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. In 1969, Driscolls mother tried to search for him, as his father was nearing death. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. Driscoll found it difficult to get work, because all other studios considered him a Disney kid. From 1953, he mostly worked on TV in Front Row Center, Climax!, Navy Log, Fireside Theater, Ford Theater, Dragnet, Studio One, Men of Annapolis, Medic, among others. 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. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. [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. 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). 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. Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the studio. Disney had big plans for Driscoll too. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor known for a large body of cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. Driscoll portrayed Robert "Bibi" Bonnard in Richard Fleischer's comedy The Happy Time (1952), which was based on a Broadway play of the same name by Samuel A. Taylor. 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. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. He briefly worked as a carpenter and cared for the young children he had with his ex-wife. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. 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. "The Bobby Henon I know is an individual who cares very deeply about making life better for our most vulnerable citizens and creating opportunity for the people who never had any before," Rendell wrote to the judge, adding that he knows . After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. [17], Treasure Island was an international hit, and several other film projects involving Driscoll were under discussion, but none materialized. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. He was discovered in a barbershop when he was 5 years old, and cast in films including Song of the South and So . For his TV and radio work, he earned a Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. The story of this child actor, who starred in films like Song of the South and Peter Pan, is a heart-wrenching one. top of page. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. 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. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. 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. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. Were always looking for your input! The short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. Soon, Driscoll began butting heads with the law. The film turned Driscoll and his co-star Luana Patten into child stars, and they were discussed for a special Academy Award as the best child actors of the year, but for the year of its release, no juvenile awards were presented at all.[7]. 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. After Disney kicked Driscoll to the curb, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, an institution that served child actors. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. 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. As a child,. He tried to seek serious acting roles. The Life of Bobby Driscoll Robert Cletus "Bobby" Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 3rd, 1937, to parents Cletus (1901-1969), an insulation salesman, and Isabelle (Kratz) (1897-1972), a former schoolteacher. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll No identification was on the body, and photos shown around the neighborhood yielded no positive identification. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. In 1956, the authorities took him in and charged him with possession of marijuana. Bobby Driscoll Age & Birthday. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. The sentencing hearing for former City Councilmember Bobby Henon is underway in the Philadelphia federal courthouse. 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. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. At the same time, Driscoll was working on another projectand it defined his entire career. First famous now infamous. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. 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. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. What Driscoll did was simple, but revealed a curiosity for the world around him which deeply impressed the director for Lost Angels. 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 found work as an artist in The Factory, Warhols New York City art studio. He made multiple trips to New York City to study acting, and even reportedly enrolled in UCLA and Stanford. 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. During production, the big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films. On March 30, 1968, two playing children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. The Happy Time: Directed by Richard Fleischer. 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. All Rights Reserved. In 1950, Driscollat just 13 years oldreceived a very special Academy Award that recognized his work in So Dear to My Heart and The Window. Via Wikimedia Commons at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bobby_Driscoll_1950.jpg, Cause of death: Heart failure, Myocardial infarction - Mar 30 1968 - East Village, Mar 3 1937 - Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States, Cletus Joseph Driscoll, Isabella Isabelle Louise Driscoll, Mar 3 1937 - Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa, United States, Mar 30 1968 - New York City, New York, United States, Mar 30 1968 - East Village, United States, Apr 1 1950 - Tley, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, Mar 3 1937 - Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States of America, Mar 30 1968 - New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, United States of America, Driscoll, Driscoll, Driscoll, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States, 371 East 10th Street, East Village, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, Hart Island, Bronx County, New York, United States, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. Actor: Peter Pan. It took even longer for news of Driscolls passing to reach the public. 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 was born on the 3rd of March, 1937. Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, Treasure Island was an international smash hit. 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. Bobby Driscoll: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. 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. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. Bobby Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids. 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. Born In: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. In 1960, Driscolls life fell apart all at once. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. View Collection. [54][55], In 1965, early in his tenure at the Factory, Driscoll gave his last known film performance, in experimental filmmaker Piero Heliczer's underground movie Dirt. As a result, the city buried Driscolls unclaimed body in an unmarked paupers grave on Hart Island. Other such smaller roles led to a contract from Walt Disney. 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. He won an Oscar at 12, and. Driscoll was loaned to Horizon Pictures for When I Grow Up (1951) in which he played the double role of Danny/Josh Reed. He made a brief appearance in Disneys first TV Christmas show, One Hour in Wonderland (1950). Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. David Derks. [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]). He landed his debut role in "Lost Angels . While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Driscolls desire to learn dazzled the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants. Immediate Family Marilyn Verna Driscoll ex-wife Private child Private child Private child Cletus Joseph Driscoll father Isabelle Louise Driscoll mother About Bobby Driscoll Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. 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. Still perceived as "Disney's kid actor",[28] he was unable to get movie roles as a serious character actor. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. When Driscoll left Chino in early 1962, he was unable to find acting work. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his Disney days, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs. A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. 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. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. Summertime "Summertime" is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess.The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, and Ira Gershwin. Hughes probably didnt expect much of a reaction, but he couldnt have been more wrong. Driscolls burial records, along with many others, were destroyed in a fire. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, he relocated to New York, hoping to revive his career on the Broadway stage, but was unsuccessful. While Driscoll was the perfect age for the role of Tom Sawyer, legal disputes over the Tom Sawyer story forced Disney to cancel the project altogether, leaving Driscoll high and dry. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. 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. At the time, Disneys finances were in shambles thanks to WWII and desperately needed the film to do well. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. 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. 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. 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. Late in 1961, he was sentenced as a drug addict and imprisoned at the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. Nationality. The real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was the fact that no one identified his body. The couple had two daughters and a son. 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. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. By. -. In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. And despite Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power. A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. 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.. Embittered by this, he said, "I have found that memories are not very useful. 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. . Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. Howard Hughes, who had bought RKO the previous year, considered the film unworthy of release and Driscoll not much of an actor, so delayed its release. In December 1956, Driscoll eloped with his girlfriend Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. 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. Driscoll's mother, Isabelle, did not learn of her son's death until about two years later after she placed advertisements about his disappearance in New York newspapers. The film and his voice became a big hit. 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 other film RKO had in mind for Driscoll, however, presented a whole new challenge for the child actor. 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. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. Despite being one of Disney's first and most successful child stars, Driscoll has never been enshrined as a Disney Legend. She reached out to Disney for help, which eventually led her to the NYPD. The first film they needed Driscoll for was If You Knew Susie, a comedy musical that was right up Driscolls alley. You see, So Dear to My Heart was a joint venture between Walt Disney and RKO Pictures. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. 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. 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