He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. 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. Around that time, Howard Hughes bought RKO, effectively making him the owner of the Disney studio. Instead of doing that, however, Driscoll took the sneaky route: He used the six-week buffer he had to hastily film all his close-ups. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. Hughes was not a big fan of Driscoll and Hollywood kids in general. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. An acquaintance helped the 5 year-old Driscoll with an audition at MGM for a minor role in 1943s Lost Angel. He overcame 40 aspirants to bag the role. The Fighting Sullivans (1944), 20th Century Fox. In 1969, Driscolls mother tried to search for him, as his father was nearing death. 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. Howard Hughes, an American investor that bought out RKO, thought the film was unworthy of release. To make things worse, he completely dismissed Driscoll, and thought of the young boy as not much of an actor. As a result, Driscolls film wasnt released until the following year, in May of 1949. It took even longer for news of Driscolls passing to reach the public. Additional screen portrayals included the boy who could blow his whistle while standing on his head in Sunday Dinner for a Soldier, the "child brother" of Richard Arlen in The Big Bonanza (both 1944), and young Percy Maxim in So Goes My Love (1946),[5] with Don Ameche and Myrna Loy. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll The role was minor, but it was the start of many movies that capitalized on Driscoll's features, including his pert nose and freckled face. While Disney likes to believe it has a squeaky-clean image, one look at Bobby Driscoll will tell you that things are never that simple. [30], After Driscoll left the Disney studios, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, which served child movie actors,[31][32][33][34] and sent him to the public West Los Angeles University High School, instead. That introduction led to an appointment with his soon-to-be agent. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). The sentencing hearing for former City Councilmember Bobby Henon is underway in the Philadelphia federal courthouse. 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. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. . During production, the big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films. Driscoll and Luana Patten were the first two actors Walt Disney placed under contract. [22] Driscoll was cast with Disney's "Little British Lady" Kathryn Beaumont, who was in the role of Wendy Darling; he was used as the reference model for the close-ups and provided Peter Pan's voice, and dancer and choreographer Roland Dupree was the model for the character's motion. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island This revelation comes from a friend of the late voice actor, Billy Gray. 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. Spring inspires lessons in love and life for a French family in 1920s Ottawa, especially for teenage Robert, who's blind to the attentions of an American neighbor girl, because he's infatuated with the beautiful new maid, fleeing life as a magician's assistant. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. As Driscolls personality deteriorated, his marriage suffered. [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. After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. [58][59], Late in 1969, Driscoll's mother sought the help of officials at Disney studios to contact him, for a hoped-for reunion with his father, who was nearing death. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. 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. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. Actor Bobby Driscoll at age12 in a studio portrait taken in 1950 | Source: Wikimedia Commons/ NBC Television Network, Bobby Driscoll 1950, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons, It turned out the barber's son was in showbiz, which made it easy to get an appointment with his agent, who helped Driscoll land a small role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film "Lost Angel.". In March 1953, the additional two-year option Driscoll had been extended (which would have kept him at Disney into 1956) was cancelled, just weeks after Peter Pan was released theatrically. Here are details about the life he lived. After his dismissal, the now teenaged Driscoll looked to other Hollywood studios for work. In December 1956, Driscoll eloped with his girlfriend Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married. Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. Academy Award-winning actor of Disney films in the 40s and early 50s who died from a drug overdose. 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. 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. 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.. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. One that his friend, Gray, thinks was caused by his inability to deal with getting abandoned by Hollywood. First famous now infamous. Most still thought of Driscoll as Disneys kid actor, which made it nearly impossible for Driscoll to find work as a serious character actor. The former Disney child star who rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions,". [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. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. Thanks to the money he saved up while working for Disney, Driscoll had the cash to experiment with a wide variety of drugs, and his experiments led him down a dark path with no return. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. 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. Nationality. His grades dropped and he began taking drugs. Driscoll played Eddie Cantor's screen son in the RKO Studios musical comedy If You Knew Susie (also 1948), in which he teamed with former Our Gang member Margaret Kerry. Bio by: AJ They re-wed in March 1957, in Los Angeles, and divorced in 1960. In the few short years he became a star, Driscoll never quite found his way or regained his footing. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/bobby-driscoll-43522.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. 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. The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. Bobby Driscoll: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. [14][15], Driscoll was cast to play Jim Hawkins in Walt Disney's version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (1950), with British actor Robert Newton as Long John Silver, the studio's first all-live-action picture. Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, Treasure Island was an international smash hit. This was already sad enough, but it wasnt even the most tragic fact about his end. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. Here are details about the life he lived. That same year, Driscoll got in trouble with the authorities once again when he hit a heckler that insulted him while he washed his girlfriends car. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. It's also the final resting place of Bobby Driscoll, who became a household name at the age of 9 with a starring role in Disney's controversial Song of the South. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. He took on the double role of Danny/Josh Reed in When I Grow Upand made a brief guest appearance in Disneys first televised Christmas show, One Hour in Wonderland. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. As a child,. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot, author of "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince," saw the perfect embodiment of the American child in Driscoll. The news was absolutely devastating. At the time, Disneys finances were in shambles thanks to WWII and desperately needed the film to do well. 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. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Bobby Driscoll was born on the 3rd of March, 1937. 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. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. Driscoll still had Robin Hood to look forward to, at leastRight? Lets just, Song of the South (1946), Walt Disney Productions, So Dear to My Heart (1948), Walt Disney Productions, Treasure Island (1950), Walt Disney Productions, The Party Crashers (1958), Paramount Pictures, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Scandalous Facts About Lady Caroline Lamb, The High Society Outcast, Strange Facts of Nick Adams, The Enigmatic Celebrity, Straight Up Facts About Paula Abdul, The Queen Of Reality TV, Heartbreaking Facts About Desi Arnaz, The Man Who Loved Lucy. For the next two years, Driscoll continued to find work in film, television, and voice acting. [30], For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Driscoll received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street in 1960. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. On March 30, 1968, two playing children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Although Peter Pan was largely successful, Walt Disney himself didnt like the film. [25] During a project meeting following the completion of Peter Pan, though, Disney stated that he now saw Driscoll as best suited for roles as a young bully rather than a likeable protagonist. He starred in some of the Walt Disney Studios' best-known live-action pictures of that period, such as Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1949), The Window (1949), and Treasure Island (1950). Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the . There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Advertisement At just five and a half, Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a Los Angeles barbershop as he was getting his haircut. Driscoll never forgot about his dream of being an actor, though. At a very young age, Bobby Driscoll made huge waves as a part of the early, extended Disney family. His talent was discovered at the age of five purely by chance. Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. Ironically, critics of the film thought that Driscolls portrayal was a huge step up, as the original Peter Pan book portrayed the character as a complete sociopath. We hope you enjoy it! In 1944, 20th Century Fox offered Driscoll a role in their WWII drama, The Fighting Sullivans. Bobby Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids. Driscoll was born an only child to an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. [23][24] Scenes were played on an almost empty sound stage, with only the most essential props, and filmed for use by the animators. A year after the couple eloped, they re-wed in an official ceremony in Los Angeles in March of 1957. Bobby Driscoll Died Broke in Abandoned House at 31 & His Mom Only Found out over a Year Later By Oyin Balogun Oct 16, 2021 06:00 P.M. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. After that, Driscoll started having run-ins with the law. Critics praised Driscolls work, with some of his art even being temporarily displayed in Los Angeles in the Santa Monica Museum of Art. )", "Bobby Driscoll Hopes To Rebuild Film Life", "Bobby Driscoll Freed On Bail After Fracas", "Bobby Driscoll Won't Be Around For Reissue Of "Song Of The South" (last column)", "Bobby Driscoll sitting on a couch (on portfolio, page 38, third row it's the last known photograph of him, ca. Driscoll even had the honor of voicing Goofy Jr. in two Disney cartoon shorts, Fathers are People and Fathers Lion. 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". 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. Other studios quickly saw Driscolls potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with. Geni requires JavaScript! | Photo: Getty Images. The award was presented as a special miniature Oscar statuette for "the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949" for his roles in So Dear to My Heart and The Window, both released that year. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. 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. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. Wife and longest-lasting Queen of England to Mexico and they got married to! 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