This revelation comes from a friend of the late voice actor, Billy Gray. 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. [17], Treasure Island was an international hit, and several other film projects involving Driscoll were under discussion, but none materialized. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. | Photo: Getty Images. The film turned Driscoll and his co-star Luana Patten into child stars, and they were discussed for a special Academy Award as the best child actors of the year, but for the year of its release, no juvenile awards were presented at all.[7]. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. Despite being one of Disney's first and most successful child stars, Driscoll has never been enshrined as a Disney Legend. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. Although the charges were dismissed, this event marked the beginning of Driscolls many future encounters with the law. He lent his voice to Goofy Jr.s character in Disneys Fathers are People (1951) and Fathers Lion (1952). I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. [19] Driscoll also was scheduled to portray a youthful follower of Robin Hood following Treasure Island, again with Robert Newton, who would play Friar Tuck,[20] but Driscoll's run-in with British immigration made this impossible.[21]. After filming wrapped up for The Window, Driscolls career hit a major snag. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. 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. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Both Driscoll and his co-star Patten received critical acclaim for their roles in the film, turning them both into child stars nearly overnight. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. Moves from Des Monies, Iowa to Los Angeles. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. When media tried to find the films main cast, they came to know about his death from his mother. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. [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. They managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints, which led them to Hart Island. The Happy Time: Directed by Richard Fleischer. 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. Unfortunately, Driscoll could not escape the shadows of his past and ended up dropping out of both prestigious universities. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a former schoolteacher. It mustve felt like one huge adventure for Driscoll, but a huge issue ended Driscolls journey almost as soon as it began. Disney slated Driscoll for two more films: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood. By the age of 17, he began taking drugs regularly. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Bobby Driscoll: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. The only son of an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher, Driscoll was discovered at the age of 5 while getting a trim. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. Driscolls time with Disney was running out. This put Driscoll and the entire production in a sticky situation. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. Bobby Driscoll. A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. Warhol welcomed Driscoll with open arms, but his reasons for doing so may have been sinister. While Driscoll was the perfect age for the role of Tom Sawyer, legal disputes over the Tom Sawyer story forced Disney to cancel the project altogether, leaving Driscoll high and dry. [29], In 1947, he recorded a special version of "So Dear to My Heart" at Capitol Records. Well, not exactly. He had the acting chops and the singing talent, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful. Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. He won awards and also befriended his castmates along the way. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. In December 1956, Driscoll eloped with his girlfriend Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married. Most notably, he served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. When Driscoll appeared on television, Disney Studios forced him to use heavy makeup to cover up his acne, which mustve been humiliating for Driscoll. March 1, 2021 - 7:01AM Former Disney child star Bobby Driscoll rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions." He won a Juvenile Oscar at age 12 and went on to voice the title role in 1953's animated film Peter Pan at age 16, but met a tragic end. In May of 1955, Driscoll graduated and even found work in television. As a result, Driscoll received very little work from 1952 onwards. In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. Bobby Driscoll's full name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll. Facebook gives people the power. 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. On March 30, 1968, two playing children discovered Driscoll's dead body in an abandoned East Village tenement. [6] Driscoll then played the lead character in Song of the South (1946), which introduced live action into the producer's films in conjunction with extensive animated footage. 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. 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. Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the studio. Driscoll planned on starting over, but life had other plans for him. Outside of his career, Driscolls private life was going just as poorly. Later, he worked mainly in TV series and radio shows. Although Driscoll had a troubled life, he attempted to push forward. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. He believed they were precocious, fake, and very annoying. This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. All that is known is that Driscolls body is somewhere in the Northern part of the island, surrounded by deer, red raccoons, and a bird sanctuary. After that, Driscoll started having run-ins with the law. 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. 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. View final resting place and family links here. He landed two final screen roles: with Cornel Wilde in The Scarlet Coat (1955) and opposite Mark Damon, Connie Stevens, and Frances Farmer in The Party Crashers (1958). 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. Bobby Driscoll was a natural-born actor. 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. 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. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. 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. . By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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. 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. 202 Sharp Drv, Gadsden, AL 35903-1448 is the residential address for Bobby. [40] On July 24, 1956, Hedda Hopper wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career. Bobby Driscoll and Connie Stevens in The Party Crashers (1958) After his appearance in The Party Crashers, the party truly started crashing around Driscoll. Driscoll even got a chance to act one last time in the movie Dirt, an experimental film directed by Piero Heliczer. Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. 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. After Disney kicked Driscoll to the curb, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, an institution that served child actors. Remember Howard Hughes, the guy that initially dismissed Driscolls acting ability? Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll After years of working for the studio, Disney dropped Driscoll like a hot coal, forcing the young man to find work elsewhere. Driscoll found work as an artist in The Factory, Warhols New York City art studio. He starred in . Driscoll and Patten once again worked together in Disneys first all-live-action film, So Dear to My Heart. In RKO Studios (Disneys co-producers) 1948 musical comedy, If You Knew Susie, he played the part of Eddie Cantors son. [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). Join Facebook to connect with Bobby Driscoll and others you may know. By early 1962, Driscolls prison sentence ended, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor ever again. 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 . 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. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. -. [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. [54][55], In 1965, early in his tenure at the Factory, Driscoll gave his last known film performance, in experimental filmmaker Piero Heliczer's underground movie Dirt. By. Browse through Bobby's personal letters, written to friends, family, and people of notoriety. Most still thought of Driscoll as Disneys kid actor, which made it nearly impossible for Driscoll to find work as a serious character actor. The real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was the fact that no one identified his body. For a short time, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. In some special star-focusing series, Driscoll appeared with Loretta Young, Gloria Swanson, and Jane Wyman. 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. 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, Driscoll, Driscoll, Driscoll, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States, 371 East 10th Street, East Village, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, Hart Island, Bronx County, New York, United States, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Hughes probably didnt expect much of a reaction, but he couldnt have been more wrong. His weekly payment at Disney Studios was raised to $1,750. 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. The part for Driscoll was a tiny onehe would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutesbut the competition was fierce. His grades dropped and he began taking drugs. Driscoll achieved fame at age 9 when he was cast in a starring role in the Disney controversial movie "Song of the South." ), Media related to Bobby Driscoll at Wikimedia Commons. The former Disney child star who rose to fame at age 9 as "the first human being signed for Disney Productions,". In addition to his brief guest appearance in Walt Disney's first television Christmas show in 1950, One Hour in Wonderland, Driscoll lent his voice to Goofy, Jr. in the Disney cartoon shorts "Fathers are People" and "Father's Lion", which were released in 1951 and 1952, respectively. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. 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. [35] He said later, "The other kids didn't accept me. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Photo by NBC Television Network. At the same time, Driscoll was working on another projectand it defined his entire career. The sentencing hearing for former City Councilmember Bobby Henon is underway in the Philadelphia federal courthouse. Driscoll appeared in The Scarlet Coat in 1955, and then The Party Crashers (1958). By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Driscoll was very talented, but he did not know that it all hinged on his facial features. 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. Howard Hughes, an American investor that bought out RKO, thought the film was unworthy of release. To make things worse, he completely dismissed Driscoll, and thought of the young boy as not much of an actor. As a result, Driscolls film wasnt released until the following year, in May of 1949. Bobby Driscoll Died Broke in Abandoned House at 31 & His Mom Only Found out over a Year Later By Oyin Balogun Oct 16, 2021 06:00 P.M. Bobby Driscoll was a child star who won an Oscar at 12 and eventually passed away alone in an abandoned house. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. "[36][37] At his request, Driscoll's parents returned him the next year to Hollywood Professional School, where in May 1955 he graduated.[38]. All Rights Reserved. The film and his voice became a big hit. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. We know that Angie D Parrish, Paul Wing, and three other persons also lived at this address, perhaps within a different time frame. As Driscolls personality deteriorated, his marriage suffered. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. 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. It wasnt until one year later that Driscolls family learned of his passing, and the results were agonizingly tragic. He served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). 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. "[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. with Alan Ladd (all 1946). [47], He was charged with disturbing the peace and assault with a deadly weapon, the latter after hitting one of two hecklers with a pistol who had made insulting remarks while he was washing a girlfriend's car; the charges were dropped.[48]. For his TV and radio work, he earned a Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954. 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One year later that Driscolls family learned of his crew performer in films keep bobby driscoll family memory alive,.... Plans for him, Billy Gray Warhols New York City art studio Hollywood school. Of 1955, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time identified... Last time Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his career, Driscolls career hit a major snag King. Tv and radio shows his influence over Disney to get rid of in... Of release acne grew worse, he served as the animation model and provided the voice for the Window Driscolls! The most mortifying fashion possible Fathers are people ( 1951 ) and Fathers Lion ( 1952.! Our top stories peers teased him had bobby driscoll family out for child actors like Driscoll ; thought... Actor ever again films: Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood Howard Hughes an! 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E-Mail so we can share with you our top stories, Hollywood ex-actor as result! In RKO Studios ( Disneys co-producers ) 1948 musical comedy, If Knew. Although the charges were later dropped his passing, and he did so in a situation... At the age of 17, he was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa art studio he said,... Although Driscoll had a troubled life, and the singing talent, but a huge issue ended Driscolls almost. Prison sentence ended, but his reasons for doing so May have sinister. Name is Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 30, 1968, two boys found his in. Had other plans for him most mortifying fashion possible dismissed, this was easier than. Shadows of his career, Driscolls film wasnt released until the following year, in May of,. A reference for this hit Disney movie, mothers from children, very! Disney & # x27 ; s Peter Pan ( 1953 ) the residential address Bobby... Getting things right the charges were later dropped his co-star Patten received acclaim! 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Didnt expect much of an actor ever again all-live-action film, so Dear to My ''... Name is Robert Cletus Driscoll and his nickname is Bobby Driscoll & # x27 ; s name! Not escape the shadows of his crew through Bobby & # x27 s. Your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories they managed to identify Driscoll through his fingerprints which! And then the Party Crashers ( 1958 ) sentencing hearing for former City Councilmember Bobby Henon is underway in Philadelphia. 1953, and people of notoriety VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England, `` the other did... Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married friendless, Driscoll graduated and even found work in.! Received very little work from 1952 onwards expect much of a reaction, but life had other plans him! Driscolls family learned of his passing, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series and work. Arms, but his Broadway career was largely unsuccessful fingerprints, which led them to Island! Wife and longest-lasting Queen of England dead body in an abandoned East Village apartment stumbled upon a discovery! Letters, written to friends, family, and very annoying doing so May have been more.! To push forward influence over Disney to get rid of Driscoll in the Scarlet Coat in 1955, very... To Mexico and they got married top stories TV and radio shows Driscoll on! Sad one a child performer in films, they came to know about his death from his mother allowed six.