bobby driscoll family

Bobby Driscoll was a natural-born actor. 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. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. 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. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. 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. 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. I tried desperately to be one of the gang. 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.. In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. He briefly worked as a carpenter and cared for the young children he had with his ex-wife. [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. In ill health from 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 story of this child actor, who starred in films like Song of the South and Peter Pan, is a heart-wrenching one. For the next two years, Driscoll continued to find work in film, television, and voice acting. Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. Thanks for your time! Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effectsBut "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that. [40] On July 24, 1956, Hedda Hopper wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career. 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. View final resting place and family links here. 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. Bobby was born March 3rd, 1937 in Iowa. Geni requires JavaScript! By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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. Instead, they sent Driscoll to West Los Angeles University High School. [23][24] Scenes were played on an almost empty sound stage, with only the most essential props, and filmed for use by the animators. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. After making his screen debut, he got a role in a 20th Century Fox war film, The Fighting Sullivans (1944), wherein he essayed the youngest of 5 brothers, Al Sullivan. In Sunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944), he played the boy who could blow his whistle while standing on head, and in the same year he played young brother of Richard Arlen in The Big Bonanza., In 1946, Driscoll portrayed Percy Maxim in So Goes My Love. The other movies in which he played small parts, included Identify Unknown, From This Day Forward, O.S.S., and Miss Susie Slagles., Driscoll was one of the first two actors to sign contract with Walt Disney. The first live-action/animated film of Disney, Song of the South (1946), had Driscoll as its lead actor. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines, where they stayed until early 1943. Bobby Driscoll. Thanks for your help! One that his friend, Gray, thinks was caused by his inability to deal with getting abandoned by Hollywood. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Photo by NBC Television Network. 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. Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. It led to his eventual sentencing as a drug addict in October 1961. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. 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. 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. It was so popular that Driscoll reprised his role the following year for a radio adaption of the movie. 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 His parents had normal, respectable jobs. 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. [18] He was at the perfect age for the role, but because of a story rights ownership dispute with Hollywood producer David O. Selznick, who had previously produced the property in 1938, Disney ultimately had to cancel the entire project. It certainly wasnt the best experience Driscoll had with a production, but it barely put a dent in Driscolls success. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. ), Media related to Bobby Driscoll at Wikimedia Commons. While on tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Remember Howard Hughes, the guy that initially dismissed Driscolls acting ability? After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. 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. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Bobby Driscoll Age & Birthday. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. 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). David Derks. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. [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 striking force and terrifying impact of this RKO melodrama is chiefly due to Bobby's brilliant acting, for the whole effect would have been lost were there any suspicion of doubt about the credibility of this pivotal character. There was simply no way Disney could complete Treasure Island without DriscollOr so it seemed. In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. The authorities showed photos of his body to people living in the neighborhood, but no one had any idea who he was. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. 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. 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. Later, he worked mainly in TV series and radio shows. Perhaps Driscoll hoped that Rush would change him for the better, but what actually happened was far, far worse. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. Bobby died penniless and alone in an abandoned East Village, New York City tenement and is buried in Potter's Field on nearby Hart Island. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. She reached out to Disney for help, which eventually led her to the NYPD. He had reportedly been on a cot surrounded by beer bottles and religious handouts. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. [35] He said later, "The other kids didn't accept me. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. They were allowed to remain for six weeks to prepare an appeal, and director Byron Haskin hastily shot all of Driscoll's close-ups,[16] using his British stand-in to film missing location scenes after his parents and he had returned to California. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. 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. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. 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. He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). Driscoll and Rush eloped in Mexico, although both sets of parents objected to their union. Examination revealed that Driscoll reprised his role the following year for a radio adaption of the California Institution for in... 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