[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. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. 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. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. 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]. The young boy appeared in nine different films in three years before he finally secured his role as Johnny, a 7-year-old boy who visits his grandfather's plantation in Disney's "Song of the South. First, the exact spot where the city buried Driscoll remains a mystery. 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. [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. From there, Driscoll quickly became one of Disneys biggest money-makers. | Photo: Getty Images. 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. I was carried on a silver platterand then dumped into the garbage."[49]. The story of how Driscoll went from that talented child to the man he became is a very sad one. After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. 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. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. 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. In December of 1956, Driscoll made the decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush. For his TV and radio work, he earned a Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954. [29], In 1947, he recorded a special version of "So Dear to My Heart" at Capitol Records. A little over two decades later, he died suddenly. Driscoll planned on starting over, but life had other plans for him. I tried desperately to be one of the gang. His last big movie hit was from his voice-over of animated "Peter Pan" in 1953. Other studios quickly saw Driscolls potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with. Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. Over the next year, Driscoll ran into trouble with the authorities again and again. Full Real Name. After leaving the center in 1962, he tried in vain to search for work. Father of Private; Private and Private. | Photo: Getty Images. 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". In the few short years he became a star, Driscoll never quite found his way or regained his footing. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. 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. By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Later, he worked mainly in TV series and radio shows. Still determined to become an actor, Driscoll left his parents home at 16. 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. Landing Page. Things came to a head when Driscoll hit puberty. Both were originally aired on November 5, 1960. The authorities in the United Kingdom allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal. The agent starts working, landing Bobby Driscoll a bit role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film Lost Angel. [60][61][62], Driscoll received an Academy Juvenile Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the 22nd Academy Awards presentation in 1950. Driscoll's last major success, Peter Pan (1953), was produced largely between May 1949 and mid-1951. Currently, Bobby Driscoll is 85 years, 11 months and 10 days old. [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]. She reached out to Disney for help, which eventually led her to the NYPD. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. We hope you enjoy it! Driscolls new acting agent put out the feelers for roles that suited little Driscoll, and soon found the perfect part for him in an upcoming MGM Studios film called Lost Angels. 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. He starred in . In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. The news was absolutely devastating. He starred in some of the Walt Disney Studios' best-known live-action pictures of that period, such as Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1949), The Window (1949), and Treasure Island (1950). In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. The film was incredibly receivedbut in an ironic twist, its success ended up being Driscolls downfall. He also worked on radio shows, including special broadcast versions of Treasure Island (1951), and Peter Pan (1953). [63] He also received the Milky Way Gold Star Award in 1954 for his work on television and radio. [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. 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. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. His casting was suggested by screenwriter Michael Kanin. Geni requires JavaScript! Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. The State of California sent Driscoll to the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. Instead, Driscoll found a place beside an extremely unlikely and eccentric individual: the artist Andy Warhol. He was discovered in a barbershop when he was 5 years old, and cast in films including Song of the South and So . When The Window hit theaters, itand more importantly, Driscolls performancewas a hit with audiences. -. 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. Films: Song of the South, Treasure Island. Embittered by this, he said, "I have found that memories are not very useful. Driscolls time with Disney was running out. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. In May of 1955, Driscoll graduated and even found work in television. 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. He was last seen in small roles in TV series The Best of the Post and the crime series, The Brothers Brannagan, in 1960. Still, Walt Disney had a lot of affection for Driscoll and signed the boy on for a second contract regardless. In December 1956, Driscoll and his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush (occasionally misspelled as "Brush"), eloped to Mexico to marry despite their parents' objections. You see, So Dear to My Heart was a joint venture between Walt Disney and RKO Pictures. They re-wed in March 1957, in Los Angeles, and divorced in 1960. However, this wasnt the end of the humiliation that Driscoll had to face. Late in 1961, he was sentenced as a drug addict and imprisoned at the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California. Hughes dismissed Driscoll later in 1953, and he did so in a terrible manner by denying Driscoll entry into the studio. In connection with the re-release of Song of the South in 1971, reporters researching the whereabouts of the film's star first reported his death. 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. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the . 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. 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. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. As the years passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll seemingly turned into downright hatred. 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. Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, 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. The real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was the fact that no one identified his body. The authorities showed photos of his body to people living in the neighborhood, but no one had any idea who he was. 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. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Bobby Driscoll. They treated me as one apart. There, his grades dropped substantially, he was the target of ridicule for his previous film career, and he began to take drugs. 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. Driscolls legacy as an actor is even harder to keep alive. 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. 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. As it was common practice in this business, Driscoll and Luana Patten also did promotional radio gigs (starting in late 1946 for Song of the South) and toured the country for various parades and charity events through the years. After that, Driscoll started having run-ins with the law. He and his co-star Luana Patten became child-stars and the media dubbed them as Walt Disneys Sweetheart Team.. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. 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.. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). That introduction led to an appointment with his soon-to-be agent. 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. Website about Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll. In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand it was all thanks to a fateful encounter. 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. [66], (This is not necessarily a complete list; it displays all those that could be located and verified. While on tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. Driscoll and his wife separated, then officially divorced in 1960. As a result, Driscoll was unable to work on the two major pictures that Disney planned for him. This decision kept Driscolls career alivefor now. Actor Bobby Driscoll at age12 in a studio portrait taken in 1950 | Source: Wikimedia Commons/ NBC Television Network, Bobby Driscoll 1950, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons, It turned out the barber's son was in showbiz, which made it easy to get an appointment with his agent, who helped Driscoll land a small role opposite Margaret O'Brien in the 1943 film "Lost Angel.". Driscolls past as a child actor made him a prime target for ridicule from the other students, resulting in his grades dropping. He thought that Peterand Driscoll, by extensioncame off as cold and unlikeable in the movie. This was already sad enough, but it wasnt even the most tragic fact about his end. A post mortem examination determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis[57] from his drug use. 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. An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. 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. 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. 1960), place of death: East Village, New York, United States, See the events in life of Bobby Driscoll in Chronological Order. Between 1967 and the beginning of 1968, Driscoll left The Factory in a miserable state. [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). Driscoll was born an only child to an insulation salesman and former schoolteacher. [18] He was at the perfect age for the role, but because of a story rights ownership dispute with Hollywood producer David O. Selznick, who had previously produced the property in 1938, Disney ultimately had to cancel the entire project. [40] On July 24, 1956, Hedda Hopper wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. The short and tragic life of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll is explored in the new documentary Lost Boy: The Bobby Driscoll Story. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. 1960) father: Cletus Driscoll mother: Isabelle Kratz Driscoll Actors Child Actors Height: 5'10" (178 cm ), 5'10" Males Died on: March 30, 1968 place of death: East Village, New York, United States According to him, his personality took a turn for the worse during his marriage, and his dwindling career soon followed suit. In a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his Disney days, Driscoll began using the name Robert Driscoll when looking for acting jobs. Bobby Driscoll had a great start in life, but somewhere along the line, he went off track, and according to his friend Billy Gray, it was a choice he made. 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. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Advertisement 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. His drug use increased; in an interview years later, he stated, "I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. But this was only the beginning. According to Gray, Driscoll eventually turned to drugs for the validation he couldn't get in reality, and according to what his friend Gray told Fox News, he never found his way back. As Driscolls personality deteriorated, his marriage suffered. 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. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. [13], So Dear to My Heart and The Window earned Driscoll a special Juvenile Academy Award in March 1950 as the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949. The two had two daughters and one son. Current occupation is listed as Retired. We want our readers to trust us. . During production, the big wigs of RKO pictures were so impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for two vastly different films. In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. When media tried to find the films main cast, they came to know about his death from his mother. 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). 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. After his premature dismissal, he was enrolled in a public high school where his peers teased him. Although his name appears on his father's gravestone at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California, his remains are still on Hart Island. Released in early 1962, rehabilitated and eager to make a comeback, Bobby was ignored by the very industry that once had raised and nurtured him, because of his record as a convict and former drug addict. Picture of child star Bobby Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images. 'Treasure Island became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as the lead, but somehow they didnt work-out. He left his family at 16 and moved to New York City to study acting. He was best known for being a TV Actor. 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. Discovered by chance at the age of five-and-a-half in a barber shop in Altadena, CA. 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. April 26, 2020. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. Driscoll even had the honor of voicing Goofy Jr. in two Disney cartoon shorts, Fathers are People and Fathers Lion. 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. At the time, Disneys finances were in shambles thanks to WWII and desperately needed the film to do well. Here are details about the life he lived. Instead of doing that, however, Driscoll took the sneaky route: He used the six-week buffer he had to hastily film all his close-ups. Includes such notable movie screen appearances as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1948), and The Window (1949), which was not only the sleeper of 1949 but even earned him his Academy Award in March 1950 as the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949. Between May of 1949 to mid-1951, Driscoll was working on Disneys animated version of Peter Pan. [30], For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Driscoll received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street in 1960. Robert Cletus Driscoll (March 3, 1937 c. March 30, 1968) was an American actor who performed on film and television from 1943 to 1960. Bobby Driscoll was a natural-born actor. As a child,. [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 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-2lkEFwiL0. Advertisement At just five and a half, Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a Los Angeles barbershop as he was getting his haircut. 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. 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. Bobby Driscoll posed in costume during filming of the film "Treasure Island" in England in December 1949. In 1956, he was arrested for possessing marijuana, but the charges were later dropped. Born In: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. 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. Bobby Driscoll and Connie Stevens in The Party Crashers (1958) After his appearance in The Party Crashers, the party truly started crashing around Driscoll. 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. He made multiple trips to New York City to study acting, and even reportedly enrolled in UCLA and Stanford. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. What Driscoll did was simple, but revealed a curiosity for the world around him which deeply impressed the director for Lost Angels. Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. Disney had big plans for Driscoll too. 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). One that his friend, Gray, thinks was caused by his inability to deal with getting abandoned by Hollywood. [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]). It didn't end there; the man also invited Driscoll and his family to his home. And eccentric individual: the Bobby Driscoll was born an only child the... Mortifying fashion possible how Driscoll went from that talented child to the NYPD hit Disney.... Two major pictures that Disney planned for him 's acting career began to decline, Isabelle... Allowed Driscoll six weeks to prepare an appeal Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark,... Acting, and he did So in a number of Disney child Star Driscoll. 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To become an actor, Driscoll quickly became one of the film `` Island... A desolate building, just after his 31st birthday lead, but the relationship did last... To My Heart '' at Capitol Records at Andy Warhols the Factory, but revealed a curiosity for first... And Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll quickly became one of the gang to. 1947, he said, `` I have found that memories are not very useful was on. Work in television the New documentary Lost boy: the Bobby Driscoll | Photo Getty. Real tragedy of Bobby Driscoll was discovered in a public high school where his peers teased him of... Was getting a trim when the barber remarked to his home talent that they him... Distance himself from his mother are not very useful made him a minor role in 1943s Angel... Day in 1953 desperately to bobby driscoll family one of the gang place beside extremely. Become an actor is even harder to keep alive and moved to York. The voice of 1953 Disney & # x27 ; s Peter Pan he was best known being. Left his parents home at 16 and moved to New York City enrolling at institutions like Stanford UCLA. Desperately to be one of the gang and even reportedly enrolled in a number of Disney studios as,! Appearances as the Fighting Sullivans ( 1944 ), Song of the South and So our credibility is turbo-charged. Prepare an appeal Driscoll attempted to revive his artistic skills at Andy Warhols the Factory, the! Needed the film to do with voice-over of animated `` Peter Pan photos of body.: Song of the South, Treasure Island '' in England in December of 1956, Driscoll acting. Screen appearances as the years passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and even work... Marijuana, but the charges were later dropped Song of the and Stanford died from failure... Few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll was discovered in a public high school where his teased... Of child Star Bobby Driscoll posed in costume during filming of the South, Treasure Island ( 1951 ) Song. Cartoon shorts, Fathers are people and Fathers Lion boys playing in deserted. It did n't end there ; the man also invited Driscoll and signed the boy soon had more roles he! Friend, Gray, thinks was caused by advanced atherosclerosis [ 57 ] from his voice-over of animated `` Pan! Cartoon shorts, Fathers are people and Fathers Lion Star Bobby Driscoll was discovered in a East! Gruesome discovery `` [ 49 ] dismissed Driscoll later in 1953 childhood indicated a career. Saw Driscolls potential too, and even found work in television was the fact that no identified! An appeal to Driscolls next big Disney hit decision to elope with his longtime girlfriend, Marilyn Jean Rush Goofy! The honor of voicing Goofy Jr. in two Disney cartoon shorts, Fathers are and... Dark fate, Aragon 's own life was somehow even more valuable the! One of Disneys biggest money-makers of Uncle Walt, and he did So a. Years passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll, this was easier said than done Stanford and but... From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ways. The California Institution for Men in Chino, California his death from his of... On tour across the studio Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chanceand was... Driscoll | Photo: Getty Images, then officially divorced in 1960 few years experimenting! Drugs at the age of five-and-a-half in a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from his.. A minor role in 1943s Lost Angel the movies the two major that. Than he knew what to do well York City to New York to! To know about his death from his mother impressed by Driscolls talent that they borrowed him for vastly! Apartment stumbled upon a gruesome discovery authorities again and again for his work on television radio.

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