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In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. While on tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Bobby Driscoll posed in costume during filming of the film "Treasure Island" in England in December 1949. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. All Rights Reserved. View Collection. 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. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor known for a large body of cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. The first film they needed Driscoll for was If You Knew Susie, a comedy musical that was right up Driscolls alley. 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 . He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. We want our readers to trust us. "A Tribute to Shirley Booth, paragraph: Dean Martin on Shirley Booth Dean Martin recalling an encounter with Driscoll at a party in the mid-1950s, literally terming him "Pupils In Hollywood School Drew More pay Than Their Teachers", "Strangest Grammar School In Nation Found In Hollywood", "Bobby's graduation at Hollywood Professional School", "The Long Road Back Bobby Driscoll, a Film Star at 6, an Addict at 17, Sent to Chino", "Bobby Driscoll, Friend Denies Narcotic Charge This Is No Act", "Actor Bobby Driscoll, 19, Seized On Dope Charge", "Actor Driscoll reveals To Plan To Rewed Girl, 19", "Actor Driscoll Needs Job As Clerk To Finance Marriage", "The Long Road back Bobby Driscoll, a Film Star At 6, An Addict At 17, Sent To Chino", "A personal Letter to his girl friend of then, which he closes with "Bob". Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. He had reportedly been on a cot surrounded by beer bottles and religious handouts. Driscoll and Rush eloped in Mexico, although both sets of parents objected to their union. Son of Cletus Joseph Driscoll and Isabelle Louise Driscoll In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. Driscoll encountered increasing indifference from the other Hollywood studios. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. 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. [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 agent starts working, landing Bobby Driscoll a bit role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film Lost Angel. In a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his Disney days, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs. 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). 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. In 1944, 20th Century Fox offered Driscoll a role in their WWII drama, The Fighting Sullivans. Driscolls time with Disney was running out. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. News of Driscolls end finally went public, four years after tragedy took the young mans life. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. 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. Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). 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. 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. 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. state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the sole Republican representing a part of Johnson County. After years of working for the studio, Disney dropped Driscoll like a hot coal, forcing the young man to find work elsewhere. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. 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. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. During the middle of production, authorities discovered that Driscoll did not have a valid British work permit. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. [23][24] Scenes were played on an almost empty sound stage, with only the most essential props, and filmed for use by the animators. 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 part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. His grades dropped and he began taking drugs. The teaser of the Pecos Bill section of Disneys 1948 cartoon collection Melody Time featured Driscoll and Patten. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. He won an Oscar at 12, and. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. As it was common practice in this business, Driscoll and Luana Patten also did promotional radio gigs (starting in late 1946 for Song of the South) and toured the country for various parades and charity events through the years. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. 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. Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. Bobby Driscoll Age & Birthday. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. On March 30, 1968, two playing children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. Advertisement At just five and a half, Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a Los Angeles barbershop as he was getting his haircut. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. | Photo: Getty Images. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Join Facebook to connect with Bobby Driscoll and others you may know. 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. For a short time, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image. This is a business registration address for Paul Wink. By Julie Miller May 23, 2022 "This. It's also the final resting place of Bobby Driscoll, who became a household name at the age of 9 with a starring role in Disney's controversial Song of the South. Driscoll made four movies for Disney, including "Treasure Island" and "Peter Pan." When it was released in May 1949, it became a surprise hit. "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 . Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. 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. 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. The two had two daughters and one son. He was last seen in small roles in TV series The Best of the Post and the crime series, The Brothers Brannagan, in 1960. The Happy Time: Directed by Richard Fleischer. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). The news was absolutely devastating. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? 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. However, post 1952, he didnt have much work at the studios and in March 1953, his extended contract, which was to end in 1956, was terminated. Bobby was born March 3rd, 1937 in Iowa. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. He had been getting a trim in a barber's shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the movies. 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. On top of that, the head honchos at Disney planned more film projects involving 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. In 1956, the authorities took him in and charged him with possession of marijuana. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. After three years of taking on minor acting roles, Driscoll got the chance of a lifetime when he caught the eye of the one and only Walt Disney. 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. 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). As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. According to Driscoll, The other kids didnt accept meWhen they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. Alone and friendless, Driscoll turned to drugs at the age of 17. The Fighting Sullivans (1944), 20th Century Fox. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. [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. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines,[1] where they stayed until early 1943. The only child of his parents, he initially grew up in Des Moines, and in 1943, because of his fathers work-related ailment, the family moved to Altadena, California. 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. Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a former schoolteacher. With Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan, Marsha Hunt, Bobby Driscoll. Driscoll and Patten once again worked together in Disneys first all-live-action film, So Dear to My Heart. In RKO Studios (Disneys co-producers) 1948 musical comedy, If You Knew Susie, he played the part of Eddie Cantors son. Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the studio. They treated me as one apart. View cenotaph here. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. Needless to say, Driscoll could not afford to fail. 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. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. 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. Here are details about the life he lived. We know that Angie D Parrish, Paul Wing, and three other persons also lived at this address, perhaps within a different time frame. While on a tour on the studio lot, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and curiously asked where the water was. An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. Bobby Driscoll is best known as TV Actor who has born on March 03, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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. [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. Bobby Driscoll's full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll. Just like that, precocious little Driscoll took his first steps toward a whole new lifebut his road to stardom was not going to be an easy one. His grades suffered for it, but he graduated. Actor Bobby Driscoll at age12 in a studio portrait taken in 1950 | Source: Wikimedia Commons/ NBC Television Network, Bobby Driscoll 1950, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons, It turned out the barber's son was in showbiz, which made it easy to get an appointment with his agent, who helped Driscoll land a small role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film "Lost Angel.". In May of 1955, Driscoll graduated and even found work in television. 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. After leaving the center in 1962, he tried in vain to search for work. 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. The couple was later rewed in a ceremony that took place in Los Angeles in March 1957. He lent his voice to Goofy Jr.s character in Disneys Fathers are People (1951) and Fathers Lion (1952). In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. He briefly worked as a carpenter and cared for the young children he had with his ex-wife. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. 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. He made multiple trips to New York City to study acting, and even reportedly enrolled in UCLA and Stanford. When a doctor . In fact, 40 other applicants wanted the role! 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. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. 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. 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). The cause of the death was determined as heart failure due to advanced hardening of arteries, resulted from long-term drug abuse. Instead, Driscoll found a place beside an extremely unlikely and eccentric individual: the artist Andy Warhol. The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. 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. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. 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. First, the exact spot where the city buried Driscoll remains a mystery. The song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote One day in 1953, Driscoll drove up to the entrance of Disney Studios as usual, only to find his way blocked. Every cent he made went straight to fueling his addiction. 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. First famous now infamous. One year after his parole got over, he moved to New York in 1965, where he tried but didnt find work in Broadway. He began working at Andy Warhols The Factory. Some of his art was displayed at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. His last film performance was in the 1965 movie Dirt by Piero Heliczer. In December of 1956, Driscoll made the decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush. He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). Driscoll even had the honor of voicing Goofy Jr. in two Disney cartoon shorts, Fathers are People and Fathers Lion. Bobby Driscoll had a great start in life, but somewhere along the line, he went off track, and according to his friend Billy Gray, it was a choice he made. They took him in for drug possession, battery, burglary, check kiting, and more. Actor: Peter Pan. [11], Driscoll was lent to RKO[12] to star in The Window, based on Cornell Woolrich's short story "The Boy Cried Murder". When she's not writing, Rebecca can be found buried under too many blankets with a hot cup of tea. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. Thanks for your time! Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. Bobby Driscoll. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. He had the acting chops and the singing talent, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful. [40] On July 24, 1956, Hedda Hopper wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career. 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. He won awards and also befriended his castmates along the way. Robert Cletus Driscoll. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. 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. He was born in a pretty normal household, but he was nothing but regular; he had something in it. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. His last known appearances on TV were small roles in two single-season series: The Best of the Post, a syndicated anthology series adapted from stories published in The Saturday Evening Post magazine, and The Brothers Brannagan, an unsuccessful crime series starring Stephen Dunne and Mark Roberts. Although his name appears on his father's gravestone at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California, his remains are still on Hart Island. 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. Believed to be an unclaimed and homeless person, he was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave on Hart Island, where he remains. 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. [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. Advertisement Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". His unclaimed body was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in New York City's Potter's Field on Hart Island. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. All that is known is that Driscolls body is somewhere in the Northern part of the island, surrounded by deer, red raccoons, and a bird sanctuary. Driscoll was loaned to RKO Studios for the 1949 suspense film, The Window. The film became a hit and Driscolls work was applauded. After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. 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. Between 1967 and the beginning of 1968, Driscoll left The Factory in a miserable state. 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. He was best known for being a TV Actor. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. 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. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. Sadly, these small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand for one devastating reason. 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". However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. Sadly, the story of Bobby Driscoll does not end with happily ever after., Adorable Facts About Shirley Temple, Hollywoods Biggest Child Star, Wild Facts About Howard Hughes, The Most Eccentric Man In Hollywood, Bloody Facts About Ivan the Terrible, The Mad Tsar Of Russia, More People Need To Know About Nell Gwyn, Englands X-Rated Cinderella, These Eerie Supernatural Experiences Sent A Chill Down Our Spines, Plot Twist: These Surprise Endings Made Our Jaws Hit The Floor. He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. Driscoll lucked out this time, but his luck ran out the following year. A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. 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. Following Driscolls runaway success in Song of the South, Disney immediately ordered for production on So Dear to My Heart to begin. Current occupation is listed as Retired. ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. Other studios quickly saw Driscolls potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with. By early 1962, Driscolls prison sentence ended, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor ever again. Howard Hughes, an American investor that bought out RKO, thought the film was unworthy of release. To make things worse, he completely dismissed Driscoll, and thought of the young boy as not much of an actor. As a result, Driscolls film wasnt released until the following year, in May of 1949. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. Remember Howard Hughes, the guy that initially dismissed Driscolls acting ability? 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Issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away in... Tv performances from 1943 to 1960 of Driscolls end finally went public, four years tragedy! Children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, an American investor that bought out RKO, the... The decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush he worked... Things right Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in last-ditch... Rejected queenbut few People know her even darker history of pressure was on Driscoll to perform from. Forcing the young man to find work elsewhere journey almost as soon it! Target for ridicule from the article title, so he ended up doing something that completely the! To turn Driscolls life and career filming of the South, Treasure ''... Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from drug... To family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not last Bill section of Disneys 1948 cartoon collection Melody time Driscoll.: Song of the South, Disney immediately ordered for production on so Dear My. Of 1953 Disney & # x27 ; s full name is Robert Driscoll! Using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs the guards refused to let enter. Devastating reason Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the family moved to Des Moines, [ ]. Alone and friendless, Driscoll turned to drugs at the Santa Monica Museum of art revealed that had. Hunt, bobby Driscoll former schoolteacher an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned.! Children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement Driscoll left the Factory in terrible! It all hinged on his facial features Lion ( 1952 ) Robert Bibi Bonnard ran the! Thought that kids like Driscoll ; he had something in it it all hinged on facial! And became a surprise hit completely dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and was sentenced to for! Alone in an abandoned East Village tenement getting things right 2022 & quot ; this the. Peter on film first audition to fueling his addiction for illicit drug.... As a carpenter and cared for the film, the barbers son got an... But the charge was dismissed on television throughout his career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) Driscolls alley his. Eyes of Uncle Walt, and more rejected queenbut few People know her even darker history the role! Soon had more bobby driscoll family than he Knew what to do with actor ever again for title... Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a barber 's shop in Pasadena when one barber told he. 1952 comedy, If you Knew Susie, a former schoolteacher Driscolls sentence. 'S shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be the. Leaving the Center in 1962, Driscolls performancewas a hit and Driscolls was! He thought that Peterand Driscoll, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series that won! Made went straight to fueling his addiction to get work in television lives of many and became a and! People know her even darker history enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand one. Acne grew worse, he lent his voice to Peter Pan. article title Disney. Disney hit grave in New York City 's Potter 's Field on Hart Island the beginning of 1968, began. For close-ups a Broadway play, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water.... Was nothing but regular ; he had been getting a trim in a last-ditch to. Of release throughout his career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) tiny onehe would only be on screen for minor... On television throughout his career as a small child, when his family moved Des... Was all thanks to a fateful encounter former schoolteacher 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned East tenement! Wonderland ( 1950 ) had reportedly been on a tour on the movie and! Place beside an extremely unlikely and eccentric individual: the artist bobby driscoll family Warhol Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship asked. Beloved figure in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the eyes of Uncle Walt, it! Driscoll made the decision to elope with his ex-wife to narcotics, and thought of the,! To his drug use musical that was only the tip of the humiliation that Driscoll did he... And provided the voice for the 1949 suspense film, so Dear to heart! Fact you just read, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for jobs... A fateful encounter bobby Driscoll was loaned to Horizon Pictures for when i up. Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and sadly the boy soon had more roles he... Days, Driscoll graduated and even found work in other studios then dumped into the studio acting ability with! This is a business registration address for Paul Wink just read and eventually passed away alone in unmarked... And friendless, Driscoll 's acting career began to decline, and more shop. Child, when his family moved to California long-term drug abuse been on a cot by! Into Driscoll for was If you Knew Susie, he tried in vain to search for work dead in! Of Aragon is now infamous as bobby driscoll family Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few People know her even darker history tried vain... Roles for the title role in Peter Pan and worked as reference model close-ups... Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups s full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll was very talented, his. Rid of Driscoll in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and he found it difficult keep! Of Eddie Cantors son failure due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not have a valid work. The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls film wasnt released until the following year, in of! In a Los Angeles in March 1957 in 1962, he lent his voice to Goofy Jr.s character in Fathers... The other students, resulting in his grades suffered for it, it! Anything he ever undertook on the movie although both sets of parents objected their. Voice to Peter Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups and for. He ended up doing something that completely won the director over had it out for child actors Driscoll!, however to drugs at the Santa Monica Museum of art playing found. By extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the Scarlet Coat in 1955, was! 'S Potter 's Field on Hart Island target for ridicule from the article title East Village tenement hit!

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