn't know which one was the real -- >> i know. >> and everybody lies with their pictures in the play bill anyway. but you're better looking than your play bill. >> you make me blush, madam. >> you were a tony winner in that one man show called "i am my own wife". >> you played how many characters in that one? >> 37 characters. they were all in the same costume. it is the costume changes. >> what do we have here? >> just to give you a taste of the family. they are a motley crue. this is lord edleburg, hig