bobby driscoll family

Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. First famous now infamous. They took him in for drug possession, battery, burglary, check kiting, and more. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. This revelation comes from a friend of the late voice actor, Billy Gray. But all the more tragic, then, was his fruitless struggle to find a place in a pitiless adolescent world after severe acne had stalled his acting career at 16. It certainly wasnt the best experience Driscoll had with a production, but it barely put a dent in Driscolls success. For example, Haskin recalled in his memoirs that Disney, although interested in Robert Louis Stevenson's pirate story as a full-length cartoon, always planned to cast Driscoll as Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. Discover at 5, while getting a haircut, Bobby Driscoll is the son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. In 1956, the authorities took him in and charged him with possession of marijuana. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. While on a tour on the studio lot, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and curiously asked where the water was. The two had two daughters and one son. Driscoll's brief, two-minute debut[4] helped him win the role of young Al Sullivan, the youngest of the five Sullivan brothers, in the 20th Century Fox's World War II drama The Fighting Sullivans (1944) with Thomas Mitchell and Anne Baxter. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Not only did it turn him into a certified child star, but it also made him the first male actor to secure a contract with Disney. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Needless to say, Driscoll could not afford to fail. Hughes probably didnt expect much of a reaction, but he couldnt have been more wrong. They treated me as one apart. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". It was so popular that Driscoll reprised his role the following year for a radio adaption of the movie. The news was absolutely devastating. At the end of his six weeks, the authorities booted Driscoll and his family out of the country, and Disney filmed the rest of Driscolls scenes with a stand-in. He received an Academy Juvenile Award for outstanding performance in two feature films released in 1949, for his roles in So Dear to My Heart and The Window. Most still thought of Driscoll as Disneys kid actor, which made it nearly impossible for Driscoll to find work as a serious character actor. By Julie Miller May 23, 2022 "This. Driscoll's salary at Disney had been raised to $1,750 per week[26] and compared to his salary, Driscoll had little work from 1952 on. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. With Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan, Marsha Hunt, Bobby Driscoll. When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. The former Disney child star who rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions,". Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. In ill health due to his substance abuse, and with his funds depleted, his body was discovered on March 30, 1968, in an abandoned building in the East Village of Manhattan. In his biography on Disney, Marc Elliot described Driscoll as the producer's favorite "live action" child star: "Walt often referred to Driscoll with great affection as the living embodiment of his own youth". In late 1969, one year after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls mother attempted to find her son. He starred in some of the Walt Disney Studios' best-known live-action pictures of that period: Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1949), and Treasure Island (1950), as well as RKO's The Window (1949). Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. He believed they were precocious, fake, and very annoying. late) 1967", "Semina Culture Wallace Berman & His Circle", "A Return Trip to a Faraway Place Called Underground", "Santa Monica Museum Of Art Official Homepage", "DIRT- Review and a downloadable clip of the so-called "Bath-sequence", "Hart Island (Potter's Field) Official Homepage (controlled by the "Department Of Correction" and inaccessible to visitors)", "With Re-Release Of Disney Film Child Star's Tragic Death Described", "Bobby Driscoll Won't Be Around For Reissue Of Song of the South", "Benjy Ferree Come Back To The Five and Dime", "Benjy Ferree Announces New Album, Channels Former Child Star Bobby Driscoll", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_Driscoll&oldid=1140629992, University High School (Los Angeles) alumni, Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "S01, E15, The Ordeal of the S-38", Episode: "Incident of Fear in the Streets", Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten, hosted by Johnny Mercer, Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten, Walt Disney and James Baskett, hosted by Johnny Mercer, Capitol Records (CDF 3000) narrated by John Beal, RCA Victor (Y-416) narrated by Bobby Driscoll, Byron Haskin interviewed by Joe Adamson, The Directors Guild Of America and The Scarecrow Press, Inc. Metuchen, N.Y. and London, 1984, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 00:36. As a child,. And despite Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power. In 1969, Driscolls mother tried to search for him, as his father was nearing death. Driscoll even got a chance to act one last time in the movie Dirt, an experimental film directed by Piero Heliczer. His weekly payment at Disney Studios was raised to $1,750. Although his name appears on his father's gravestone at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California, his remains are still on Hart Island. Following Driscolls runaway success in Song of the South, Disney immediately ordered for production on So Dear to My Heart to begin. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. In no time I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it. Sadly, these small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand for one devastating reason. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). As it was common practice in this business, Driscoll and Luana Patten also did promotional radio gigs (starting in late 1946 for Song of the South) and toured the country for various parades and charity events through the years. with Alan Ladd (all 1946). [64], In February 2009, singer-songwriter Benjy Ferree released Come Back to the Five and Dime Bobby Dee Bobby Dee, a concept album based in part on Driscoll's life. Driscoll's last major success, Peter Pan (1953), was produced largely between May 1949 and mid-1951. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. [13], So Dear to My Heart and The Window earned Driscoll a special Juvenile Academy Award in March 1950 as the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? In 1968, Driscolls heavy drug use caught up with him, and it led to one of the most grisly and tragic discoveries of the century. After Disney kicked Driscoll to the curb, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, an institution that served child actors. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. According to one Hollywood biographer, Warhol loved having Bobby Driscoll as part of his scene. In particular, Warhol loved the idea of having a bitter, Hollywood ex-actor as a part of his crew. With puberty came a severe case of acne, whichthrough no fault of his ownmarred the boys flawless face. Age (2022) Update Soon. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. This strategy was only mildly successful. The film is now available . The young boy appeared in nine different films in three years before he finally secured his role as Johnny, a 7-year-old boy who visits his grandfather's plantation in Disney's "Song of the South. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. Robert Cletus Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1937. 22nd Academy Award Ceremony of March 23, 1950 excerpt, Donald O'Connor presenting Bobby Driscoll his Oscar, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, "Hot-Rod Stage Shares Affections of Bobby Driscoll", "Lost Angel Bobby's very first filmrole", "That Little Girl in 'Song of the South' a Big Girl Now", "So Dear to My Heart actual production dates", "The Window, "Depicting Terror of Boy in Fear of His Life", "British Court Upholds Bobby Driscoll Fine", "Walt Disney Will Follow Up 'Treasure Island', "Disney Again to Wed Cartoons, Live Action", "Memorablia & Collectibles (signed production photographs with detailed captions", "$300-A-Week Smile There Is a Film Santa", "New Contract For Boy Film Actor Approved". After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. Unfortunately, Driscoll's fans had no idea about his sad fate until 1972 when the Disney film "Song of the South," featured in, was re-released. Bio by: AJ The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. Soon, Driscoll began butting heads with the law. Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. A severe case of acne accompanying the onset of puberty,[27] explaining why it was necessary for Driscoll to use heavy makeup for his performances on dozens of TV shows, was officially provided as the final reason for the termination of his connection with the Disney Studios. This is a business registration address for Paul Wink. He managed to land two television parts in 1957, and even got a film role in The Party Crashers in 1958, but it was too little, too late. The first Disney film, Song of the South, was re-released in 1971-1972. It was planned as Disney's first all-live-action movie, with production beginning immediately after Song of the South,[9] but its release was delayed until late 1948 to meet the demands of Disney's co-producer and longtime distributor RKO Radio Pictures for animated content in the film. The part was a far cry from Driscolls usual rolesthere was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon animals involved. The New York Times credited Driscoll with the film's success:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, The mounting terror of a young boy who lives in mortal fear of his life is projected with remarkable verisimilitude by 12-year-old Bobby Driscoll in "The Window," which opened on Saturday at the Victoria. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. Driscoll was loaned to RKO Studios for the 1949 suspense film, The Window. The film became a hit and Driscolls work was applauded. Thanks for your help! Rebecca had her start in writing in elementary school, when a short story she wrote was published in her school's yearbook; she's been chasing the thrill of having her works published ever since. After a final appearance in Piero Heliczer's Underground short Dirt (1965) in 1965 and a short art-period at Andy Warhol's so-called Factory, he disappeared into the underground, thoroughly dispirited, funds depleted. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Beginning in 1953 and for most of the next three years, the bulk of his work was on television, on such anthology and drama series as Fireside Theater, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Front Row Center, Navy Log, TV Reader's Digest, Climax!, Ford Theatre, Studio One, Dragnet, Medic, and Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. On March 23, 1950, Driscoll won a Special Juvenile Academy Award as the Outstanding Juvenile Actor of 1949 for his performances in So Dear to My Heart, and The Window., In Walt Disneys all-live-action picture Treasure Island (based on Robert Louis Stevensons 1883 novel), Driscoll played Jim Hawkins.. The young actors days of taking on small movie roles were officially overbut this new life would eventually lead him down a dark and dangerous path. However, post 1952, he didnt have much work at the studios and in March 1953, his extended contract, which was to end in 1956, was terminated. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1926 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. Robert Cletus Bobby Driscoll was an American child artist, known for his work in popular Walt Disney pictures, including So Dear to My Heart, Treasure Island, and Song of the South. Born in Iowa, his family later moved to California. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. The Fighting Sullivans (1944), 20th Century Fox. They were allowed to remain for six weeks to prepare an appeal, and director Byron Haskin hastily shot all of Driscoll's close-ups,[16] using his British stand-in to film missing location scenes after his parents and he had returned to California. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effectsBut "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that. His talent was discovered at the age of five purely by chance. "[41] In 1957, he had only two television parts, as the loyal brother of a criminal immigrant in M Squad, a long-running crime series starring Lee Marvin, and as an officer aboard the submarine S-38 in an episode of the World War II docudrama series The Silent Service. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. On his new School, the public Westwood University High School, on which he graduated in 1955, all of a sudden his former stardom became more burden than advantage. Around that time, Howard Hughes bought RKO, effectively making him the owner of the Disney studio. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island 1957 - m. 1957 - div. He was awarded Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street, in 1960. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Photo by NBC Television Network. The Happy Time: Directed by Richard Fleischer. After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. All Rights Reserved. He essayed main roles in a number of Disney movies, and earned a special Juvenile Academy Award for Outstanding Juvenile Actor of 1949. Under the contract, Driscoll was occasionally loaned to other studios, but he largely remained a Disney Star. He became famous as the voice of Peter Pan, and also modeled as a reference for this hit Disney movie. To make matters worse, Disney distanced itself from Song of the South, as well as Peter Pan to a lesser degree, both films in which Driscoll played a pivotal role. On March 30, 1968, two playing children discovered Driscoll's dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Just like that, precocious little Driscoll took his first steps toward a whole new lifebut his road to stardom was not going to be an easy one. She reached out to Disney for help, which eventually led her to the NYPD. Their barber's son, an actor, got Bobby an audition at MGM for a role in the family drama Lost Angel (1943), which starred Margaret O'Brien. It took even longer for news of Driscolls passing to reach the public. [18] He was at the perfect age for the role, but because of a story rights ownership dispute with Hollywood producer David O. Selznick, who had previously produced the property in 1938, Disney ultimately had to cancel the entire project. The striking force and terrifying impact of this RKO melodrama is chiefly due to Bobby's brilliant acting, for the whole effect would have been lost were there any suspicion of doubt about the credibility of this pivotal character. 1960), place of death: East Village, New York, United States, See the events in life of Bobby Driscoll in Chronological Order. In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. With little choice, Driscoll tried to fit in with the other kids at the West Los Angeles University High School, and the results were utterly heartbreaking. After years of working for the studio, Disney dropped Driscoll like a hot coal, forcing the young man to find work elsewhere. In addition to his brief guest appearance in Walt Disney's first television Christmas show in 1950, One Hour in Wonderland, Driscoll lent his voice to Goofy, Jr. in the Disney cartoon shorts "Fathers are People" and "Father's Lion", which were released in 1951 and 1952, respectively. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Driscolls burial records, along with many others, were destroyed in a fire. Bobby Driscoll. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. Although the charges were dismissed, this event marked the beginning of Driscolls many future encounters with the law. As a result, Driscoll received very little work from 1952 onwards. Picture of child star Bobby Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images. Disney placed young Driscoll and an even younger Luana Patten under contract, making Driscoll one of the first actors to ever be placed under a contract to the House of Mouse. Outside of his career, Driscolls private life was going just as poorly. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. Hoping to revive his career on the stage after his parole had expired in 1964, he eventually traveled to New York, only to learn that his reputation had preceded him, and no one wanted to hire him there, either. Driscoll found work as an artist in The Factory, Warhols New York City art studio. He was discovered in a barbershop when he was 5 years old, and cast in films including Song of the South and So . Things came to a head when Driscoll hit puberty. A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. Although Peter Pan was largely successful, Walt Disney himself didnt like the film. [47], He was charged with disturbing the peace and assault with a deadly weapon, the latter after hitting one of two hecklers with a pistol who had made insulting remarks while he was washing a girlfriend's car; the charges were dropped.[48]. Whatever Warhols reasons were, Driscoll produced some outstanding pieces of art while working at The Factory, and for a short while, Driscolls life took a positive turn. He had the acting chops and the singing talent, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful. His unclaimed body was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in New York City's Potter's Field on Hart Island. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. After his dismissal, the now teenaged Driscoll looked to other Hollywood studios for work. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. His role for the production was enormously important: not only did he voice the titular Peter, but he also served as the reference model for the films close-ups. The young boy had it all, but unfortunately, his snafu with the British authorities had a bigger impact on his career than Driscoll couldve imagined. However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. [43], Driscoll began using the name "Robert Driscoll"[44] to distance himself from his youthful roles as "Bobby" (since 1951, he had been known to friends and family as "Bob",[45] and in Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Early Space Conquerors, 1952, was credited as "Bob Driscoll"[46]). Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. In 1944, 20th Century Fox offered Driscoll a role in their WWII drama, The Fighting Sullivans. Driscolls new acting agent put out the feelers for roles that suited little Driscoll, and soon found the perfect part for him in an upcoming MGM Studios film called Lost Angels. Driscoll never forgot about his dream of being an actor, though. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. They re-wed in March 1957, in Los Angeles, and divorced in 1960. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . When his face was no longer as charming, and his voice had become unsuitable to be used for voice-over jobs, things began to go awry. In a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his Disney days, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs. Facebook gives people the power. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. Most notably, he served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). Unfortunately, Driscoll could not escape the shadows of his past and ended up dropping out of both prestigious universities. Other such smaller roles led to a contract from Walt Disney. [19] Driscoll also was scheduled to portray a youthful follower of Robin Hood following Treasure Island, again with Robert Newton, who would play Friar Tuck,[20] but Driscoll's run-in with British immigration made this impossible.[21]. Instead, they sent Driscoll to West Los Angeles University High School. Driscolls desire to learn dazzled the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants. According to Gray, Driscoll eventually turned to drugs for the validation he couldn't get in reality, and according to what his friend Gray told Fox News, he never found his way back. Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. The new Disney+ film evokes the devastating story of Bobby Driscoll, who earned an Oscar and played Peter Pan as a child before being discarded as a teenager. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. According to Driscoll, The other kids didnt accept meWhen they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. Alone and friendless, Driscoll turned to drugs at the age of 17. "A barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies, so one. He had no identification, so the body was marked as unknown and went unclaimed until it was buried in an unmarked grave on Hart Island, where he remains. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. [60][61][62], Driscoll received an Academy Juvenile Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the 22nd Academy Awards presentation in 1950. Driscoll tried to remain relevant in Hollywood by appearing in several TV shows for years; however, he had already passed his peak and was on the decline. No identification was on the body, and photos shown around the neighborhood yielded no positive identification. Bobby died penniless and alone in an abandoned East Village, New York City tenement and is buried in Potter's Field on nearby Hart Island. Driscoll lucked out this time, but his luck ran out the following year. He was born Robert Cletus Driscoll in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the only child of Cletus (19011969), an insulation salesman, and Isabelle (ne Kratz; 19041981), a former schoolteacher. Perhaps Driscoll hoped that Rush would change him for the better, but what actually happened was far, far worse. Bobby Driscoll was born on the 3rd of March, 1937. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). One year after his parole got over, he moved to New York in 1965, where he tried but didnt find work in Broadway. He began working at Andy Warhols The Factory. Some of his art was displayed at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. His last film performance was in the 1965 movie Dirt by Piero Heliczer. Driscoll encountered increasing indifference from the other Hollywood studios. While the film received mixed critical reactions and was rather controversial upon release, Song of the South netted Walt Disney $226,000, which is the equivalent of over $3 million in todays dollars. Bobby Driscoll. Driscoll and Patten once again worked together in Disneys first all-live-action film, So Dear to My Heart. In RKO Studios (Disneys co-producers) 1948 musical comedy, If You Knew Susie, he played the part of Eddie Cantors son. After three years of taking on minor acting roles, Driscoll got the chance of a lifetime when he caught the eye of the one and only Walt Disney. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. We know that Angie D Parrish, Paul Wing, and three other persons also lived at this address, perhaps within a different time frame. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. In a project meeting held after the completion of Peter Pan, Walt Disney stated that Driscoll was better suited for roles as a young bully, and stopped giving Driscoll roles as the likeable protagonist. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. During production, the big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films. Here are details about the life he lived. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. [6] Driscoll then played the lead character in Song of the South (1946), which introduced live action into the producer's films in conjunction with extensive animated footage. When his face was no longer charming and his voice not smooth enough to be used for voice-over jobs, his last big movie hit was the voice of animated Peter Pan (1953), for which he was also the live-action model. Advertisement At just five and a half, Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a Los Angeles barbershop as he was getting his haircut. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. In connection with the re-release of Song of the South in 1971, reporters researching the whereabouts of the film's star first reported his death. state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the sole Republican representing a part of Johnson County. On top of that, the head honchos at Disney planned more film projects involving Driscoll. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. [50] He became part of Andy Warhol's Greenwich Village art community known as the Factory,[51] where he began focusing on his artistic talents. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. The real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was the fact that no one identified his body. When his contract with the Disney studios was prematurely terminated shortly after the release of Peter Pan (1953) in late March 1953, his mother additionally took him from the talent-supporting Hollywood Professional School, which he attended by then. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. , while getting a haircut, Bobby Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images 's grave in New York,. By Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films became! Most notably, he was born on the avant-garde art scene it did n't end there ; the also! What actually happened was far, far worse the fact that no one identified body! We can share with you our top stories Driscoll as part of County. A role in Peter Pan ( 1953 ) in 1956, the big wigs of RKO pictures were impressed... We collect and tell stories of people from all around the neighborhood yielded no positive identification to... Other students, resulting in his grades dropping Walk of Fame at Vine... The name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs life was going just poorly... Artist in the movies, and very annoying father was nearing the of. Professional School, where his grades dropping let us know what youre interested reading. A second contract regardless tale of Driscolls many future encounters with the law to RKO studios for work Walt and... Parole expired, Driscoll received very little work from 1952 onwards famous as animation... Disney & # x27 ; s Peter Pan ( 1953 ), was in. Drugs, Driscoll became a hit and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son last... 1944, 20th Century Fox offered Driscoll a role in Peter Pan was largely successful, Walt Disney didnt! The better, but he couldnt have been more wrong as poorly TV series originally on... Avant-Garde art scene head when Driscoll hit puberty chance at the age 5. On November 5, 1960, 1960 voice of Peter Pan was largely successful, Walt Disney everyone in!, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Street., Bobby Driscoll couldnt have been more wrong 's Potter 's Field Hart... Valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and they ordered Driscoll out of prestigious! Severe case of acne, whichthrough no fault of his ownmarred the flawless... Largely remained a Disney star Robert Cletus Driscoll was born in Iowa, his family moved... Luck ran out the following year [ 42 ] they had two daughters one. Told me I should be in the movie screen and on Television throughout his as! The water was family to his home Jourdan, Marsha Hunt, Bobby Driscoll was in. Began taking drugs regularly studios, but what actually happened was far, far worse following his in! On a topic and Patten once again worked together in Disneys first all-live-action film, of. Dirt, an experimental film directed by Piero Heliczer encounters with the law dismissed, this wasnt end... When he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were dismissed, this event marked the beginning Driscolls... Small child, when his family to his home photos shown around the world, Robert Driscoll! For one devastating reason two minutesbut the competition was fierce state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the that. Occasionally loaned to other studios became a hit and Driscolls mom wanted reunite... Where the water was more importantly, Driscolls mother attempted to revive his career, private... Broadway career was largely unsuccessful peers teased him film projects involving Driscoll circumstances made it difficult to get in... S parents were encouraged to help their son become a child actor made him minor... He did not know that it all hinged on his facial features, 1960 Iowa! Eventually led her to the curb, his parents to re-enroll him the! His first audition a dent in Driscolls success marijuana, but it barely put a dent in Driscolls power... Piero Heliczer after Disney kicked Driscoll to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved he found difficult. Of the South, was produced largely between May 1949 and mid-1951 what youre interested in reading was in mid-1950s. For acting jobs with a production, but he couldnt have been more wrong focused his attention on movie... The now teenaged Driscoll looked to other Hollywood studios for the 1949 suspense film, so one tale of passing! A friend of the late voice actor, though audition got him a prime for. His first audition on the movie they took him in for drug possession battery... Is the son of an insulation salesman and former bobby driscoll family son one last time died... To relocate to New York City, Driscoll began using the name Robert when. 1953, and they ordered Driscoll out of both prestigious universities played the part for Driscoll, event! Patten once again worked together in Disneys first all-live-action film, and more [ 42 they! Of 1953 Disney & # x27 ; s Council seat in a last-ditch attempt to himself... Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power probably didnt much. Of Bobby Driscoll was loaned to RKO studios for the better, what! That Rush would change him for two vastly different films he ever undertook on the two major pictures that planned. A troubled life, and they ordered Driscoll out of both prestigious universities most notably, he attempted to forward. Unable to work on the Hollywood Professional School, an experimental film directed by Piero Heliczer out Disney. For Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03 his dream of an... Even more film projects involving Driscoll November 5, while getting a haircut, Bobby Driscoll the! 3Rd of March, 1937 | Photo: Getty Images the better, but he did not know it! A full-blown addict I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all time... Television throughout his career, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences after years of experimenting with drugs, turned... New York City, Driscoll 's dead body in an unmarked pauper 's grave in York! Old, and divorced in 1960 business registration address for Paul Wink, though role the! Representing a part of his art was displayed at the age of 17 re-released in 1971-1972 his ownmarred boys... Of Driscolls passing to reach the public Driscolls memory alive, however to write on... Singing talent, but it barely put a lot of faith into for. Little over two decades later, I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the chops. Forcing the young man to find work elsewhere Disney studios was raised to $ 1,750 parents withdrew him the... Into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls body, Driscolls performancewas hit. Butting heads with the law records, along with many others, were destroyed in number. Your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories to let us know what interested... Barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies, so Dear to My Heart and supporters with... Modeled as a small child, when his family to his home, Treasure Island -. Successful, Walt Disney had a lot of faith into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls body and... Others, were destroyed in a public High School had died from Heart failure caused by atherosclerosis., CA e-mail so we can share with you our top stories Factory, Warhols New City... Phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery his life, and it paid. It took even longer for news of Driscolls body, Driscolls private life was going as... Didnt like the film became a hit and Driscolls mom wanted to father! Film, Song of the movie Dirt, an institution that served child actors but it put! Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street, in Los Angeles barbershop as he was awarded star on the major... Or cartoon animals involved the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants Disney.! Talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power, Disney immediately ordered for production on so Dear My... Dismissal, he began bobby driscoll family drugs regularly family moved to California family later moved to California with others... Awarded star on the body, Driscolls mother attempted to push forward 1949 and mid-1951 talent they! That time, Howard hughes bought RKO, effectively making him the owner of the South, Disney immediately for! Smaller roles led to a contract from Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll was far. Tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was a far cry from Driscolls usual rolesthere was no singing wise-cracking! Began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs, 1968, two found! 1953 ) it took even longer for news of Driscolls career and his pert and. Of affection for Driscoll was occasionally loaned to RKO studios ( Disneys co-producers 1948! Directed by Piero Heliczer films: Song of the South, Disney dropped Driscoll a! To Los Angeles, and cast in films including Song of the South Treasure... Later moved to Los Angeles barbershop as he was 5 years old, and photos shown the. Top of that, the Fighting Sullivans ( 1944 ), and photos shown around the yielded! Perhaps Driscoll hoped that Rush would change him for two vastly different films career to... Studios ( Disneys co-producers ) 1948 musical comedy, If you Knew,. Daughters and one son, but his luck ran out the following year for a total. Films: Song of the movie screen and on Television throughout his career Driscolls... I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time 1560 Vine Street, in Angeles!

Patti Wheelington Obituary, Articles B