I really feared people, Driscoll said of his years after the firing. Every cent he made went straight to fueling his addiction. In the years following, Driscoll earned something else as prestigious: the good favor of Walt Disney himself. 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. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Driscoll and Rush eloped in Mexico, although both sets of parents objected to their union. The director was left impressed by the young boy's intelligence and curiosity and gave him the role as he came out on top over 40 candidates. He was treated so rudely by Hollywood. Thanks for your time! This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. It seemed everything in Bobby Driscoll's life was meant to end after a short period. Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, Treasure Island was an international smash hit. In 1944, 20th Century Fox offered Driscoll a role in their WWII drama, The Fighting Sullivans. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. This put Driscoll and the entire production in a sticky situation. Driscoll also engaged in a more dangerous form of recreationheroin. Though he still booked small parts on TV shows like Dragnet and Rawhide, he struggled personallyand was arrested several times for drug possession, assault, and burglary. 115K views Sad Ending of BOBBY DRISCOLL | Disney's Troubled Child Star Daze with Jordan the Lion Part 2, Chap.1 | Walt Disney American Experience | PBS Frank Sinatra Revealed Marilyn Monroe's. In a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his Disney days, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs. In October 1961, Bobby was referred to the psychiatric court and subsequently admitted to a rehab center in Chino for six months before getting released in April 1962. [35] He said later, "The other kids didn't accept me. "Was earning $50,000 a yearworking steadily with good parts. Advertisement At just five and a half, Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a Los Angeles barbershop as he was getting his haircut. He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). brochures. In no time at all, I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it. Bobby Driscoll (full name Robert Cletus Driscoll ), born on March 3, 1937, was a child actor and artist. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. Most still thought of Driscoll as Disneys kid actor, which made it nearly impossible for Driscoll to find work as a serious character actor. Speaking to a judge, Driscoll conceded how far he had fallen. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. "I wish I could say that my childhood was a happy one, but I wouldn't be honest," he said in a 1961 magazine article titled "The Nightmare Life of an Ex-Child Star." "He said later that Bobby just didn't want to be a 'good little boy' anymore. Thats how he found out he was fired. I'm different mv . It really blew me away. On the surface, this sounded like an enormously successful marriage, but for Driscoll, this wasnt the case. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. Daisy Ridleys return, three new movies, and the. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. That was his notification that he was no longer needed there. She reached out to Disney for help, which eventually led her to the NYPD. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. They separated, then divorced in 1960. I made lots of money, so I recruited other toons to star in more movies. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, Driscoll the Juvenile Academy Award in 1950, Bobby Driscoll's Hollywood Walk of Fame star, Disney Legendsthe studio's version of a Hall of Fame, Wrong turn: Amy Locane's sad journey from movies and TV to prison. . Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. 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 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. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. As a result, Driscoll received very little work from 1952 onwards. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. (United Artists/Getty Images). A New Jersey woman who prefers to remain anonymous quietly maintains a website devoted to Driscoll's life and career. "I heard that he was informed that he was no longer under contract through them by driving up to the entrance and being refused entrance into the studio. Driscoll was arrested multiple times for drug possession, assault, burglary, and check kiting before he was finally committed for drug rehabilitation at Chino Men's Prison in 1961. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. In 2011, the Hart Island Project was created to make it easier for people to find out whose remains ended up on the one-mile stretch of land. The Florida governor has taken his authoritarian ambitions to new heights. "There are a number of interesting characters from New York Citythe cool people. When his body went unclaimed, he was buried in an unmarked grave. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. "The way I understand it, it was a rather rude dismissal," says Gray. He hated Hollywood kids. He was 19 before we knew. Then I started putting all my spare time in my arm. ", While hanging out on Los Angeles beaches, Driscoll befriended a group of young Hollywood turks like Gray, Robert Blake (Baretta), Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap), and Russ Tamblyn (West Side Story). The cause of death has no bearing on someone's ability to be considered for Disney Legends. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. On top of that, the head honchos at Disney planned more film projects involving Driscoll. There were no obvious signs of foul play. A year after the couple eloped, they re-wed in an official ceremony in Los Angeles in March of 1957. 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. "[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. There was simply no way Disney could complete Treasure Island without DriscollOr so it seemed. This was already sad enough, but it wasnt even the most tragic fact about his end. On another series, Men of Annapolis, he appeared with John Smith, future second husband of Driscoll's Song of the South co-star, Luana Patten. Then he didnt care about his appearance or cleanliness, he didnt bathe, his teeth got loose. Describing his turn to heroin, Driscoll said, Then I started putting all my spare time in my arm. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for February 18, Gwyneth Paltrow won't collect attorneys fees in ski collision trial, Tim Bachman, guitarist for Bachman-Turner Overdrive, dead at 71, Louis Vuitton transforms South Korean bridge into massive runway, Miranda Lambert shares the 'secret sauce' to her happy marriage, Memorabilia from 'Cheers,' 'Breaking Bad' among items being auctioned in Texas. Child actor Bobby Driscoll.Source: Wikipedia. "He sounds like a baseball player to me," offers a patrolling police officer with a shrug. Robert Cletus Driscoll (March 3, 1937 c. March 30, 1968) was an American actor who performed on film and television from 1943 to 1960. Driscoll was a child star who starred in some of Walt Disney Studio's live-action pictures of that era. Were always looking for your input! Gray said he and his pal lost touch when Driscoll headed to New York. The actor continued to perform successfully on television until 1957 and even managed to secure two final screen roles on The Scarlet Coat (1955) and The Party Crashers (1958). Sweet Pete hops onto a treadmill to outline his origin story at an easy three-mph walk. The award Driscoll received was the Juvenile Academy Award, which is only awarded at the discretion of the Academys Board of Governors. You know, I got my big break when I was just a kid. Then I loaned the other video to a friend for her little ones to watch and never received it . "He didn't really recover from being abandoned by Hollywood," reflects actor Billy Gray, who played Bud Anderson on the classic sitcom Father Knows Best and later befriended Driscoll. In 1960, Driscolls life fell apart all at once. After filming Treasure Island, when Driscoll was 16, he played Peter Panvoicing the beloved character and reportedly acting as a character model for illustrators. ", Eliot has a far more sobering rationale. And guess what? But Driscoll never found his way back to acting or the industry. "I was lonely most of the time. RAT PACK'S JOEY BISHOP AND FRANK SINATRA NEVER RECONCILED FOR THIS REASON, American film director, animator, and businessman Walt Disney with Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten in 1946. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Other studios quickly saw Driscolls potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, he relocated to New York, hoping to revive his career on the Broadway stage, but was unsuccessful. "My feeling is that it's not a shameful place to be buried," says Hunt, who hopes to someday see the cemetery accessible to the public. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. He didn't want Bobby Driscoll to be with Disney anymore. Because no identification was found on his body, his unclaimed remains were buried in a paupers grave on New York Citys Hart Island. My daughter loves it. 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. Beside his body were two empty bottles of beer and a number of religious tracts. So for Bobby Driscoll, it's the perfect place to be buried. 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. Their barber had a son, an actor, who helped Bobby land an audition at MGM for a significant role in Roy Royalnd's family drama Lost Angel starring Margaret O'Brien. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. In this case, that boy's twisted road to manhood ultimately detoured into (and out of) jail, through multiple marriages (and divorces) to the same woman, and finally winding through Andy Warhol's Factory to a tragic end. "Bobby was a curiosity. The previous film, once declared a disaster, served as a cautionary tale for the new animated hitand has even been reclaimed by some as a cult classic. "Before he went on narcotics he almost never cried. 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 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. With puberty came a severe case of acne, whichthrough no fault of his ownmarred the boys flawless face. After doing some research, I uncovered that other child actors, who worked for Disney, suffered not much better: Luana Patten: costarred with Bobby Driscoll; she married at 16; married and divorced two more times before dying of respiratory failure at age 57. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER REMEMBERED BY SOUND OF MUSIC CO-STAR JULIE ANDREWS: I HAVE LOST A CHERISHED FRIEND, Bobby Driscoll with pen in mouth in a scene from the film 'When I Grow Up', 1951. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. [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 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. His last major movie success, before his appearance was no longer cute and his speech was not clear enough to be used for voice-over work, was the character of animated Peter Pan (1953). Malam satu suro filmotopia. First famous now a nobody. [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. ", "He really was a sweet guy," Gray shared. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). Dayz standalone 0-60 times motorcycles. Hosted. Like his career, this part of his life was just as tragically eventful. Glycolate oxidase antibody. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Towards the end of 1963, Bobby met Sharon "Didi" Morrill, and their relationship took off in an instant. Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. 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. Bobby Driscoll appeared in some of the most famous live-action films of the time from the Walt Disney Studios. Gray, who also got his start in Hollywood at a young age, told Fox News puberty hit Driscoll especially hard, forever impacting his career. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Bobby Driscoll and Connie Stevens in The Party Crashers (1958) After his appearance in The Party Crashers, the party truly started crashing around Driscoll. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. Though the live-action/animated musical (which featured the Oscar-winning "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah") would ultimately represent an embarrassing chapter in Disney's storied history because of its offensive stereotypes and candy-coated depiction of slavery, it marked the start of a successful relationship between the studio and Driscoll, who became the first male actor to ever secure a Disney contract. The wedding was held at Zack Walsh's home; however, the marriage failed to be legal since the paperwork was never filed. The Fighting Sullivans (1944), 20th Century Fox. Warhol was so perverse, that he loved having Bobby Driscoll as part of his scene. In late 1969, one year after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls mother attempted to find her son. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. According to one Hollywood biographer, Warhol loved having Bobby Driscoll as part of his scene. In particular, Warhol loved the idea of having a bitter, Hollywood ex-actor as a part of his crew. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Per a 2019 story in Entertainment Weekly: When Howard Hughes bought RKO, he, in effect, became the owner of the Disney studio, explains [Disney biographer Marc] Eliot. After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. I called it Flying Bedroom Boy. Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effectsBut "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that. "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". Bobby Driscoll with pen in mouth in a scene from the film 'When I Grow Up', 1951. My personality had suffered during my marriage and I was trying to recoup it. He was just another teen boy with a bad case of acne. Additional Crew: Long Lost Daughter. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. Driscolls remains were unclaimed and he was eventually buried in a mass, unmarked grave on Hart Island alongside other unidentified bodies. As Driscolls personality deteriorated, his marriage suffered. 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. (CBS via Getty Images). ", If there's one thing Allender hopes to achieve with his documentary (besides clearance from Disney to include old movie clips), it's a place for Driscoll in Disney Legendsthe studio's version of a Hall of Fame. Driscoll even got a chance to act one last time in the movie Dirt, an experimental film directed by Piero Heliczer. The medical examiner determined the cause of death as "socclusive coronary arteriosclerosis," or hardening of the arteries. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Bobby Driscoll (left) with Hedda Hopper (right) and Luana Patten (center), circa 1947. Visit Celebs In-depth for more interesting Biography and details on Celeb Life. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. The actor earned his Hollywood Star on 1560 Vine Street for his appearance as Jim Hawkins on Walt Disney's Treasure Island (1950), and four years later, in 1954, he came out victorious in the national poll for a Milky Way Gold Star Award. 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. It's a very sad story, but, you know, take a look at A Star Is Born. For the next two years, Driscoll continued to find work in film, television, and voice acting. 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. TV Shows. My clothes were at my parents' [house] but I didn't live anywhere. The news was absolutely devastating. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). Once Driscoll's corpse went uncollected, he was placed in an abandoned pauper's grave in New York City'sPotter's Field on Hart Island. He died alone on a cot in NYC with no one to claim his body.. A Promising Beginning. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. It was tragic and there wasn't much you could do about it. After eloping to Mexico five months after they met, the young couple had one son and two daughters before splitting for good three years, two marriages, and two divorces later. 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. That's how she lives all alone, estranged from her ex-daughter-in-law and the grandchildren, remembering Bobby, the way it was when . In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. Market data provided by Factset. A month later, Bobby was arrested for creating a fake $45 cheque, for which he pleaded guilty. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The first film they needed Driscoll for was If You Knew Susie, a comedy musical that was right up Driscolls alley. Unternehmen barbarossa wochenschau 1940. A year later, he welcomed his second child, a daughter in 1958. Sadly, these small successes were not enough to turn Driscolls life aroundand for one devastating reason. Driscoll's brief, two-minute debut[4] helped him win the role of young Al Sullivan, the youngest of the five Sullivan brothers, in the 20th Century Fox's World War II drama The Fighting Sullivans (1944) with Thomas Mitchell and Anne Baxter. "That ought to settle the matter right there," argues his old friend Gray. Driscoll attempted to maintain steady work in several TV shows and guest appearances over the years, but he never achieved the same stardom he once had as a sought-after actor. Alcohol abuse, drug overdose, violent fits, and severe depression. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor.