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. The short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. 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. Age (2022) Update Soon. It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. The teaser of the Pecos Bill section of Disneys 1948 cartoon collection Melody Time featured Driscoll and Patten. 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. 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. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). I tried desperately to be one of the gang. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. No clan is left untouched, and even families that seem happy and normal on. Ironically, critics of the film thought that Driscolls portrayal was a huge step up, as the original Peter Pan book portrayed the character as a complete sociopath. ), Media related to Bobby Driscoll at Wikimedia Commons. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. The couple had two daughters and a son. The authorities showed photos of his body to people living in the neighborhood, but no one had any idea who he was. 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. In 1969, Driscolls mother tried to search for him, as his father was nearing death. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. 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. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. 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 While the film received mixed critical reactions and was rather controversial upon release, Song of the South netted Walt Disney $226,000, which is the equivalent of over $3 million in todays dollars. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. The film and his voice became a big hit. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. The first Disney film, Song of the South, was re-released in 1971-1972. The family moved to Los Angeles when a doctor advised the father to relocate to California because he was suffering from work-related handling of asbestos. While on a tour on the studio lot, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and curiously asked where the water was. [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. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. At a very young age, Bobby Driscoll made huge waves as a part of the early, extended Disney family. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the . In 1954, he was awarded a Milky Way Gold Star Award, chosen in a nationwide poll for his work on television and radio. [23][24] Scenes were played on an almost empty sound stage, with only the most essential props, and filmed for use by the animators. On March 23, 1950, Driscoll won a Special Juvenile Academy Award as the Outstanding Juvenile Actor of 1949 for his performances in So Dear to My Heart, and The Window., In Walt Disneys all-live-action picture Treasure Island (based on Robert Louis Stevensons 1883 novel), Driscoll played Jim Hawkins.. Discover at 5, while getting a haircut, Bobby Driscoll is the son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. Bobby Driscoll's full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll. 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). Driscolls burial records, along with many others, were destroyed in a fire. His grades dropped and he began taking drugs. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Driscoll encountered increasing indifference from the other Hollywood studios. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". Driscoll was born on March 3, 1937, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Isabelle (ne Kratz), a former school teacher, and Cletus, an insulation salesman. Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. Spring inspires lessons in love and life for a French family in 1920s Ottawa, especially for teenage Robert, who's blind to the attentions of an American neighbor girl, because he's infatuated with the beautiful new maid, fleeing life as a magician's assistant. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. As Driscolls personality deteriorated, his marriage suffered. As the years passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll seemingly turned into downright hatred. [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 song soon became a popular and much-recorded jazz standard, described as "without doubt one of the finest songs the composer ever wrote He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. He was born in a pretty normal household, but he was nothing but regular; he had something in it. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Disney slated Driscoll for two more films: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood. They re-wed in March 1957, in Los Angeles, and divorced in 1960. Browse through Bobby's personal letters, written to friends, family, and people of notoriety. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. As a result, the city buried Driscolls unclaimed body in an unmarked paupers grave on Hart Island. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. 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. The news was absolutely devastating. [35] He said later, "The other kids didn't accept me. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. Driscolls desire to learn dazzled the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants. Thanks for your help! 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. 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. Bobby Driscoll starred in Song of the South, Melody Time, Treasure Island, and most notably was the voice and reference model for Peter Pan. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. They separated, then divorced in 1960. 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. What they found was the body of Bobby Driscoll in a cot, with two empty beer bottles nearby and surrounded by religious pamphlets. He was born Robert Cletus Driscoll in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the only child of Cletus (19011969), an insulation salesman, and Isabelle (ne Kratz; 19041981), a former schoolteacher. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. [11], Driscoll was lent to RKO[12] to star in The Window, based on Cornell Woolrich's short story "The Boy Cried Murder". Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. Disney still kept Driscoll on their payroll, but it was clear that they were losing interest in their once-favorite kid actor. Bobby Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids. 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. 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". My mom never told me how her best friend died. This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. On March 30, 1968, two playing children found his dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. 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. In fact, 40 other applicants wanted the role! David Derks. 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. [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. [63] He also received the Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954 for his work on television and radio. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot, author of "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince," saw the perfect embodiment of the American child in Driscoll. 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. We know that Angie D Parrish, Paul Wing, and three other persons also lived at this address, perhaps within a different time frame. He landed his debut role in "Lost Angels . Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. During production, the big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films. Join Facebook to connect with Bobby Driscoll and others you may know. Most notably, he served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). [30], For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Driscoll received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street in 1960. Currently, Bobby Driscoll is 85 years, 11 months and 10 days old. He tried to seek serious acting roles. Facebook gives people the power. The only son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher, Driscoll was discovered at the age of 5 while getting a trim. -. For a short time, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image. Well, not exactly. 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. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. Although Driscoll did much to bolster Disney during a time of crisis, he is still, to this day, not a part of Disney Legends, the Disney equivalent of a Hall of Fame. Bobby was born March 3rd, 1937 in Iowa. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. View final resting place and family links here. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. 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). 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. 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. Driscoll still had Robin Hood to look forward to, at leastRight? When a doctor . 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