In December of 1956, Driscoll made the decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush. Between 1967 and the beginning of 1968, Driscoll left The Factory in a miserable state. Driscoll and his wife separated, then officially divorced in 1960. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. 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. 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. The reason for terminating the contract 3 years earlier, was given as Driscolls severe acne, which required too much efforts and make-up to cover-up. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Critics praised Driscolls work, with some of his art even being temporarily displayed in Los Angeles in the Santa Monica Museum of Art. [23][24] Scenes were played on an almost empty sound stage, with only the most essential props, and filmed for use by the animators. In late 1969, one year after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls mother attempted to find her son. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. He appeared in a variety of anthology and drama series, such as Dragnet (a crime drama) and Medic (the OG medical drama). Driscoll's last major success, Peter Pan (1953), was produced largely between May 1949 and mid-1951. 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. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. 1960) father: Cletus Driscoll mother: Isabelle Kratz Driscoll Actors Child Actors Height: 5'10" (178 cm ), 5'10" Males Died on: March 30, 1968 place of death: East Village, New York, United States Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. 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. For a short time, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image. 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. Every cent he made went straight to fueling his addiction. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. He had the acting chops and the singing talent, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful. [66], (This is not necessarily a complete list; it displays all those that could be located and verified. Bobby Driscoll was a natural-born actor. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. The agent starts working, landing Bobby Driscoll a bit role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film Lost Angel. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. Browse through Bobby's personal letters, written to friends, family, and people of notoriety. When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. [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. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. His unclaimed body was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in New York City's Potter's Field on Hart Island. Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot, author of "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince," saw the perfect embodiment of the American child in Driscoll. [56], On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village tenement at 371 East 10th St. found Driscoll's body lying on a cot, with two empty beer bottles and religious pamphlets scattered on the ground. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. Bobby Driscoll: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Although the charges were dismissed, this event marked the beginning of Driscolls many future encounters with the law. Nationality. 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. 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. His life became more and more a roller coaster ride that included several encounters with the law and his eventual sentencing as a drug addict in October 1961. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. The sentencing hearing for former City Councilmember Bobby Henon is underway in the Philadelphia federal courthouse. 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. 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. It was clear that Driscolls drug addiction was destroying his life, and in 1961, everything came to a head when the authorities finally sentenced him as a drug addict. [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. March 1, 2021 - 7:01AM Former Disney child star Bobby Driscoll rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions." He won a Juvenile Oscar at age 12 and went on to voice the title role in 1953's animated film Peter Pan at age 16, but met a tragic end. Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. 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". He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. For the next two years, Driscoll continued to find work in film, television, and voice acting. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. Advertisement In 1972, Disney re-released Song of the South, which reignited public interest in Driscoll, the smiling little boy in the film that brought Disney back from the verge of bankruptcy. In an incredibly sad twist, Driscolls work with Disney made it incredibly difficult for the young actor to find roles. Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. The teaser of the Pecos Bill section of Disneys 1948 cartoon collection Melody Time featured Driscoll and Patten. [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]. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". Son of Cletus Joseph Driscoll and Isabelle Louise Driscoll He landed his debut role in "Lost Angels . [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. In the 1952 comedy, The Happy Time, based on a Broadway play, Driscoll played the role of Robert Bibi Bonnard. In Walt Disneys animated Peter Pan, he lent his voice to Peter Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups. On March 30, 1968, two playing children discovered Driscoll's dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Full Real Name. When media tried to find the films main cast, they came to know about his death from his mother. 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. Current occupation is listed as Retired. Instead, they sent Driscoll to West Los Angeles University High School. He successfully continued acting on TV until 1957 and even managed to get two final screen roles; in The Scarlet Coat (1955) and opposite of Mark Damon and Connie Stevens in The Party Crashers (1958). 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. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. Here are details about the life he lived. 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. In 1956, the authorities took him in and charged him with possession of marijuana. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. [65], In September 2011, American singer-songwriter Tom Russell released the song "Farewell Never Neverland" on the album Mesabi, an elegy for Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan. The song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote He landed two final screen roles: with Cornel Wilde in The Scarlet Coat (1955) and opposite Mark Damon, Connie Stevens, and Frances Farmer in The Party Crashers (1958). First famous now infamous. [10] Patten and he appeared with Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers in the live-action teaser for the Pecos Bill segment of Disney's cartoon compilation Melody Time (also 1948). She reached out to Disney for help, which eventually led her to the NYPD. This strategy was only mildly successful. We know that Angie D Parrish, Paul Wing, and three other persons also lived at this address, perhaps within a different time frame. When a doctor . By. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. Facebook gives people the power. He was best known for being a TV Actor. Bobby Driscoll is best known as TV Actor who has born on March 03, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Driscoll was born an only child to an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. Bobby Driscoll starred in Song of the South, Melody Time, Treasure Island, and most notably was the voice and reference model for Peter Pan. Released in early 1962, rehabilitated and eager to make a comeback, Bobby was ignored by the very industry that once had raised and nurtured him, because of his record as a convict and former drug addict. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. The short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. BobbyDriscoll.com. Hughes was not a big fan of Driscoll and Hollywood kids in general. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. 202 Sharp Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the residential address for Bobby. 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. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. After Disney turned its back on him, the budding actor was left to fend for himself, and it led to his early and tragic end. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. Academy Award-winning actor of Disney films in the 40s and early 50s who died from a drug overdose. 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. Although Driscoll did much to bolster Disney during a time of crisis, he is still, to this day, not a part of Disney Legends, the Disney equivalent of a Hall of Fame. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. 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. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. They charged him, but once again, the charges didnt stick. View final resting place and family links here. In 1960, Driscolls life fell apart all at once. In no time I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it. But this was only the beginning. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. Now nicknamed by the American press as Walt Disney's "Sweetheart Team",[8] Driscoll and Patten starred together in So Dear to My Heart (1948) with Burl Ives and Beulah Bondi. The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. Instead, Driscoll found a place beside an extremely unlikely and eccentric individual: the artist Andy Warhol. Fatal addiction to drugs destroyed Bobby Driscoll's brilliant career as a child star and left him for dead in an abandoned New York City tenement at age 31. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. . 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. While So Dear to My Heart didnt put quite as much pressure on Driscoll to perform well, the plot of the film closely mirrored Walt Disneys childhood, giving the filmand Driscolls role as young Jeremiaha special meaning to Walt. A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. April 26, 2020. Some of his works were considered outstanding,[52][53] and a few of his surviving collages and cardboard mailers were temporarily exhibited in Los Angeles at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. Disney had big plans for Driscoll too. This revelation comes from a friend of the late voice actor, Billy Gray. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. 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. Driscolls legacy as an actor is even harder to keep alive. Driscoll and Luana Patten were the first two actors Walt Disney placed under contract. 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. Around that time, Howard Hughes bought RKO, effectively making him the owner of the Disney studio. 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. When Driscoll left Chino in early 1962, he was unable to find acting work. The stigma that his prison sentence left on him made it impossible for Driscoll to find acting jobs, leaving the young man bitterBut not completely hopeless. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. 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. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. 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. He left his family at 16 and moved to New York City to study acting. Disney wanted to film Robin Hood in the United Kingdom, but Driscolls run-in with British immigration made it impossible for the young actor to work in the UK. This resulted in a fingerprint match at the New York City Police Department, which located his burial on Hart Island. What Driscoll did was simple, but revealed a curiosity for the world around him which deeply impressed the director for Lost Angels. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. 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.". He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. The Happy Time: Directed by Richard Fleischer. He was born in a pretty normal household, but he was nothing but regular; he had something in it. All Rights Reserved. After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. He believed they were precocious, fake, and very annoying. 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. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. [17], Treasure Island was an international hit, and several other film projects involving Driscoll were under discussion, but none materialized. 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. [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. He portrayed a boy that could whistle while standing on his head in Sunday Dinner for a Soldier, acted across Richard Arlen as his kid brother in The Big Bonanza, and portrayed Percy Maxima trouble-making childin So Goes My Love. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. 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. It took even longer for news of Driscolls passing to reach the public. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. . It was so popular that Driscoll reprised his role the following year for a radio adaption of the movie. The film is now available . After Disney kicked Driscoll to the curb, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, an institution that served child actors. In the film, Driscoll portrayed Tommy Woodry, a boy that witnesses a murder, only to have no one believe him due to his reputation as a liar. One day in 1953, Driscoll drove up to the entrance of Disney Studios as usual, only to find his way blocked. 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. He made multiple trips to New York City to study acting, and even reportedly enrolled in UCLA and Stanford. top of page. View Collection. One that his friend, Gray, thinks was caused by his inability to deal with getting abandoned by Hollywood. It wasnt until one year later that Driscolls family learned of his passing, and the results were agonizingly tragic. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. They took him in for drug possession, battery, burglary, check kiting, and more. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. Between 1948 and 1957, he performed on a number of radio productions, which included a special broadcast version of Treasure Island in January 1951 and of Peter Pan in December 1953. You see, Hughes really had it out for child actors like Driscoll; he thought that kids like Driscoll were incredibly annoying. As Driscolls acne grew worse, Hughes used his influence over Disney to get rid of Driscoll in the most mortifying fashion possible. When it was released in May 1949, it became a surprise hit. 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. In some special star-focusing series, Driscoll appeared with Loretta Young, Gloria Swanson, and Jane Wyman. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. In fact, 40 other applicants wanted the role! Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. 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. View the profiles of people named Bobby Driscoll. Warhol welcomed Driscoll with open arms, but his reasons for doing so may have been sinister. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. His performance won him an Oscar at 12, and by 16, he was given a chance to voice "Peter Pan," an animated film about a boy who never wants to grow up. In May of 1955, Driscoll graduated and even found work in television. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. [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. Bobby Driscoll Age & Birthday. We want our readers to trust us. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1948), and The Window (1949), which was not only the sleeper of 1949 but even earned him his Academy Award in March 1950 as the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949. Driscoll found work as an artist in The Factory, Warhols New York City art studio. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. 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". Hughes probably didnt expect much of a reaction, but he couldnt have been more wrong. Driscoll still had Robin Hood to look forward to, at leastRight? 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 young boy had it all, but unfortunately, his snafu with the British authorities had a bigger impact on his career than Driscoll couldve imagined. He starred in . Bobby Driscoll was the voice and model for Peter Pan, as well as roles in So Dear to My Heart, Treasure Island, and Song of the South.In 1953, Bobby's contract with Disney was terminated only . 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. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . 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. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. Driscoll was convicted for drug addiction and was sent to Narcotic Rehabilitation Center, at Chino, California. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). First, the exact spot where the city buried Driscoll remains a mystery. 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. Soon, Driscoll began butting heads with the law. This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. [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]. The couple had two daughters and a son. He lent his voice to Goofy Jr.s character in Disneys Fathers are People (1951) and Fathers Lion (1952). 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. View cenotaph here. Thanks for your time! The only son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher, Driscoll was discovered at the age of 5 while getting a trim. 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. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960.