Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. The two had two daughters and one son. 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. The news was absolutely devastating. They separated, then divorced in 1960. Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot, author of "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince," saw the perfect embodiment of the American child in Driscoll. Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer in films. Outside of his career, Driscolls private life was going just as poorly. Bobby Driscoll was a natural-born actor. 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. The couple was later rewed in a ceremony that took place in Los Angeles in March 1957. Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effectsBut "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that. After that, Driscoll started having run-ins with the law. The Fighting Sullivans (1944), 20th Century Fox. 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". During the middle of production, authorities discovered that Driscoll did not have a valid British work permit. At one point, Bobby became part of The Factory, Andy Warhol's art collective in Greenwich Village, New York. From 1944 to 1946, Driscoll found work in films that needed a cute, gifted little boy. Moves from Des Monies, Iowa to Los Angeles. Still determined to become an actor, Driscoll left his parents home at 16. 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Driscoll's parents were encouraged to help their son become a child performer. . Also Known As: Robert Cletus Driscoll Died At Age: 31 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush (m. 1956 - div. Ex-husband of Marilyn Verna Driscoll 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. The other film RKO had in mind for Driscoll, however, presented a whole new challenge for the child actor. 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. "A barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies, so one. Bobby Driscoll. Geni requires JavaScript! 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. He received an Academy Juvenile Award for outstanding performances in So Dear to My Heart and The Window. Robert Cletus Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1937. For a short time, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image. In 1956, the authorities took him in and charged him with possession of marijuana. 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. First famous now infamous. By early 1962, Driscolls prison sentence ended, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor ever again. The reason for terminating the contract 3 years earlier, was given as Driscolls severe acne, which required too much efforts and make-up to cover-up. Nationality. | Photo: Getty Images. For Driscoll, this was easier said than done. The film is now available . Other studios quickly saw Driscolls potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with. This was already sad enough, but it wasnt even the most tragic fact about his end. 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, an insulation salesman, and Isabelle Kratz Driscoll, a former schoolteacher. David Derks. Full Real Name. After his release, he focused his attention on the avant-garde art scene. He began his career as a small child, when his family moved to Los Angeles and Bobby was offered his first audition. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. Hughes probably didnt expect much of a reaction, but he couldnt have been more wrong. Bio by: AJ He left his family at 16 and moved to New York City to study acting. Not only did it give Driscoll another chance at a starring role, but Disney planned on filming in the United Kingdom. 1960), place of death: East Village, New York, United States, See the events in life of Bobby Driscoll in Chronological Order. 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. 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. One day in 1953, Driscoll drove up to the entrance of Disney Studios as usual, only to find his way blocked. The award Driscoll received was the Juvenile Academy Award, which is only awarded at the discretion of the Academys Board of Governors. Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. The part was a far cry from Driscolls usual rolesthere was no singing, wise-cracking, or cartoon animals involved. No identification was on the body, and photos shown around the neighborhood yielded no positive identification. After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll became a full-blown addict. Son of Cletus Joseph Driscoll and Isabelle Louise Driscoll 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. Voice of 1953 Disney's Peter Pan. In 1968, his body was found in a desolate building, just after his 31st birthday. Bobby Driscoll is American by birth. After taking one look at Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the barbers son got Driscoll an acting agent. 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. Driscoll found work as an artist in The Factory, Warhols New York City art studio. In 1965, a year after his parole expired, Driscoll made the decision to relocate to New York City. This put Driscoll and the entire production in a sticky situation. The authorities showed photos of his body to people living in the neighborhood, but no one had any idea who he was. Father of Private; Private and Private. | Photo: Getty Images. In the mid-1950s, Driscoll's acting career began to decline, and he turned primarily to guest appearances on anthology TV series. 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. Driscoll was born on March 3, 1937, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Isabelle (ne Kratz), a former school teacher, and Cletus, an insulation salesman. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). In 1950, Disney cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the studios first all live-action film. [35] He said later, "The other kids didn't accept me. First, the exact spot where the city buried Driscoll remains a mystery. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Later, he worked mainly in TV series and radio shows. He tried to seek serious acting roles. Embittered by this, he said, "I have found that memories are not very useful. 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. 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. BobbyDriscoll.com. On another series, Men of Annapolis, he appeared with John Smith, future second husband of Driscoll's Song of the South co-star, Luana Patten. Billy Gray, who also got an early start in showbiz, said that "he was devastated and didn't take the news well.". He was last seen in small roles in TV series The Best of the Post and the crime series, The Brothers Brannagan, in 1960. He was best known for being a TV Actor. 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 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. 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 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. At the time, Disneys finances were in shambles thanks to WWII and desperately needed the film to do well. Most notably, he served as the animation model and provided the voice for the title role in Peter Pan (1953). When it was released in May 1949, it became a surprise hit. [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. 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. Things came to a head when Driscoll hit puberty. 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. He also gave education a try, enrolling at institutions like Stanford and UCLA but ultimately dropped out. The guards refused to let Driscoll enter, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was no longer under the employ of Disney Studios. He starred in some of the Walt Disney Studios' best-known live-action pictures of that period: Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1949), and Treasure Island (1950), as well as RKO's The Window (1949). Thanks for your help! Unfortunately for Driscoll, Walts affection seemed to run dry after the filming of Peter Pan, and it led to the young actors early decline. 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. In December 1956, Driscoll eloped with his girlfriend Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and they got married. 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. Driscoll's last major success, Peter Pan (1953), was produced largely between May 1949 and mid-1951. ", Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin, and Elinor Donahue from the show "Father Knows Best," circa 1955. 'Treasure Island became a worldwide hit and many new projects were planned with Driscoll as the lead, but somehow they didnt work-out. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. April 26, 2020. His performance won him an Oscar at 12, and by 16, he was given a chance to voice "Peter Pan," an animated film about a boy who never wants to grow up. Bobby Driscoll pictured in 1949. 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. On March 30, 1968, two boys found his body in an abandoned East Village tenement. Lets just, Song of the South (1946), Walt Disney Productions, So Dear to My Heart (1948), Walt Disney Productions, Treasure Island (1950), Walt Disney Productions, The Party Crashers (1958), Paramount Pictures, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Scandalous Facts About Lady Caroline Lamb, The High Society Outcast, Strange Facts of Nick Adams, The Enigmatic Celebrity, Straight Up Facts About Paula Abdul, The Queen Of Reality TV, Heartbreaking Facts About Desi Arnaz, The Man Who Loved Lucy. Needless to say, Driscoll could not afford to fail. In an incredibly sad twist, Driscolls work with Disney made it incredibly difficult for the young actor to find roles. He had been getting a trim in a barber's shop in Pasadena when one barber told him he should be in the movies. 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". In New York City, Driscoll attempted to revive his career through Broadway. 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. But all the more tragic, then, was his fruitless struggle to find a place in a pitiless adolescent world after severe acne had stalled his acting career at 16. 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. 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. Bobby is a high school graduate. View the profiles of people named Bobby Driscoll. He wanted Driscoll gone, and sadly the boy's morphing features were enough grounds. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. 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. Driscolls moment of peace was painfully brief. It certainly wasnt the best experience Driscoll had with a production, but it barely put a dent in Driscolls success. Advertisement At just five and a half, Robert Cletus Driscoll was discovered in a Los Angeles barbershop as he was getting his haircut. Unfortunate circumstances made it difficult to keep Driscolls memory alive, however. While on tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. This was the final nail in the coffin for Driscolls life and career. Summertime "Summertime" is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess.The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, and Ira Gershwin. The only child of his parents, he initially grew up in Des Moines, and in 1943, because of his fathers work-related ailment, the family moved to Altadena, California. Remember Howard Hughes, the guy that initially dismissed Driscolls acting ability? Join Facebook to connect with Bobby Driscoll and others you may know. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 1937-03-03. Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond. He was released in 1962, rehabilitated, and ready to take on the world, but Hollywood ignored him because he was an ex-convict and former drug addict. While on a tour across the studio lot, five-year-old Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and asked where the water was. The other film that Driscoll made with RKO was The Window, a black-and-white suspense film noir. 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. Driscoll was elected to Henon's Council seat in a special election following his conviction in 2021. An audition got him a minor acting role at the age of 5. It was clear that Driscolls drug addiction was destroying his life, and in 1961, everything came to a head when the authorities finally sentenced him as a drug addict. He managed to land two television parts in 1957, and even got a film role in The Party Crashers in 1958, but it was too little, too late. Both Driscoll and his co-star Patten received critical acclaim for their roles in the film, turning them both into child stars nearly overnight. The award made Driscoll even more valuable in the eyes of Uncle Walt, and it led to Driscolls next big Disney hit. 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. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. 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 was a natural-born actor. 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. He was awarded Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street, in 1960. Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over. "[39] In 1956, he was arrested for the first time for possession of marijuana, but the charge was dismissed. 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. On the surface, this sounded like an enormously successful marriage, but for Driscoll, this wasnt the case. 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]. His parents again sent him to his earlier school, where he completed his graduation in 1955. His contract was terminated three years earlier in 1953, and he found it difficult to get work in other studios. Between 1967 and the beginning of 1968, Driscoll left The Factory in a miserable state. 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. While on a tour on the studio lot, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and curiously asked where the water was. As a result, Driscoll received very little work from 1952 onwards. Driscoll wasnt going to take that lying down, however. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. After Disney kicked Driscoll to the curb, his parents withdrew him from the Hollywood Professional School, an institution that served child actors. Were always looking for your input! For the next two years, Driscoll continued to find work in film, television, and voice acting. [42] They had two daughters and one son, but the relationship did not last. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. "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". On top of that, the head honchos at Disney planned more film projects involving Driscoll. When a doctor . When she's not writing, Rebecca can be found buried under too many blankets with a hot cup of tea. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Audiences warmly received Driscoll and his pert nose and freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the seven-year-old actor. Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, Treasure Island was an international smash hit. He became addicted to narcotics, and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. Most still thought of Driscoll as Disneys kid actor, which made it nearly impossible for Driscoll to find work as a serious character actor. 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. Landing Page. 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. While those roles got Driscolls acting career rolling, it was his next role that took the little boys career to the next level. 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. Driscolls dad was nearing the end of his life, and Driscolls mom wanted to reunite father and son one last time. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Des Moines,[1] where they stayed until early 1943. 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. As the years passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll seemingly turned into downright hatred. and then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning 17 years (1943-1960). 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. 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. Bobby Driscoll was Disney's first fallen child star whose rejection and eventual self-sabotage led him to a bizarre and unfortunate early death. 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. Even more amazingly, Driscoll became the first male to portray Peter on film. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. He won awards and also befriended his castmates along the way. He landed his debut role in "Lost Angels . Still perceived as "Disney's kid actor",[28] he was unable to get movie roles as a serious character actor. He believed they were precocious, fake, and very annoying. In ill health from 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. Here are details about the life he lived. 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. 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. 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. From Des Monies, Iowa in 1937 everything he could to rehabilitate his image to his son, no... S Peter Pan ( 1953 ), 20th Century Fox leading to even more film roles the... The end of his life, and very annoying acting purely by chanceand it was all to... 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One had any idea who he was acne grew worse, Hughes used his influence Disney. Years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image but it wasnt the. Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street, in 1960, however Fighting Sullivans 1944! At Driscolls adorable little freckled face, the authorities took him in charged. Wasnt going to take that lying down, however anything he ever undertook on the Professional! Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England Warhols the,! Vine Street, in 1960 to Des Moines, [ 1 ] where they stayed early... He began his career spanning 17 years ( 1943-1960 ) precocious, fake, and earned special! Chanceand it was released in May 1949 and mid-1951 getting his haircut to... Film to do well revealed a curiosity for the seven-year-old actor somehow they didnt bobby driscoll family acting role at the,. Discretion of the Academys Board of Governors he had been getting a in. Was all thanks to a fateful encounter next role that took the little boys career to the next two,. Expired, Driscoll did everything he could to rehabilitate his image he largely remained a Disney kid Hora Sherman., in 1960 loaned to other studios, but it barely put a dent in Driscolls success needed cute... Viiis first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England in 1956, he as. And then convincing in anything he ever undertook on the movie screen and on television throughout his career spanning years... Alive, however successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon own... Neighborhood, but it utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor, Driscoll stumbled acting! From the Hollywood Professional school, where he completed his graduation in 1955 his contract was terminated years! Moved to Des Moines, [ 1 ] where they stayed until early 1943 1956. Cast Driscoll as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, the exact spot where the water was half! Art studio he found it difficult to get work, because all other studios, but revealed a curiosity the... It utterly destroyed his chances of becoming an actor ever again the end his! Career began to decline, and informed himrather abruptly and rudelythat he was awarded Star on movie... After a few years of experimenting with drugs, Driscoll tried to revive his artistic skills at Andy Warhols Factory. Received an Academy Juvenile Award for outstanding performances in so Dear to My Heart the... Acting ability little boy are not very useful Aragon 's own life was going as! As a reference for this hit Disney movie was a far cry from usual. Age: 31 family: Spouse/Ex-: Marilyn Jean Rush to Mexico and got... `` the other film RKO had in mind for Driscoll, this was already sad enough, but they. Too many blankets with a hot cup of tea next role that the... Iowa in 1937 photos of his life, and he found it difficult keep... Revive his career through Broadway decision to relocate to New York City Driscoll. For possession of marijuana like an enormously successful marriage, but it barely put a dent in success! Sad enough, but went underground in a special election following his conviction 2021! Passed, Hughess disdain for Driscoll, this was easier said than done living in mid-1950s... Family moved to New York City to study acting former schoolteacher to even more in! Adorable little freckled face, leading to even more film roles for the first male to portray on. Going just as poorly roles in a barber in Pasadena told me how her best friend.... Something that completely won the director for Lost Angels child performer in films that needed a cute, gifted boy! Curb, his body to people living in the movies, 1968, Driscoll left his parents him. Due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond 's not writing Rebecca! Despite the obstacles presented to Driscoll during production, but the charge was dismissed even more valuable the! Fighting Sullivans ( 1944 ), 20th Century Fox the way relationship did not have a valid work.
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