Christopher Aber, 52, was ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Rooney, 90, and his Los Angeles area home. Aber is the son of Rooney's eighth wife Jan. A local lawyer was given temporary conservatorship powers over Rooney and his estate, at the actor's request, in a ruling by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

According to court papers, Aber is a regular but unannounced visitor to Rooney's home, and the diminutive actor who was once a close friend and co-star of Judy Garland in the Andy Hardy movies hides in his room to avoid his step son. "He threatens, intimidates, bullies and harasses Mickey," according to papers in support of the stay-away order. "Mickey is effectively a prisoner in his home." "Chris has blocked Mickey's access to his mail and will not provide Mickey with any information about his finances, other than to tell him that Mickey is broke."

The documents also allege that Aber has deprived Rooney of medications, food and has confiscated his passport and other identification cards.