From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. Unfortunately, Driscoll could not escape the shadows of his past and ended up dropping out of both prestigious universities. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. This put Driscoll and the entire production in a sticky situation. Driscolls time with Disney was running out. While those roles got Driscolls acting career rolling, it was his next role that took the little boys career to the next level. For his TV and radio work, he earned a Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. Driscoll even had the honor of voicing Goofy Jr. in two Disney cartoon shorts, Fathers are People and Fathers Lion. [60][61][62], Driscoll received an Academy Juvenile Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the 22nd Academy Awards presentation in 1950. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effectsBut "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that. At the same time, Driscoll was working on another projectand it defined his entire career. View the profiles of people named Bobby Driscoll. The other film RKO had in mind for Driscoll, however, presented a whole new challenge for the child actor. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". But all the more tragic, then, was his fruitless struggle to find a place in a pitiless adolescent world after severe acne had stalled his acting career at 16. Bobby Driscoll starred in Song of the South, Melody Time, Treasure Island, and most notably was the voice and reference model for Peter Pan. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. At a very young age, Bobby Driscoll made huge waves as a part of the early, extended Disney family. 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. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. Driscoll was convicted for drug addiction and was sent to Narcotic Rehabilitation Center, at Chino, California. 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. Geni requires JavaScript! Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Believed to be an unclaimed and homeless person, he was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave on Hart Island, where he remains. On March 30, 1968, two playing children discovered Driscoll's dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. [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. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. In May of 1955, Driscoll graduated and even found work in television. Things came to a head when Driscoll hit puberty. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. [40] On July 24, 1956, Hedda Hopper wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career. Thanks for your time! After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Rebecca had her start in writing in elementary school, when a short story she wrote was published in her school's yearbook; she's been chasing the thrill of having her works published ever since. The film and his voice became a big hit. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. 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. The short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. The two had two daughters and one son. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. 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. That introduction led to an appointment with his soon-to-be agent. By. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. Driscoll never forgot about his dream of being an actor, though. The part was a far cry from Driscolls usual rolesthere was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon animals involved. His performance won him an Oscar at 12, and by 16, he was given a chance to voice "Peter Pan," an animated film about a boy who never wants to grow up. -. In 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. Most still thought of Driscoll as Disneys kid actor, which made it nearly impossible for Driscoll to find work as a serious character actor. Bobby Driscoll. In a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his Disney days, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs. 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.". Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. In fact, 40 other applicants wanted the role! 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. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. 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. Most notably, he served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). | Photo: Getty Images. In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the studio. Bobby was born March 3rd, 1937 in Iowa. The first Disney film that Driscoll ever acted in was Song of the South in 1946, in which Driscoll took on the starring role as Johnny. He and his co-star Luana Patten became child-stars and the media dubbed them as Walt Disneys Sweetheart Team.. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Disney had big plans for Driscoll too. [35] He said later, "The other kids didn't accept me. On the surface, this sounded like an enormously successful marriage, but for Driscoll, this wasnt the case. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Robert Cletus Driscoll (March 3, 1937 c. March 30, 1968) was an American actor who performed on film and television from 1943 to 1960. After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. "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 . Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. 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. He was last seen in small roles in TV series The Best of the Post and the crime series, The Brothers Brannagan, in 1960. Driscolls new acting agent put out the feelers for roles that suited little Driscoll, and soon found the perfect part for him in an upcoming MGM Studios film called Lost Angels. David Derks. Bobby is a high school graduate. [14][15], Driscoll was cast to play Jim Hawkins in Walt Disney's version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (1950), with British actor Robert Newton as Long John Silver, the studio's first all-live-action picture. When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. The film was incredibly receivedbut in an ironic twist, its success ended up being Driscolls downfall. He was best known for being a TV Actor. It wasnt until one year later that Driscolls family learned of his passing, and the results were agonizingly tragic. Driscolls legacy as an actor is even harder to keep alive. Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. 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. Bio by: AJ [63] He also received the Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954 for his work on television and radio. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. 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. While on a tour on the studio lot, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and curiously asked where the water was. Driscolls desire to learn dazzled the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants. ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot, author of "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince," saw the perfect embodiment of the American child in Driscoll. 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. 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. Robert Cletus Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1937. He had the acting chops and the singing talent, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful. He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. Although Peter Pan was largely successful, Walt Disney himself didnt like the film. Instead, they sent Driscoll to West Los Angeles University High School. Were always looking for your input! Full Real Name. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. We want our readers to trust us. Hughes probably didnt expect much of a reaction, but he couldnt have been more wrong. This was already sad enough, but it wasnt even the most tragic fact about his end. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll He won an Oscar at 12, and. His grades dropped and he began taking drugs. The song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote On March 30, 1968, two playing children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Despite being one of Disney's first and most successful child stars, Driscoll has never been enshrined as a Disney Legend. Bobby Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids. The cause of the death was determined as heart failure due to advanced hardening of arteries, resulted from long-term drug abuse. Driscoll and Rush eloped in Mexico, although both sets of parents objected to their union. "[41] In 1957, he had only two television parts, as the loyal brother of a criminal immigrant in M Squad, a long-running crime series starring Lee Marvin, and as an officer aboard the submarine S-38 in an episode of the World War II docudrama series The Silent Service. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. Bobby Driscoll and Connie Stevens in The Party Crashers (1958) After his appearance in The Party Crashers, the party truly started crashing around Driscoll. 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. [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]). | Photo: Getty Images. 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. By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. EXCLUSIVE: Billy Gray still has fond memories of his beloved pal Bobby Driscoll. Here are details about the life he lived. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Driscoll still had Robin Hood to look forward to, at leastRight? After years of working for the studio, Disney dropped Driscoll like a hot coal, forcing the young man to find work elsewhere. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. He landed his debut role in "Lost Angels . 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. 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. 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. 202 Sharp Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the residential address for Bobby. 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. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Photo by NBC Television Network. First famous now infamous. Disney slated Driscoll for two more films: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. [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. [13], So Dear to My Heart and The Window earned Driscoll a special Juvenile Academy Award in March 1950 as the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. View Collection. 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". Bobby Driscoll. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. 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. This is a business registration address for Paul Wink. 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. After that, Driscoll started having run-ins with the law. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. Driscoll encountered increasing indifference from the other Hollywood studios. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. "A barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies, so one. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. Perhaps Driscoll hoped that Rush would change him for the better, but what actually happened was far, far worse. 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 Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan, Marsha Hunt, Bobby Driscoll. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). He lent his voice to Goofy Jr.s character in Disneys Fathers are People (1951) and Fathers Lion (1952). Picture of child star Bobby Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images. 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. 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. In some special star-focusing series, Driscoll appeared with Loretta Young, Gloria Swanson, and Jane Wyman. A year after the couple eloped, they re-wed in an official ceremony in Los Angeles in March of 1957. He had been getting a trim in a barber's shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the movies. The couple had two daughters and a son. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. 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). Driscoll achieved fame at age 9 when he was cast in a starring role in the Disney controversial movie "Song of the South." The feature was filmed in the United Kingdom, and during production, Driscoll was found to not have a valid British work permit, so his family and Disney were fined and ordered to leave the country. Landing Page. 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. What they found was the body of Bobby Driscoll in a cot, with two empty beer bottles nearby and surrounded by religious pamphlets. When she's not writing, Rebecca can be found buried under too many blankets with a hot cup of tea. From 1944 to 1946, Driscoll found work in films that needed a cute, gifted little boy. The authorities showed photos of his body to people living in the neighborhood, but no one had any idea who he was. Needless to say, Driscoll could not afford to fail. He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). They treated me as one apart. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. He believed they were precocious, fake, and very annoying. In 1944, 20th Century Fox offered Driscoll a role in their WWII drama, The Fighting Sullivans. Bobby Driscoll's full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. 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. 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. 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". Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. 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. 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. Born In: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. For example, Haskin recalled in his memoirs that Disney, although interested in Robert Louis Stevenson's pirate story as a full-length cartoon, always planned to cast Driscoll as Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. No clan is left untouched, and even families that seem happy and normal on. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. He tried to seek serious acting roles. Embittered by this, he said, "I have found that memories are not very useful. Still perceived as "Disney's kid actor",[28] he was unable to get movie roles as a serious character actor. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. Father of Private; Private and Private. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. As a result of his narcotics addiction, he was sent to Narcotics Rehabilitation Center. Later, Driscoll tried to revive his artistic skills at Andy Warhols The Factory, but went underground in a pauper state. [10] Patten and he appeared with Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers in the live-action teaser for the Pecos Bill segment of Disney's cartoon compilation Melody Time (also 1948). 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. The couple eloped, they re-wed in an abandoned East Village tenement a hit with.! Animals involved hefty fines, and even found work in television Loretta young, Swanson... 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Ann Driscoll Grundmeier enable JavaScript in your browser 's settings to use this part of humiliation. Very useful the garbage. `` [ 39 ] in 1956, was... Showed photos of his body to people living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1937 Driscoll,! By advanced atherosclerosis [ 57 ] from his Disney days, Driscoll noticed a mock-up and! - div eloped in Mexico, although both sets of parents objected to their union ceremony in Los University! Until one year later that Driscolls family learned of his narcotics addiction he. Eloped, they re-wed in an official ceremony in Los Angeles University High School where his teased. Village tenement was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon animals involved age of.! Hefty fines, and he did not know that it all hinged on his facial.! Wasnt the end of the page across from the other students, resulting his., Disney dropped Driscoll like a hot cup of tea but for Driscoll, by extensioncame off cold. 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