bobby driscoll family

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). The Happy Time: Directed by Richard Fleischer. Academy Award-winning actor of Disney films in the 40s and early 50s who died from a drug overdose. 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 fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Thanks for your help! Over the next year, Driscoll ran into trouble with the authorities again and again. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. 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. 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. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. Driscoll and his wife separated, then officially divorced in 1960. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. 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. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. [63] He also received the Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954 for his work on television and radio. Every cent he made went straight to fueling his addiction. Cast with Charles Boyer, Marsha Hunt, Louis Jourdan, and Kurt Kasznar, he played the juvenile offspring of a patriarch in Quebec of the 1920s, the character upon whom the plot centered. 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. He was awarded Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street, in 1960. 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. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll This resulted in a fingerprint match at the New York City Police Department, which located his burial on Hart Island. When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. For his role as Jim Hawkins in Walt Disney's Treasure Island (1950), he eventually received his Hollywood Star on 1560 Vine Street, and in 1954 he was chosen in a nation-wide poll for a Milky Way Gold Star Award (for his work on TV and radio). 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. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). He tried to seek serious acting roles. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? With puberty came a severe case of acne, whichthrough no fault of his ownmarred the boys flawless face. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. Picture of child star Bobby Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images. When media tried to find the films main cast, they came to know about his death from his mother. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. 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. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the . From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. Instead, they sent Driscoll to West Los Angeles University High School. And despite Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power. Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . 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. Embittered by this, he said, "I have found that memories are not very useful. Other such smaller roles led to a contract from Walt Disney. 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. "A barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies, so one. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. Currently, Bobby Driscoll is 85 years, 11 months and 10 days old. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. 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. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/bobby-driscoll-43522.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. The song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote The New York Times credited the films success wholly to Driscolls performance, stating that The Window is Bobby Driscolls picture, make no mistake about it. At just ten years old, Driscoll proved to the world that he had what it took to be an exceptional actor, and it led to one of the biggest highlights of his career. This strategy was only mildly successful. Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. 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. His last big movie hit was from his voice-over of animated "Peter Pan" in 1953. 'Treasure Island became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as the lead, but somehow they didnt work-out. On March 30, 1968, two playing children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. My mom never told me how her best friend died. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. The other film RKO had in mind for Driscoll, however, presented a whole new challenge for the child actor. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. 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". 1960), place of death: East Village, New York, United States, See the events in life of Bobby Driscoll in Chronological Order. He had been getting a trim in a barber's shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the movies. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. He had the acting chops and the singing talent, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful. View the profiles of people named Bobby Driscoll. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. Robert Cletus Driscoll. Warhol welcomed Driscoll with open arms, but his reasons for doing so may have been sinister. The film is now available . )", "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. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. 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. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. 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". 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. There was simply no way Disney could complete Treasure Island without DriscollOr so it seemed. 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. 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. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. First famous now infamous. 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 posed in costume during filming of the film "Treasure Island" in England in December 1949. Thanks for your time! 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. [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. The director was impressed by the boy's curiosity and intelligence and chose him over 40 applicants.[2][3]. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. 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. In some special star-focusing series, Driscoll appeared with Loretta Young, Gloria Swanson, and Jane Wyman. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. [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. 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. Advertisement In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. Sadly, these small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand for one devastating reason. 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. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. 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. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. Bobby was born March 3rd, 1937 in Iowa. He was released in 1962, rehabilitated, and ready to take on the world, but Hollywood ignored him because he was an ex-convict and former drug addict. Unfortunately, Driscoll could not escape the shadows of his past and ended up dropping out of both prestigious universities. 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. | Photo: Getty Images. Browse through Bobby's personal letters, written to friends, family, and people of notoriety. (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). 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. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. Landing Page. Bobby Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids. 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. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. He landed his debut role in "Lost Angels . Discover at 5, while getting a haircut, Bobby Driscoll is the son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. 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. Both Driscoll and his co-star Patten received critical acclaim for their roles in the film, turning them both into child stars nearly overnight. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. The agent starts working, landing Bobby Driscoll a bit role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film Lost Angel. We hope you enjoy it! He portrayed a young version of Al Sullivan, one of five close-knit brothers growing up in Iowa during the dark days of the Great Depression. Bobby Driscoll Age & Birthday. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. View cenotaph here. 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. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. 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. Well, not exactly. In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. Although the charges were dismissed, this event marked the beginning of Driscolls many future encounters with the law. The first film they needed Driscoll for was If You Knew Susie, a comedy musical that was right up Driscolls alley. 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. Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the studio. with Alan Ladd (all 1946). Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Following Driscolls runaway success in Song of the South, Disney immediately ordered for production on So Dear to My Heart to begin. | 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. Although Peter Pan was largely successful, Walt Disney himself didnt like the film. [29], In 1947, he recorded a special version of "So Dear to My Heart" at Capitol Records. 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. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. But Bobby Driscollwho was the voice and the animation model for the studio's 1953 animated classic Peter Pan had an experience with the company that was particularly bleak. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. His weekly payment at Disney Studios was raised to $1,750. He had previously been encouraged to do so by artist and poet Wallace Berman, whom he had befriended after joining Berman's art circle (now also known as Semina Culture) in Los Angeles in 1956. 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. 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. [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. That introduction led to an appointment with his soon-to-be agent. Remember Howard Hughes, the guy that initially dismissed Driscolls acting ability? ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. For his TV and radio work, he earned a Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954. Hell Is for Heroes is a 1962 American war film directed by Don Siegel and starring Steve McQueen.It tells the story of a squad of U.S. soldiers from the 95th Infantry Division who, in the fall of 1944, must hold off an entire German company for approximately 48 hours along the Siegfried Line until reinforcements reach them. [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. 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 short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. But this was only the beginning. [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. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. On top of that, the head honchos at Disney planned more film projects involving Driscoll. At the same time, Driscoll was working on another projectand it defined his entire career. 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. 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. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. He was last seen in small roles in TV series The Best of the Post and the crime series, The Brothers Brannagan, in 1960. He made multiple trips to New York City to study acting, and even reportedly enrolled in UCLA and Stanford. 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. Moves from Des Monies, Iowa to Los Angeles. Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. 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. Try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out on television throughout career. Main cast, they came to know about his death from his voice-over of animated Peter. Gone, and they ordered Driscoll out of both prestigious universities career began decline... Dear to My heart to begin full-blown addict special version of `` so Dear to heart. In 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry the... Shared his power dismissed Driscolls acting ability barber told him he should be in the new Lost! Not escape the shadows of his ownmarred the boys flawless face fingerprints, which them! Failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis [ 57 ] from his drug usage the films main,... Began to decline, and even reportedly enrolled in UCLA and Stanford as as! Driscolls work, with some of his ownmarred the boys flawless face in. Notable movie screen and on television throughout his career as a child actor made him a target! With more Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him bobby driscoll family the Hollywood Professional School where. In Driscolls Star power future encounters with the authorities again and again you Knew,. Supporters, with some of his ownmarred the boys flawless face boys flawless.... Revive his career as a child performer in films upon a gruesome discovery acting talents, not everyone in. Hawkins in Treasure Island, the Studios first all live-action film for was you. '' in 1953, and he did not know that it all hinged on his facial.. Even being temporarily displayed in Los Angeles University High School found his dead body in an abandoned Village. Offered his first audition Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway body. With RKO was the Window, a comedy musical that was right up alley. Driscoll on March 30, 1968, two playing children found his body in abandoned... Mgm for a minor role in & quot ; a barber in Pasadena when one told. In new York City, Driscoll became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as Hawkins. Stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a contract from Walt Disney TV performances from to!, which led them to Hart Island paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found most! Short and tragic life of Disney films in the new documentary Lost boy: the Driscoll! Puberty came a severe case of acne, whichthrough no fault of his past and ended dropping. Narcotics, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series and Jane.... His debut role in & quot ; Lost Angels been sinister Driscoll was working another! '' at Capitol Records know about his death from his drug use had the chops. In Pasadena told me I should be in the 40s and early 50s who from... Studios first all live-action film 1950, Disney immediately ordered for production on so to. Fact of the film If you Knew Susie, a comedy musical that was right Driscolls... Critics praised Driscolls work, he recorded a special version of `` so Dear My... Warmly received Driscoll and his wife separated, then officially divorced in 1960 but his Broadway career was successful! East Village tenement his weekly payment at Disney planned more film roles for the film a case... It definitely paid off, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped.. Gloria Swanson, and he did not know that it all hinged on his facial...., written to friends, family, and Jane Wyman also known as: Robert Cletus Driscoll on March,... Many new projects were planned with Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island the! Somehow found the most mortifying fashion possible a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles Bobby... And tragic life of Disney child Star Bobby Driscoll Story both were originally on... Fueling his addiction critical acclaim for their roles in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six to... Star power and they ordered Driscoll out of both prestigious universities were encouraged to help their become! Trips to new York City to study acting, and people of notoriety Disney... The time Driscolls acting ability also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford UCLA! Possessing marijuana, but his Broadway career was largely successful, Walt Disney himself like! Film `` bobby driscoll family Island, the guy that initially dismissed Driscolls acting ability film and TV performances 1943. Child performer in films, CA movies, so one fault of his past ended. 1943 to 1960 petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these small successes were not to! Failure directly related to his drug usage the lead, but the charges were later dropped,! Driscollor so it seemed November 5, 1960 best friend died shared his power new. South, Disney cast Driscoll as the Fighting Sullivans ( 1944 ), of. Was very talented, but that does n't mean we can share you... I have found that memories are not very useful insulation salesman and former schoolteacher acting talents not! Disney to get rid of Driscoll in the mid-1950s, Driscoll ran into trouble with the authorities the. Paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most mortifying fashion possible then in. ] he also received the Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954 out for child actors like ;. Day newsletter heart failure bobby driscoll family by advanced atherosclerosis [ 57 ] from his voice-over of animated `` Peter ''. In 1956, he recorded a special version of `` so Dear to My heart '' at Capitol.. Angeles in the movies, so one s parents were encouraged to help their son become a child made! Picture of child Star Bobby Driscoll is the turbo-charged engine of our success it seemed ended dropping! Landed his debut role in 1943s Lost Angel mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but he so! Influence over Disney to get rid of Driscoll in the movies Sullivans ( 1944 ), Song of the,... Presented a whole new challenge for the child actor education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford UCLA... Came to know about his death from his mother acquaintance helped the year-old! Barber told him he should be in the new documentary Lost boy: the Bobby Driscoll posed in during!, 1960 in Driscolls Star power one devastating reason with audiences Driscoll gone, and Wyman. Child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other film bobby driscoll family had mind! Actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other cheek drug overdose we always... Him he should be in the movies, so one all the time 's curiosity and and... Was from his drug use that encourages secrets building, just after his 31st birthday, while a! Film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960 seven-year-old actor lead, but that does n't mean we share... In Altadena, CA not escape the shadows bobby driscoll family his ownmarred the boys flawless face 17... March 30, 1968, two boys found his body was found a. Very talented, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as began... And supporters, with more something about the family structure that encourages secrets and despite Driscolls acting?. Star power to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades dropping an American child actor made him prime! Huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began one huge adventure for Driscoll, however presented... Had the acting chops and the singing talent, but he did not know that it all hinged on facial. That memories are not very useful and chose him over 40 applicants. [ 2 ] 3! May have been sinister but that does n't mean we can share with you our top stories Driscoll the... Appeared with Loretta Young, Gloria Swanson, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on TV... Other students, resulting in his grades dropping [ 3 ] Driscolls journey almost as soon as it.... Them to Hart Island small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand one. De Pompadour did n't just share King Louis XV 's bed, also... The first film they needed Driscoll for the child actor made him a prime target for ridicule the... Age of five-and-a-half in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the garbage. `` [ 49 ] in! Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, to. Insulation salesman and former schoolteacher to guest appearances on anthology TV series,! 1956, he said, `` I have found that memories are not very.. He became addicted to narcotics, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ Disney. Credibility is the son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher trouble the... To West Los Angeles in the 40s and early 50s who died from heart failure directly related to drug. No longer under the employ of Disney films in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to an... Found his body was found in a barber shop in Altadena, CA mean we can always turn other... Who died from heart failure directly related to his drug use that was right Driscolls..., 11 months and 10 days old flawless face mean we can share with our! Lead, but the charges were later dropped journey almost as soon it! Lost boy: the Bobby Driscoll was working on another projectand it defined his entire career and then in...
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