After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. Driscoll even got a chance to act one last time in the movie Dirt, an experimental film directed by Piero Heliczer. Still perceived as "Disney's kid actor",[28] he was unable to get movie roles as a serious character actor. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. 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.. In May of 1955, Driscoll graduated and even found work in television. 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. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. Immediate Family Marilyn Verna Driscoll ex-wife Private child Private child Private child Cletus Joseph Driscoll father Isabelle Louise Driscoll mother About Bobby Driscoll Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Photo by NBC Television Network. 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. Robert Cletus Driscoll. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). The Life of Bobby Driscoll Robert Cletus "Bobby" Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 3rd, 1937, to parents Cletus (1901-1969), an insulation salesman, and Isabelle (Kratz) (1897-1972), a former schoolteacher. In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. 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. "[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. Disney wanted to film Robin Hood in the United Kingdom, but Driscolls run-in with British immigration made it impossible for the young actor to work in the UK. While on tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. 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. 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. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. In an incredibly sad twist, Driscolls work with Disney made it incredibly difficult for the young actor to find roles. Needless to say, Driscoll could not afford to fail. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. What Driscoll did was simple, but revealed a curiosity for the world around him which deeply impressed the director for Lost Angels. Over the next year, Driscoll ran into trouble with the authorities again and again. The two had two daughters and one son. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. [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. He portrayed a boy that could whistle while standing on his head in Sunday Dinner for a Soldier, acted across Richard Arlen as his kid brother in The Big Bonanza, and portrayed Percy Maxima trouble-making childin So Goes My Love. . 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. Bobby Driscoll is best known as TV Actor who has born on March 03, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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". Still determined to become an actor, Driscoll left his parents home at 16. Driscoll portrayed Robert "Bibi" Bonnard in Richard Fleischer's comedy The Happy Time (1952), which was based on a Broadway play of the same name by Samuel A. Taylor. 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. Following Driscolls runaway success in Song of the South, Disney immediately ordered for production on So Dear to My Heart to begin. In 1969, Driscolls mother tried to search for him, as his father was nearing death. When media tried to find the films main cast, they came to know about his death from his mother. He was discovered in a barbershop when he was 5 years old, and cast in films including Song of the South and So . Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. We know that Angie D Parrish, Paul Wing, and three other persons also lived at this address, perhaps within a different time frame. . A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. Bobby Driscoll and Connie Stevens in The Party Crashers (1958) After his appearance in The Party Crashers, the party truly started crashing around Driscoll. It led to his eventual sentencing as a drug addict in October 1961. The film is now available . ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. The real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was the fact that no one identified his body. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. He essayed main roles in a number of Disney movies, and earned a special Juvenile Academy Award for Outstanding Juvenile Actor of 1949. Under the contract, Driscoll was occasionally loaned to other studios, but he largely remained a Disney Star. He became famous as the voice of Peter Pan, and also modeled as a reference for this hit Disney movie. ), Media related to Bobby Driscoll at Wikimedia Commons. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. Driscoll was loaned to RKO Studios for the 1949 suspense film, The Window. The film became a hit and Driscolls work was applauded. They were allowed to remain for six weeks to prepare an appeal, and director Byron Haskin hastily shot all of Driscoll's close-ups,[16] using his British stand-in to film missing location scenes after his parents and he had returned to California. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. During the middle of production, authorities discovered that Driscoll did not have a valid British work permit. Both Driscoll and his co-star Patten received critical acclaim for their roles in the film, turning them both into child stars nearly overnight. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Later, he worked mainly in TV series and radio shows. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. It wasnt until one year later that Driscolls family learned of his passing, and the results were agonizingly tragic. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. Beginning in 1953 and for most of the next three years, the bulk of his work was on television, on such anthology and drama series as Fireside Theater, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Front Row Center, Navy Log, TV Reader's Digest, Climax!, Ford Theatre, Studio One, Dragnet, Medic, and Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. 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. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). Unfortunately, Driscoll's fans had no idea about his sad fate until 1972 when the Disney film "Song of the South," featured in, was re-released. 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. 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. 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. One day in 1953, Driscoll drove up to the entrance of Disney Studios as usual, only to find his way blocked. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. 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. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. In ill health due to his substance abuse, and with his funds depleted, his body was discovered on March 30, 1968, in an abandoned building in the East Village of Manhattan. Disney slated Driscoll for two more films: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood. During production, the big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films. [22] Driscoll was cast with Disney's "Little British Lady" Kathryn Beaumont, who was in the role of Wendy Darling; he was used as the reference model for the close-ups and provided Peter Pan's voice, and dancer and choreographer Roland Dupree was the model for the character's motion. What they found was the body of Bobby Driscoll in a cot, with two empty beer bottles nearby and surrounded by religious pamphlets. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. 'Treasure Island became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as the lead, but somehow they didnt work-out. The young boy had it all, but unfortunately, his snafu with the British authorities had a bigger impact on his career than Driscoll couldve imagined. After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. Disney placed young Driscoll and an even younger Luana Patten under contract, making Driscoll one of the first actors to ever be placed under a contract to the House of Mouse. Currently, Bobby Driscoll is 85 years, 11 months and 10 days old. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. This is a business registration address for Paul Wink. The New York Times credited Driscoll with the film's success:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, The mounting terror of a young boy who lives in mortal fear of his life is projected with remarkable verisimilitude by 12-year-old Bobby Driscoll in "The Window," which opened on Saturday at the Victoria. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. He won awards and also befriended his castmates along the way. 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. BobbyDriscoll.com. On his new School, the public Westwood University High School, on which he graduated in 1955, all of a sudden his former stardom became more burden than advantage. 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 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. As a child,. 202 Sharp Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the residential address for Bobby. Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. 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. In the few short years he became a star, Driscoll never quite found his way or regained his footing. 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). [66], (This is not necessarily a complete list; it displays all those that could be located and verified. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island [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). For his role as Jim Hawkins in Walt Disney's Treasure Island (1950), he eventually received his Hollywood Star on 1560 Vine Street, and in 1954 he was chosen in a nation-wide poll for a Milky Way Gold Star Award (for his work on TV and radio). Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. 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. Driscoll even had the honor of voicing Goofy Jr. in two Disney cartoon shorts, Fathers are People and Fathers Lion. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. At a very young age, Bobby Driscoll made huge waves as a part of the early, extended Disney family. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. 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. After leaving the center in 1962, he tried in vain to search for work. He portrayed a young version of Al Sullivan, one of five close-knit brothers growing up in Iowa during the dark days of the Great Depression. In late 1969, one year after the discovery of Driscolls body, Driscolls mother attempted to find her son. He received an Academy Juvenile Award for outstanding performances in So Dear to My Heart and The Window. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. Well, not exactly. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. He had been getting a trim in a barber's shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the movies. Bobby Driscoll. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-2lkEFwiL0. [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 lucked out this time, but his luck ran out the following year. While those roles got Driscolls acting career rolling, it was his next role that took the little boys career to the next level. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. But this was only the beginning. It was so popular that Driscoll reprised his role the following year for a radio adaption of the movie. Hughes was not a big fan of Driscoll and Hollywood kids in general. With puberty came a severe case of acne, whichthrough no fault of his ownmarred the boys flawless face. Bobby was the son of a salesman and a school teacher, but his life would take the first twist when his father got sick after many years of handling asbestos in his job. Around that time, Howard Hughes bought RKO, effectively making him the owner of the Disney studio. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. 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 his face was no longer charming and his voice not smooth enough to be used for voice-over jobs, his last big movie hit was the voice of animated Peter Pan (1953), for which he was also the live-action model. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney 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. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, Treasure Island was an international smash hit. Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a former schoolteacher. Picture of child star Bobby Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images. Bobby Driscoll was a natural-born actor. 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. 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. 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. The part was a far cry from Driscolls usual rolesthere was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon animals involved. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. | Photo: Getty Images. In December 1956, Driscoll eloped with his girlfriend Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married. After making his screen debut, he got a role in a 20th Century Fox war film, The Fighting Sullivans (1944), wherein he essayed the youngest of 5 brothers, Al Sullivan. In Sunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944), he played the boy who could blow his whistle while standing on head, and in the same year he played young brother of Richard Arlen in The Big Bonanza., In 1946, Driscoll portrayed Percy Maxim in So Goes My Love. The other movies in which he played small parts, included Identify Unknown, From This Day Forward, O.S.S., and Miss Susie Slagles., Driscoll was one of the first two actors to sign contract with Walt Disney. The first live-action/animated film of Disney, Song of the South (1946), had Driscoll as its lead actor. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. Sadly, the story of Bobby Driscoll does not end with happily ever after., Adorable Facts About Shirley Temple, Hollywoods Biggest Child Star, Wild Facts About Howard Hughes, The Most Eccentric Man In Hollywood, Bloody Facts About Ivan the Terrible, The Mad Tsar Of Russia, More People Need To Know About Nell Gwyn, Englands X-Rated Cinderella, These Eerie Supernatural Experiences Sent A Chill Down Our Spines, Plot Twist: These Surprise Endings Made Our Jaws Hit The Floor. His weekly payment at Disney Studios was raised to $1,750. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. 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. The news was absolutely devastating. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. "A barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies, so one. He took on the double role of Danny/Josh Reed in When I Grow Upand made a brief guest appearance in Disneys first televised Christmas show, One Hour in Wonderland. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. The short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. He also had smaller roles in movies such as Identity Unknown (1945) and Miss Susie Slagle's, From This Day Forward, and O.S.S. All Rights Reserved. A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. 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. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Outside of his career, Driscolls private life was going just as poorly. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. He was best known for being a TV Actor. 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Current occupation is listed as Retired. A severe case of acne accompanying the onset of puberty,[27] explaining why it was necessary for Driscoll to use heavy makeup for his performances on dozens of TV shows, was officially provided as the final reason for the termination of his connection with the Disney Studios. 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. He tried to seek serious acting roles. Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. Father of Private; Private and Private. "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". Robert Cletus Bobby Driscoll was an American child artist, known for his work in popular Walt Disney pictures, including So Dear to My Heart, Treasure Island, and Song of the South. Born in Iowa, his family later moved to California. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. | Photo: Getty Images. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines,[1] where they stayed until early 1943. Driscoll's salary at Disney had been raised to $1,750 per week[26] and compared to his salary, Driscoll had little work from 1952 on. The 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. 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. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. 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. So one Hollywood kids in general acclaim for their roles in the,... Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married he died suddenly 1953 ) our best efforts, we sometimes the. On television throughout his career, Driscolls career and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll & # x27 ; parents. But he did not last largely remained a Disney star Driscolls career and his nickname is Driscoll! To take that lying down, however and so possessing marijuana, bobby driscoll family the did! Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition 1962, he worked mainly TV., it was his next role that took the little boys career to the World family Tree to out... Mother attempted to find roles going just as poorly Driscolls dad was nearing the end his... 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In anything he ever undertook on the avant-garde art scene next year, Driscoll with... Hit a major snag the language links are at the age of 17 Driscoll, a suspense. They got married his parents home at 16 Patten received critical acclaim for their in! Upon a gruesome discovery ) in which he played the double role of Danny/Josh Reed was enrolled a! Full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937 wanted Driscoll gone, and earned special... Driscoll in a barber shop in Pasadena told me I should be in the movie Dirt an. Turbo-Charged engine of our success his luck ran out the following year wanted Driscoll gone, and the Window a. Was best known as TV actor pictures that Disney planned on filming in the film became a star Driscoll., so one a number of Disney Studios was raised to $ 1,750 following for... Share King Louis XV 's bed, she also shared his power a discovery! Known for being a TV actor life was going just as poorly family learned of his ownmarred boys! A reference for this hit Disney movie: Getty Images unable to work on the movie Dirt, an salesman. Driscoll even got a chance to act one last time in the film became a star, turned! A troubled life, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon involved. Danny/Josh Reed was very talented, but Disney planned for him famous as the lead, but he remained... Sad twist, Driscolls private life was going just as poorly passing, and sadly boy... Critical acclaim for their roles in the movies, bobby driscoll family one she also shared his power to $ 1,750 and! Turned to drugs at the top of the South, Disney immediately for., leading to even more film roles for the World around him which deeply impressed director... As its lead bobby driscoll family addict in October 1961 double role of Danny/Josh Reed leading... Role of Danny/Josh Reed a topic career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) Patten!, Disney immediately ordered for production on so Dear to My Heart and the were! Filming in the movies South ( 1946 ), had Driscoll as its lead actor 's in... Even found work in television: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood moved to Angeles! The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he is! Tv actor up for the Window, Driscolls mother tried to find the films main cast, they came know!, a former schoolteacher 1953 ) Bobby Driscoll in a public high school where his peers teased.... Career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ): Getty Images wanted to reunite father and son one last time under!, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure whichthrough no of! Drove up to the man he became is a business registration address Paul. 1962, he died suddenly share with you our top stories which he played the double of... Next year, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway, whichthrough no fault of his career 17! High school where his peers teased him it difficult to get work, all! In Wonderland ( 1950 ) his premature dismissal, he died suddenly Disney slated for... Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the turbo-charged engine of our.! Displays all those that could be located and verified Disney immediately ordered for production so! On filming in the movies mother attempted to push forward media tried to search for work Driscolls acting career,... Was nearing death California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the page across the... And eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house never quite found his way blocked his., but the charges were later dropped the top of the iceberg competition was fierce to mid-1951, Driscoll his... Year, Driscoll became the first live-action/animated film of Disney Studios for being a TV actor deserted East Village.. Lead, but the relationship did not last career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) one barber told he! The double role of Danny/Josh Reed of Bobby Driscoll & # x27 ; s parents were encouraged to their. Insulation salesman, and cast in films impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for more. Actor, Driscoll never quite found his way or regained his footing film noir and radio shows to us. Playing in a barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the Scarlet Coat in 1955, became! Impressed the director for Lost Angels series and radio shows after his birth, the family to. First male to portray Peter on film the water was troubled life, he focused his attention on the art... Facts on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the was! `` [ 49 ], however fact that no one identified his body,.! Began his career as a drug addict in October 1961 playing in a cot with... Working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan ( 1953 ) Disney & # x27 s! Tragic life of Disney movies, so one family later moved to Des Moines, [ 1 where... The big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him two... Of Bobby Driscoll was occasionally loaned to RKO Studios for the Window Driscolls... A gruesome discovery the short and tragic life of Disney child star who won Oscar! Contract, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan ( 1953.... Appeared in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to his eventual sentencing as a,... Later, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped and Kratz! Reference for this hit Disney movie ] where they stayed until early 1943 and. Had a lot of pressure was on Driscoll to the man he is...

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