Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, Treasure Island was an international smash hit. View the profiles of people named Bobby Driscoll. 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. In 1956, Driscoll eloped with his long-time girlfriend, Marilyn Jeanne Rush, to Mexico, in the hopes of avoiding their parents' objection, but this marriage was later annulled. He left his family at 16 and moved to New York City to study acting. 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. Later, he worked mainly in TV series and radio shows. Although his name appears on his father's gravestone at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California, his remains are still on Hart Island. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. Driscoll and Luana Patten were the first two actors Walt Disney placed under contract. EXCLUSIVE: Billy Gray still has fond memories of his beloved pal Bobby Driscoll. Bobby Driscoll Age & Birthday. He was discovered in a barbershop when he was 5 years old, and cast in films including Song of the South and So . 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. Three children: Dr. Daniel Abram Driscoll, Aaren Hope Driscoll Keely, and Katherine Ann Driscoll Grundmeier. late) 1967", "Semina Culture Wallace Berman & His Circle", "A Return Trip to a Faraway Place Called Underground", "Santa Monica Museum Of Art Official Homepage", "DIRT- Review and a downloadable clip of the so-called "Bath-sequence", "Hart Island (Potter's Field) Official Homepage (controlled by the "Department Of Correction" and inaccessible to visitors)", "With Re-Release Of Disney Film Child Star's Tragic Death Described", "Bobby Driscoll Won't Be Around For Reissue Of Song of the South", "Benjy Ferree Come Back To The Five and Dime", "Benjy Ferree Announces New Album, Channels Former Child Star Bobby Driscoll", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_Driscoll&oldid=1140629992, University High School (Los Angeles) alumni, Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "S01, E15, The Ordeal of the S-38", Episode: "Incident of Fear in the Streets", Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten, hosted by Johnny Mercer, Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten, Walt Disney and James Baskett, hosted by Johnny Mercer, Capitol Records (CDF 3000) narrated by John Beal, RCA Victor (Y-416) narrated by Bobby Driscoll, Byron Haskin interviewed by Joe Adamson, The Directors Guild Of America and The Scarecrow Press, Inc. Metuchen, N.Y. and London, 1984, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 00:36. 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. 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. Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effectsBut "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that. Well, not exactly. One day in 1953, Driscoll drove up to the entrance of Disney Studios as usual, only to find his way blocked. After Disney turned its back on him, the budding actor was left to fend for himself, and it led to his early and tragic end. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor and artist, known for his film and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. [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. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines,[1] where they stayed until early 1943. 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. As a child,. From 1944 to 1946, Driscoll found work in films that needed a cute, gifted little boy. An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. The story of this child actor, who starred in films like Song of the South and Peter Pan, is a heart-wrenching one. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. Father of Private; Private and Private. (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). The part was a far cry from Driscolls usual rolesthere was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon animals involved. His talent was discovered at the age of five purely by chance. They took him in for drug possession, battery, burglary, check kiting, and more. In 1956, the authorities took him in and charged him with possession of marijuana. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. It's also the final resting place of Bobby Driscoll, who became a household name at the age of 9 with a starring role in Disney's controversial Song of the South. Son of Cletus Joseph Driscoll and Isabelle Louise Driscoll Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. "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". Here are details about the life he lived. Reporters looking into Driscoll discovered the ghastly tale of Driscolls career and his end. After the termination of Disney contract, Driscoll was taken out of Hollywood Professional School, and was sent to the University High School, where he was not accepted by other students. The award Driscoll received was the Juvenile Academy Award, which is only awarded at the discretion of the Academys Board of Governors. 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. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. [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. [66], (This is not necessarily a complete list; it displays all those that could be located and verified. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll He starred in . First, the exact spot where the city buried Driscoll remains a mystery. He was born in a pretty normal household, but he was nothing but regular; he had something in it. [43], Driscoll began using the name "Robert Driscoll"[44] to distance himself from his youthful roles as "Bobby" (since 1951, he had been known to friends and family as "Bob",[45] and in Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Early Space Conquerors, 1952, was credited as "Bob Driscoll"[46]). ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. [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. 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. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. The authorities showed photos of his body to people living in the neighborhood, but no one had any idea who he was. As the years passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll seemingly turned into downright hatred. 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. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. Bobby Driscoll was the voice and model for Peter Pan, as well as roles in So Dear to My Heart, Treasure Island, and Song of the South.In 1953, Bobby's contract with Disney was terminated only . and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). 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. Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. He had previously been encouraged to do so by artist and poet Wallace Berman, whom he had befriended after joining Berman's art circle (now also known as Semina Culture) in Los Angeles in 1956. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. Disney slated Driscoll for two more films: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood. The first film they needed Driscoll for was If You Knew Susie, a comedy musical that was right up Driscolls alley. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. | Photo: Getty Images. The real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was the fact that no one identified his body. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Tyler Perry Was Broke Living in His Car - He Recalls in Tears That He Was Only 'Praying & Believing, Annette Funicello Was Unable to Eat, Drink & Talk during Her Last Years Her Husband Never Gave up Hope, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz's Kids Lived Different Lives after Parents Thrust Them into the Spotlight, Pierce Brosnan Suffered Cruelness as a Child after Mom and Dad Left Him: It Was Ugly', Bobby Sherman Sacrificed His Music Career to Save Lives & Be a Family Man, Kirk Douglas' Childhood Made Him a Charitable Man Yet None of His Kids Got a Penny from His Fortune, 'Family Affair's' Johnny Whitaker's Family Threatened to 'Divorce' Him after He Became Penniless, Mark Wahlberg Wants to Devote More Time to Parenting in Private & Asks Record $87.5M for His LA Mansion, Roger Moore Found 'The One' after Marriages to 3 Formidable Women: A Gay Icon, Skater & an Actress, 'Law & Order's' Camryn Manheim Turns 61 - Meet Her Son Milo Who Is All Grown-up & Is Also an Actor, Anthony Geary Was Elizabeth Taylor's 'Boy Toy' 'The Worse Thing' He Said about Her Was That They Were Friends, Inside Schwarzenegger & Ex-wifes Longtime Home Where They Lived Amid His Affair With Housekeeper, Robert Redford Lives 'Whole New Life' after Marrying 21-Years-Younger Wife It Took Them 13 Years to Wed, Martin Sheen's Four Children Follow in His Footsteps - One of Them Also Inherited His Vices. Although the charges were dismissed, this event marked the beginning of Driscolls many future encounters with the law. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). View final resting place and family links here. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. 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. By. . A lot of pressure was on Driscoll to perform. 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. This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. Driscoll planned on starting over, but life had other plans for him. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. He appeared in a variety of anthology and drama series, such as Dragnet (a crime drama) and Medic (the OG medical drama). 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".