Other studios quickly saw Driscolls potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with. After Disney kicked Driscoll to the curb, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, an institution that served child actors. While on tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. This revelation comes from a friend of the late voice actor, Billy Gray. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. 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. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. [40] On July 24, 1956, Hedda Hopper wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career. Driscoll was convicted for drug addiction and was sent to Narcotic Rehabilitation Center, at Chino, California. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? 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. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. Just like that, precocious little Driscoll took his first steps toward a whole new lifebut his road to stardom was not going to be an easy one. Both Driscolls family and Disney received hefty fines, and they ordered Driscoll out of the country. 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. By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On the surface, this sounded like an enormously successful marriage, but for Driscoll, this wasnt the case. Disney put a lot of faith into Driscoll for the film, and it definitely paid off. The news was absolutely devastating. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. View cenotaph here. The two had two daughters and one son. Robert Cletus Driscoll. In the few short years he became a star, Driscoll never quite found his way or regained his footing. Here are details about the life he lived. It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. Driscoll and Rush eloped in Mexico, although both sets of parents objected to their union. 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. His talent was discovered at the age of five purely by chance. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. 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. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island An examination revealed that Driscoll passed from heart failure directly related to his drug usage. 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). They separated, then divorced in 1960. He had been getting a trim in a barber's shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the movies. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. At the end of his six weeks, the authorities booted Driscoll and his family out of the country, and Disney filmed the rest of Driscolls scenes with a stand-in. A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. All Rights Reserved. Driscoll encountered increasing indifference from the other Hollywood studios. "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". In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. When it was released in May 1949, it became a surprise hit. In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. [65], In September 2011, American singer-songwriter Tom Russell released the song "Farewell Never Neverland" on the album Mesabi, an elegy for Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan. )", "Bobby Driscoll Hopes To Rebuild Film Life", "Bobby Driscoll Freed On Bail After Fracas", "Bobby Driscoll Won't Be Around For Reissue Of "Song Of The South" (last column)", "Bobby Driscoll sitting on a couch (on portfolio, page 38, third row it's the last known photograph of him, ca. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. Bobby Driscoll was an American child actor known for a large body of cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. He was discovered in a barbershop when he was 5 years old, and cast in films including Song of the South and So . Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. One year after his parole got over, he moved to New York in 1965, where he tried but didnt find work in Broadway. He began working at Andy Warhols The Factory. Some of his art was displayed at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. His last film performance was in the 1965 movie Dirt by Piero Heliczer. This strategy was only mildly successful. 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. After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. Eventually, Driscoll convinced his parents to re-enroll him to the Hollywood Professional School, where his grades improved. Over the next year, Driscoll ran into trouble with the authorities again and again. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. His weekly payment at Disney Studios was raised to $1,750. An acquaintance helped the 5 year-old Driscoll with an audition at MGM for a minor role in 1943s Lost Angel. He overcame 40 aspirants to bag the role. Still determined to become an actor, Driscoll left his parents home at 16. Driscoll was born an only child to an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. While those roles got Driscolls acting career rolling, it was his next role that took the little boys career to the next level. BobbyDriscoll.com. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. 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. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. 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. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. The first Disney film, Song of the South, was re-released in 1971-1972. 1957 - m. 1957 - div. 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. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. [64], In February 2009, singer-songwriter Benjy Ferree released Come Back to the Five and Dime Bobby Dee Bobby Dee, a concept album based in part on Driscoll's life. Outside of his career, Driscolls private life was going just as poorly. Warhol welcomed Driscoll with open arms, but his reasons for doing so may have been sinister. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. He won awards and also befriended his castmates along the way. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. In December 1956, Driscoll eloped with his girlfriend Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. 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. He lent his voice to Goofy Jr.s character in Disneys Fathers are People (1951) and Fathers Lion (1952). Advertisement They charged him, but once again, the charges didnt stick. Still perceived as "Disney's kid actor",[28] he was unable to get movie roles as a serious character actor. When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. 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. 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. He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. There, his grades dropped substantially, he was the target of ridicule for his previous film career, and he began to take drugs. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. He believed they were precocious, fake, and very annoying. The couple was later rewed in a ceremony that took place in Los Angeles in March 1957. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. First, the exact spot where the city buried Driscoll remains a mystery. In no time I was using whatever was available mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it. | Photo: Getty Images. Browse through Bobby's personal letters, written to friends, family, and people of notoriety. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cockyand was afraid all the time. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. The courtroom is packed with Henon's family and supporters, with more . The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. 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. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. 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. Perhaps Driscoll hoped that Rush would change him for the better, but what actually happened was far, far worse. Driscolls desire to learn dazzled the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants. When she's not writing, Rebecca can be found buried under too many blankets with a hot cup of tea. 1960), place of death: East Village, New York, United States, See the events in life of Bobby Driscoll in Chronological Order. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. The other film RKO had in mind for Driscoll, however, presented a whole new challenge for the child actor. Nationality. He was best known for being a TV Actor. It was planned as Disney's first all-live-action movie, with production beginning immediately after Song of the South,[9] but its release was delayed until late 1948 to meet the demands of Disney's co-producer and longtime distributor RKO Radio Pictures for animated content in the film. I tried desperately to be one of the gang. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. 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). His role for the production was enormously important: not only did he voice the titular Peter, but he also served as the reference model for the films close-ups. 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. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. top of page. 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,
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