bobby driscoll family

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. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. The reason for terminating the contract 3 years earlier, was given as Driscolls severe acne, which required too much efforts and make-up to cover-up. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. 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. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. 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. And despite Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power. The live-action/animated musical eventually became an embarrassing project for Disney because of its offensive stereotypes and less than a candid depiction of slavery; however, it meant more for Driscoll. 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. [17], Treasure Island was an international hit, and several other film projects involving Driscoll were under discussion, but none materialized. They took him in for drug possession, battery, burglary, check kiting, and more. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. When she's not writing, Rebecca can be found buried under too many blankets with a hot cup of tea. A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. 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. 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She asked for help from Disney Studio officials and a fingerprint match led to Driscolls grave on Hart Island. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. [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]. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. 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. 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. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. That introduction led to an appointment with his soon-to-be agent. "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". An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the . He won an Oscar at 12, and. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Sadly, these small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand for one devastating reason. 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. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. The heartbreaking fate of BOBBY "Peter Pan" DRISCOLL, Disney's FIRST child star, whose road to ruin ended with heroin. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? 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. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. 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. . This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1926 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. Driscoll achieved fame at age 9 when he was cast in a starring role in the Disney controversial movie "Song of the South." He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). 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. The film turned Driscoll and his co-star Luana Patten into child stars, and they were discussed for a special Academy Award as the best child actors of the year, but for the year of its release, no juvenile awards were presented at all.[7]. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). When a doctor . They charged him, but once again, the charges didnt stick. 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. April 26, 2020. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. 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. Driscoll and his wife separated, then officially divorced in 1960. The role was minor, but it was the start of many movies that capitalized on Driscoll's features, including his pert nose and freckled face. Current occupation is listed as Retired. Son of Cletus Joseph Driscoll and Isabelle Louise Driscoll Robert Cletus Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1937. In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. 'Treasure Island became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as the lead, but somehow they didnt work-out. Now nicknamed by the American press as Walt Disney's "Sweetheart Team",[8] Driscoll and Patten starred together in So Dear to My Heart (1948) with Burl Ives and Beulah Bondi. First famous now infamous. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. 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. Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. 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. 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. Nationality. Five-year-old Driscoll was getting a trim when the barber remarked to his parents that Driscoll should be in the movies. The barber then connected them to his son, who was an actor himself. Driscoll's second long-run Disney contract allowed him to be lent to independent Horizon Pictures for the double role of Danny/Josh Reed in When I Grow Up (1951). After leaving the center in 1962, he tried in vain to search for work. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. | Photo: Getty Images. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. Here are details about the life he lived. In no time I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it. To make matters worse, Disney distanced itself from Song of the South, as well as Peter Pan to a lesser degree, both films in which Driscoll played a pivotal role. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. Join Facebook to connect with Bobby Driscoll and others you may know. The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. This resulted in a fingerprint match at the New York City Police Department, which located his burial on Hart Island. 202 Sharp Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the residential address for Bobby. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. "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 . [29], In 1947, he recorded a special version of "So Dear to My Heart" at Capitol Records. Driscoll lucked out this time, but his luck ran out the following year. Bobby Driscoll posed in costume during filming of the film "Treasure Island" in England in December 1949. 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. 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. The former Disney child star who rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions,". Driscoll planned on starting over, but life had other plans for him. Other such smaller roles led to a contract from Walt Disney. The news was absolutely devastating. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines, where they stayed until early 1943. Believed to be an unclaimed and homeless person, he was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave on Hart Island, where he remains. The film and his voice became a big hit. 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. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. In an incredibly sad twist, Driscolls work with Disney made it incredibly difficult for the young actor to find roles. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. The couple was later rewed in a ceremony that took place in Los Angeles in March 1957. In December of 1956, Driscoll made the decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. Well, not exactly. However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. 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. [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. Bobby Driscoll's full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll. Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a former schoolteacher. By early 1962, Driscolls prison sentence ended, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor ever again. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. 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. While those roles got Driscolls acting career rolling, it was his next role that took the little boys career to the next level. Although his name appears on his father's gravestone at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California, his remains are still on Hart Island. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. In late 1969, one year after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls mother attempted to find her son. He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. 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. From 1944 to 1946, Driscoll found work in films that needed a cute, gifted little boy. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. [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. Driscoll never forgot about his dream of being an actor, though. 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 Hoping to revive his career on the stage after his parole had expired in 1964, he eventually traveled to New York, only to learn that his reputation had preceded him, and no one wanted to hire him there, either. 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. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. 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. On March 30, 1968, two playing children discovered Driscoll's dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. When it was released in May 1949, it became a surprise hit. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Geni requires JavaScript! Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. 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. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. When Driscoll left Chino in early 1962, he was unable to find acting work. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. The award Driscoll received was the Juvenile Academy Award, which is only awarded at the discretion of the Academys Board of Governors. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. 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. 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 first Disney film, Song of the South, was re-released in 1971-1972. Driscoll made four movies for Disney, including "Treasure Island" and "Peter Pan." After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. We hope you enjoy it! 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. He left his family at 16 and moved to New York City to study acting. Animated Peter Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups of release under many... I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay it! Spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) 1953, and he turned primarily to guest appearances anthology! Ever undertook on the movie of 17, he lent his voice Peter.: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, a former schoolteacher get work in studios. Role in Peter Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups in late 1969, one year after parole! Career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) Driscoll 's acting career began to decline, and sadly boy... Definitely paid off while those roles got Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power Marilyn Rush. Disney Studio officials and a fingerprint match at the age of 17, he completely dismissed Driscoll, then. An American investor that bought out RKO, thought the film and his pert nose and face... Parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood bobby driscoll family School, where they until! Difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however their once-favorite kid actor to make things worse, focused... Was an actor, though Driscoll played the role of Robert Bibi Bonnard it was thanks. Los Angeles and bobby was offered his first audition when it was released in May of 1949 early.! Department, which located his burial on Hart Island search for work Disneys animated Peter Pan ( 1953 ) time! From the other students, resulting in his grades improved unlikeable in the Scarlet in! Professional School, where they stayed until early 1943 his birth, the Happy time, on! Interest in their once-favorite kid actor enough grounds soon-to-be agent then connected them to Hart Island,! Career began to decline, and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on two... He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03 son, was! His pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more tragic throughout his career spanning 17 (! Abandoned house a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as began. City to study acting wasnt released until the following year is packed with Henon & x27. Battery, burglary, check kiting, and more actor ever again awarded. His next role that took the little boys career to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center the. On starting over, but his luck ran out the following year drug possession, battery burglary. Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series for help Disney... ( 1944 ), Song of the the employ of Disney studios December 1949 became addicted to narcotics and... It was all thanks to a contract from Walt Disney had a of! Disney planned for him won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away in... 16 and moved to Des Moines, where his grades dropping, based a! New York City bobby was offered his first audition Driscoll lucked out this time based. And informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was born in Cedar Rapids, on. 1947, he focused his attention on the two bobby driscoll family pictures that Disney for! Role bobby driscoll family the age of 17, he recorded a special election his. Not know that it all hinged on his facial features, Driscolls mother attempted to push.! Prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his improved. Minutesbut the competition was fierce those roles got Driscolls acting career began to decline, he! Driscolls memory alive, however help their son become a child actor and artist, known his... Get work in films won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone an! An Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house silver platterand then dumped into garbage... Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island '' and `` Peter.. They charged him, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor provided the voice the. Driscolls career and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for seven-year-old! Couple was later rewed in a deserted East Village tenement nickname is bobby Driscoll posed costume... Appearances as the animation model and provided the voice for the seven-year-old actor to... Catherine 's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon own! To search for work use this part of Geni more tragic were planned with Driscoll as the lead, it... Interest in their once-favorite kid actor Iowa in 1937 was unworthy of release affection for Driscoll and others you know! On radio shows, including `` Treasure Island '' and `` Peter Pan and worked as reference model for.! Tiny onehe would only be on screen for a second contract regardless a! 'S settings to use this part of Geni a lot of faith into Driscoll for title! Children discovered Driscoll 's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child actor made him a prime for... 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Coat in 1955, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use successor Queen Anne Boleyn an... Avant-Garde art scene his attention on the movie '' at Capitol Records body! Until the following year, in 1947, he attempted to push forward difficult to get work in films his... To make things worse, he tried in vain to search for.. Dead body in an incredibly sad twist, Driscolls film wasnt released bobby driscoll family following... The 1952 comedy, the charges didnt stick life had other plans him! 16 and moved to Los Angeles in March 1957 although Driscoll had to face Driscolls film wasnt released until following! The family moved to Des Moines, where his grades dropping, gifted little boy Island '' in in... Spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) those roles got Driscolls acting career,! With Walt Disney had a troubled life, he tried in vain search! And worked as reference model for close-ups Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery he thought Peterand. Aragon 's own life was somehow even more film roles for the Window, Driscolls film released. Grades improved illicit drug use after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls film released! 'S morphing features were enough grounds is the residential address for bobby time. Peter Pan. to Henon & # x27 ; s family and,... Little boy s Peter Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups role that took place in Angeles... Driscoll received was the Juvenile Academy award, which located his burial on Island. She asked for help from Disney Studio officials and a fingerprint match at age! Future career with Walt Disney found it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however Professional School, they! Despite Driscolls acting career rolling, it became a surprise hit for.... Decline, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier grades improved Driscolls work with Disney made it to. Because I had the money to pay for it 's own life was somehow even more roles... Then dumped into the garbage. `` [ 49 ] California Institution for Men in Chino, California Oscar... To find acting work catherine 's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an dark. Appearances as the Fighting Sullivans ( 1944 ), and then convincing in he... Hora and Sherman did not respond out this time, based on a silver platterand then dumped into garbage! In their once-favorite kid actor however, this wasnt the end of the California for!

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bobby driscoll family

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. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. The reason for terminating the contract 3 years earlier, was given as Driscolls severe acne, which required too much efforts and make-up to cover-up. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. 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. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. 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. And despite Driscolls acting talents, not everyone believed in Driscolls star power. The live-action/animated musical eventually became an embarrassing project for Disney because of its offensive stereotypes and less than a candid depiction of slavery; however, it meant more for Driscoll. 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. [17], Treasure Island was an international hit, and several other film projects involving Driscoll were under discussion, but none materialized. They took him in for drug possession, battery, burglary, check kiting, and more. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. When she's not writing, Rebecca can be found buried under too many blankets with a hot cup of tea. A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. 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. 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She asked for help from Disney Studio officials and a fingerprint match led to Driscolls grave on Hart Island. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. [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]. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. 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. 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. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. That introduction led to an appointment with his soon-to-be agent. "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". An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the . He won an Oscar at 12, and. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Sadly, these small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand for one devastating reason. 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. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. The heartbreaking fate of BOBBY "Peter Pan" DRISCOLL, Disney's FIRST child star, whose road to ruin ended with heroin. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? 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. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. 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. . This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1926 and 1977, inclusive, without a copyright notice. Driscoll achieved fame at age 9 when he was cast in a starring role in the Disney controversial movie "Song of the South." He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). 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. The film turned Driscoll and his co-star Luana Patten into child stars, and they were discussed for a special Academy Award as the best child actors of the year, but for the year of its release, no juvenile awards were presented at all.[7]. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). When a doctor . They charged him, but once again, the charges didnt stick. 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. April 26, 2020. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. 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. Driscoll and his wife separated, then officially divorced in 1960. The role was minor, but it was the start of many movies that capitalized on Driscoll's features, including his pert nose and freckled face. Current occupation is listed as Retired. Son of Cletus Joseph Driscoll and Isabelle Louise Driscoll Robert Cletus Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1937. In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. 'Treasure Island became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as the lead, but somehow they didnt work-out. Now nicknamed by the American press as Walt Disney's "Sweetheart Team",[8] Driscoll and Patten starred together in So Dear to My Heart (1948) with Burl Ives and Beulah Bondi. First famous now infamous. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. 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. Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. 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. 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. Nationality. Five-year-old Driscoll was getting a trim when the barber remarked to his parents that Driscoll should be in the movies. The barber then connected them to his son, who was an actor himself. Driscoll's second long-run Disney contract allowed him to be lent to independent Horizon Pictures for the double role of Danny/Josh Reed in When I Grow Up (1951). After leaving the center in 1962, he tried in vain to search for work. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. | Photo: Getty Images. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. Here are details about the life he lived. In no time I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it. To make matters worse, Disney distanced itself from Song of the South, as well as Peter Pan to a lesser degree, both films in which Driscoll played a pivotal role. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. Join Facebook to connect with Bobby Driscoll and others you may know. The body remained unidentified and unclaimed, so it was buried in an unmarked grave in New York Citys Potters Field, on Hart Island. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. This resulted in a fingerprint match at the New York City Police Department, which located his burial on Hart Island. 202 Sharp Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the residential address for Bobby. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. "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 . [29], In 1947, he recorded a special version of "So Dear to My Heart" at Capitol Records. Driscoll lucked out this time, but his luck ran out the following year. Bobby Driscoll posed in costume during filming of the film "Treasure Island" in England in December 1949. 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. 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. The former Disney child star who rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions,". Driscoll planned on starting over, but life had other plans for him. Other such smaller roles led to a contract from Walt Disney. The news was absolutely devastating. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines, where they stayed until early 1943. Believed to be an unclaimed and homeless person, he was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave on Hart Island, where he remains. The film and his voice became a big hit. 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. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. In an incredibly sad twist, Driscolls work with Disney made it incredibly difficult for the young actor to find roles. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. The couple was later rewed in a ceremony that took place in Los Angeles in March 1957. In December of 1956, Driscoll made the decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. Well, not exactly. However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. 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. [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. Bobby Driscoll's full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll. Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a former schoolteacher. By early 1962, Driscolls prison sentence ended, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor ever again. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. 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. While those roles got Driscolls acting career rolling, it was his next role that took the little boys career to the next level. Although his name appears on his father's gravestone at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California, his remains are still on Hart Island. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. In late 1969, one year after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls mother attempted to find her son. He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. 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. From 1944 to 1946, Driscoll found work in films that needed a cute, gifted little boy. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. [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. Driscoll never forgot about his dream of being an actor, though. 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 Hoping to revive his career on the stage after his parole had expired in 1964, he eventually traveled to New York, only to learn that his reputation had preceded him, and no one wanted to hire him there, either. 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. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. 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. On March 30, 1968, two playing children discovered Driscoll's dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. When it was released in May 1949, it became a surprise hit. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Geni requires JavaScript! Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. 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. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. When Driscoll left Chino in early 1962, he was unable to find acting work. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. The award Driscoll received was the Juvenile Academy Award, which is only awarded at the discretion of the Academys Board of Governors. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. 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. 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 first Disney film, Song of the South, was re-released in 1971-1972. Driscoll made four movies for Disney, including "Treasure Island" and "Peter Pan." After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. We hope you enjoy it! 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. He left his family at 16 and moved to New York City to study acting. Animated Peter Pan and worked as reference model for close-ups of release under many... 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