He was born Robert Cletus Driscoll, awarded the "Oscar for "Outstanding Juvenile Actor of 1949", at 1560 Vine Street, in Hollywood, California, you will find his "Star" on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame", but, if you could, you would also find his "unmarked pauper's grave", in "Potter's Field, on Hart Island, New York.
Part One: "The Second Star to the Right, Shines in the Night for You"
"Bobby" Driscoll was born on March 3, 1937, in Grand Rapids, Iowa. His father was Cletus Driscoll, an insulation salesman, and his mother was Isabelle Katz Driscoll, a school teacher. Shortly after their son was born, the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and Robert's father continued working with asbestos. This would lead to a pulmonary illness and his doctor recommending he move to California, the family settled around Los Angeles.
As the story goes, one day, Bobby's father's barber's son, Bill Kadel, who was a movie actor, suggested to Cletus that his son might become a child actor. Kadel arranged an audition at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and while the family was touring the studio lot. Bobby saw a mock-up of a pirate ship, asked director Roy Rowland, who happened to be there, where the water was?
As the story continues, Rowland was so impressed by Bobby's curiosity, that he hired him over forty other applicants for the uncredited role of "Bobby", in child star, Margaret O' Brien's, 1943, "Lost Angel".
Bobby Driscoll was on-screen in "Lost Angel", less than two-minutes, but resulted in the novice actor portraying the young "Al Sullivan", in the Ann Baxter and Thomas Mitchell, 1944, "The Fighting Sullivans". The fictional story of the five Sullivan Brothers who served together in the Navy during the Second World War, died together on the same ship, ending the military permitting brothers to serve together
Bobby Driscoll's next role was with full credit, he portrayed Ann Baxter's little brother, "Jeep Osborne", in 1944's, "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier".
Above, Bobby Driscoll and Connie Marshall as his sister, "Mary Osborne".
A Civil War Era, Western, 1944's, "The Big Bonanza", followed with Driscoll, his name on the film's posters in sixth billing, as "Spud", the brother of Richard Arlen's "Union Captain Jed Kilton".
A Civil War Era, Western, 1944's, "The Big Bonanza", followed with Driscoll, his name on the film's posters in sixth billing, as "Spud", the brother of Richard Arlen's "Union Captain Jed Kilton".
After, "The Big Bonanza", was another film with Richard Arlen, 1945's, "Identity Unknown". It was about a Second World War amnesiac soldier, the only survivor of four, going to the addresses of each of the four, in hopes of finding out who he is.
Above, Richard Arlen as the soldier and Bobby Driscoll as "Toddy Loring".
The "Boy with Wounded Dog", was Driscoll's next uncredited role in actress Veronica Lake's, 1946, "Miss Susie Slagle's". Then it was back to full credit as "Billy Beesley", the young brother of Rosemary DeCamp, in the Joan Fontaine war-time-romance, 1946's,"From This Day Forward".
Bobby Driscoll portrayed the young "Percy Maxim", in the fictional biography of the inventor of the "Maxim Gun", the first automatic machine-gun, designed by American-British inventor "Hiram Stevens Maxim". In the movie his name is "Hiram Stephen Maxim", and is played by Don Ameche. "Hiram's" wife, "Jane Budden Maxim", was played by actress Myrna Loy. This biography, comedy, drama. was 1946's, "So Goes My Love".
Bobby Driscoll portrayed the young "Percy Maxim", in the fictional biography of the inventor of the "Maxim Gun", the first automatic machine-gun, designed by American-British inventor "Hiram Stevens Maxim". In the movie his name is "Hiram Stephen Maxim", and is played by Don Ameche. "Hiram's" wife, "Jane Budden Maxim", was played by actress Myrna Loy. This biography, comedy, drama. was 1946's, "So Goes My Love".
Above, Myrna Loy, Bobby Driscoll, and Don Ameche.
With fourteenth billing as "Gerard", Bobby Driscoll was next seen in the Alan Ladd, and Geraldine Fitzgerald, World War Two spy drama, 1946's, "O.S.S.".
With fourteenth billing as "Gerard", Bobby Driscoll was next seen in the Alan Ladd, and Geraldine Fitzgerald, World War Two spy drama, 1946's, "O.S.S.".
Bobby Driscoll next appeared in another Margaret O'Brien starring vehicle.
The picture is about "Sheila O'Monahan", O'Brien, who actually sees fairies, pixies, and leprechauns and believes in the Irish Folk Legends.
In the picture, the uncredited Driscoll portrays a "Pixie", foreshadowing a Walt Disney role he is remembered for.
At the movie's climax, all the pixies and fairies, unseen by the adults, are shown in support of Margaret O'Brien's, "Sheila". Directly above and to Thomas Mitchell's right is Bobby Driscoll, while the title's "Three Wise Fools", Lionel Barrymore, now confined to a wheelchair in real life, Edward Arnold, to Barrymore's right, and Lewis Stone, to Barrymore's left, admit their mistakes and save a tree that the fairy folk live in.
Next, for the first time, Walter Elias Disney, now entered Bobby Driscoll's life and the young actor received a thirteen-week contract.
SONG OF THE SOUTH premiered in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 12, 1946
Bobby Driscoll portrayed "Johnny".
Above, Bobby Driscoll and Glenn Leedy, his only movie role, portraying "Toby".
The motion picture starred actress Ruth Warrick as "Johnny's mother Sally". Warrick had portrayed "Emily Monroe Norton Kane" in Orson Welles', 1941, "Citizen Kane", her first motion picture role.
Luana Patten portrayed "Ginny". She had been hired by Walt Disney at the same time as Bobby Driscoll.
The screenplay was based upon Joel Chandler Harris' tales of "Uncle Remus". Actor James Bassett was hired to portrayed "Uncle Remus", after Paul Roebson turned it down.
Academy Award winning actress Hattie McDaniel, portrayed "Aunt Tempy".
As I mention in the opening lines of another of my articles, "HATTIE MCDANIEL and JAMES BASSETT: Racism, the Academy Awards and the First African American Winners";
It really wasn't a "ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH" Day for the First African American Actors to get "Academy Awards".
Hattie McDaniel and James Bassett were not allowed to be in the "Fox Theatre", in Atlanta, Georgia, for the world premiere of "Song of the South", because they were "Black" and "Jim Crow" ruled Georgia.
My referenced article will be found at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/07/hattie-mcdaniel-and-james-baskett.html
Hattie McDaniel had received her Best Supporting Oscar for 1939's, "Gone with the Wind", by being brought into the Academy Awards ceremony through the kitchen, spoke her great acceptance speech, see my article, and after being presented her "Oscar", was escorted out through the kitchen.
James Bassett only received his Oscar, because of the fight against "The Academy" by Walt Disney.
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/07/hattie-mcdaniel-and-james-baskett.html
Hattie McDaniel had received her Best Supporting Oscar for 1939's, "Gone with the Wind", by being brought into the Academy Awards ceremony through the kitchen, spoke her great acceptance speech, see my article, and after being presented her "Oscar", was escorted out through the kitchen.
James Bassett only received his Oscar, because of the fight against "The Academy" by Walt Disney.
The story, set right after the Civil War, is about young "Johnny" experiencing the separation of his parents, so his father can continue his controversial, pro-Union, Atlanta Newspaper. Going to live on his grandmother's plantation with his mother, learning life's lessons by meeting the slave and storyteller "Uncle Remus", and his characters of "Br'er Rabbit", "Br'er Fox", and "Br'er Bear".
The motion picture storyline is considered racist and Walt Disney was accused of being one himself. Especially with the inclusion of the Joel Chandler Harris "Tar Baby" story and the "Happy" singing slaves of "Johnny's" grandmother's plantation.
At the climax of the live story, "Johnny" sees "Uncle Remus" leaving the plantation over a misunderstanding, runs after him, cuts through the fenced-off area were a bull is kept, and is injured by the animal. "Uncle Remus" returns, "Johnny's" father returns and pledges not to leave again, and we have the happy ending.
Above left to right, Erik Rolf as "Johnny's" father, "John", James Bassett, Ruth Warrick, Lucille Watson as "Johnny's" grandmother, and Bobby Driscoll.
The press, at the time of the release of "Song of the South", was very supportive of the motion picture and both Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten were discussed as recipients of special "Juvenile Oscar's", but the "Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences" decided not to make the award for 1946. However, the two were now being called Walt Disney's "Sweetheart Team", and both Bobby and Luanna were now officially "Child Stars".
Along with Roy Rodgers and the "Sons of the Pioneers", both Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten appeared in a, May 1948, teaser to advertise the upcoming "Pecos Bill" segment of the animated "Melody Time".
Above left to right, Erik Rolf as "Johnny's" father, "John", James Bassett, Ruth Warrick, Lucille Watson as "Johnny's" grandmother, and Bobby Driscoll.
The press, at the time of the release of "Song of the South", was very supportive of the motion picture and both Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten were discussed as recipients of special "Juvenile Oscar's", but the "Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences" decided not to make the award for 1946. However, the two were now being called Walt Disney's "Sweetheart Team", and both Bobby and Luanna were now officially "Child Stars".
Along with Roy Rodgers and the "Sons of the Pioneers", both Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten appeared in a, May 1948, teaser to advertise the upcoming "Pecos Bill" segment of the animated "Melody Time".
The two child star's were heard in radio spots for "Song of the South", "Melody Time", and their next motion picture together.
That movie was to have been Walt Disney's first motion picture without any animation. "So Dear to My Heart", went into production almost immediately after "Song of the South" ended its. Bobby Driscoll had third billing behind actor Burl Ives and actress Beulah Bondi. Luana Patten had fourth billing.
That movie was to have been Walt Disney's first motion picture without any animation. "So Dear to My Heart", went into production almost immediately after "Song of the South" ended its. Bobby Driscoll had third billing behind actor Burl Ives and actress Beulah Bondi. Luana Patten had fourth billing.
The live action movie was completed, but Walt Disney's film distributor at the time, "RKO", wanted animated sequences in the motion picture. The studio's demand on Disney caused "So Dear to My Heart", to be delayed until November 29, 1948, two-years after "Song of the South" had been released.
Above, Burl Ives as "Uncle Hiram Douglas", Bobby Driscoll as "Jeremiah 'Jerry' Kincaid, and Luana Patten as "Tildy". Below, Bobby Driscoll and Harry Carey, Sr., as the "Head Judge of the County Fair".
In the time between "Song of the South" and "So Dear to My Heart", Bobby Driscoll had appeared in the previously mentioned "Melody Time" promo and in another full-length motion picture for "RKO Studios".
In the comedy, "If You Knew Susie", released on February 7, 1948, Bobby Driscoll had portrayed the son of comedians Eddie Cantor, and Joan Davis.
In the comedy, "If You Knew Susie", released on February 7, 1948, Bobby Driscoll had portrayed the son of comedians Eddie Cantor, and Joan Davis.
Two weeks prior to Bobby Driscoll's Twelfth Birthday, on March 3, 1949, he signed a Seven-Year-Contract with Walt Disney.
THE WINDOW premiered in Los Angeles on May 17, 1949
His parents, "Mary Woodry", portrayed by Barbara Hale, and "Ed Woodry", portrayed by Arthur Kennedy, of course, won't believe their son, and he is made, by his mother, to go and apologize to the "Kellerson's". Inadvertently, tipping them off, that he saw the murder and turning "Tommy" into their target.
The motion picture was directed by Ted Tetzlaff, a cinematographer, with one-hundred-and-fifteen films to his credit, turned director.
The screenplay was based upon the short story, "The Boy Cried Murder", by mystery writer Cornell Woolrich. It's a variation of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". In this case, the boy, "Tommy Woodry", portrayed by Bobby Driscoll, is a liar. One night, he climbs a fire escape on his apartment house and observes two of his neighbors, "Joe Kellerson", portrayed by Paul Stewart, and, "Jean Kellerson", portrayed by Ruth Roman, murder a drunken sailor in their apartment.
His parents, "Mary Woodry", portrayed by Barbara Hale, and "Ed Woodry", portrayed by Arthur Kennedy, of course, won't believe their son, and he is made, by his mother, to go and apologize to the "Kellerson's". Inadvertently, tipping them off, that he saw the murder and turning "Tommy" into their target.
In 2008, "TV Guide", had a review of "The Window" and the reviewer wrote this about the film's plot:
...this incredibly tense nail-biter stars Driscoll as a young boy who has a habit of crying wolf...The Window presents a frightening vision of helplessness, vividly conveying childish frustration at being dismissed or ignored by one's parents. Director and onetime cameraman Tetzlaff adroitly injects a maximum of suspense into the film, enabling the audience to identify with Driscoll's predicament and to view his parents as evil, almost as evil as the murderers themselves. Having photographed Hitchcock's Notorious just three years before, Tetzlaff had, without a shadow of a doubt, learned something of his suspense-building craft from the master of that art (as did just about every working director)...An exceptional film
While, on August 8, 1949, the "New York Times" wrote this about Bobby Driscoll:
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 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. Occasionally, the director overdoes things a bit in striving for shock effects...But "The Window" is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about that.
The following photo, at the "22nd Academy Awards", March 23, 1950, is of Bobby Driscoll receiving, from actor Donald O'Connor, the "Oscar" for "Outstanding Juvenile Actor of 1949".
TRESAURE ISLAND had its World Premiere in London, England, on June 22, 1950
The reason behind making "Treasure Island" is an interesting tale in itself. Like many American film companies, Walt Disney had money for future projects in British Banks, prior to the start of the Second World War. The war forced the studios to leave the money in those banks gathering interest. When the war ended, Disney, like the others, faced paying taxes in the United Kingdom to get their money out of the banks and paying taxes on that same money, to get it into the United States. However, if they used that money to make motion pictures in England with British crews. There would be no tax on removing it from the United Kingdom's banking system and "Treasure Island" became the first of four such motion pictures.
My article, "Walt Disney's Four British Tax Features (1950 to 1954", will be found at:
My article, "Walt Disney's Four British Tax Features (1950 to 1954", will be found at:
The picture was a co-production of "RKO and Walt Disney British Productions, Ltd".
Director Byron Haskin, George Pal's 1953 "War of the World's", his 1954 "The Naked Jungle" and 1955's "Conquest of Space", was brought from the United States to direct the feature.
The star of the motion picture was Bobby Driscoll portraying "Jim Hawkins".
The star of the motion picture was Bobby Driscoll portraying "Jim Hawkins".
British character actor Robert Newton was cast as "Long John Silver". For decades the image of Newton as "Silver" was the definitive on-screen version of Robert Lewis Stevenson's pirate leader.
My article comparing Robert Newton to other pirate actors, "Robert Newton IS 'Long John Silver': The Definitive Motion Picture Pirate of the Caribbean", can be found at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/06/robert-newton-is-long-john-silver_17.html
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/06/robert-newton-is-long-john-silver_17.html
Below, a publicity still of Bobby Driscoll reading a children's version, of what else, Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island".
Shooting of "Treasure Island" began, and then the British government entered the picture. They claimed that Bobby Driscoll did not have a valid British work permit. Both Bobby's parents and Walt Disney were fined for this violation and both were given six-weeks to appeal the decision. Director Byron Haskins went to work shooting all the close-ups of Bobby Driscoll, at the end of the six-weeks, Driscoll and his parents left England, and Haskins used a longshot double for "Jim Hawkins".
Walt Disney planned to have Bobby Driscoll appear in two other motion pictures. One was a version of "The Robin Hood Legend", co-starring with Robert Newton, but because of the problems with Driscoll's British work permit, the project was dropped. Walt Disney would make 1952's, "Robin Hood and His Merrie Men", starring Richard Todd, see the link to Disney's four British tax movies.
The second movie was ut have been Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer", but producer David O. Selznick still owned the copyright from his 1938 version and refused to release it to Walt Disney.
Instead, Bobby Driscoll was lent to "Horizon Pictures", founded by producer Sam Spiegel and director John Huston to make 1951's "The African Queen". The screenplay for Bobby Driscoll was entitled "When I Grow Up", and he portrayed "Danny Reed" in 1951, and through his grandfather's diary, "Josh Reed" in the 1890's.
In 1951, in the "Goofy" cartoon, "Fathers Are People", and in 1952, in the cartoon, "Father's Lion", Bobby Driscoll provided the voice of "Goofy's son, Goofy Junior".
Between the two cartoons, on December 3, 1951, Driscoll appeared on the television anthology series, "Lux Video Theatre", in the "Tin Badge", a precursor to all of his future television appearances after "Peter Pan".
Prior to that classic animated feature, Bobby Driscoll portrayed teenager "Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard", in 1952's "The Happy Time", starring Charles Boyer and Marsha Hunt as his parents. Director Richard Fleischer, was only one other film away from directing Walt Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", in 1954.
The second movie was ut have been Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer", but producer David O. Selznick still owned the copyright from his 1938 version and refused to release it to Walt Disney.
Instead, Bobby Driscoll was lent to "Horizon Pictures", founded by producer Sam Spiegel and director John Huston to make 1951's "The African Queen". The screenplay for Bobby Driscoll was entitled "When I Grow Up", and he portrayed "Danny Reed" in 1951, and through his grandfather's diary, "Josh Reed" in the 1890's.
In 1951, in the "Goofy" cartoon, "Fathers Are People", and in 1952, in the cartoon, "Father's Lion", Bobby Driscoll provided the voice of "Goofy's son, Goofy Junior".
Between the two cartoons, on December 3, 1951, Driscoll appeared on the television anthology series, "Lux Video Theatre", in the "Tin Badge", a precursor to all of his future television appearances after "Peter Pan".
Prior to that classic animated feature, Bobby Driscoll portrayed teenager "Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard", in 1952's "The Happy Time", starring Charles Boyer and Marsha Hunt as his parents. Director Richard Fleischer, was only one other film away from directing Walt Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", in 1954.
This very good comedy was about a young boy growing up in Ottawa, Canada, surrounded by his French-Canadian family. Louis Jordan portrayed the families "notorious ladies man", "Uncle Desmonde Bonnard", who teaches "Robert" "the ways" of women.
Above, Marsha Hunt, Charles Boyer, and Bobby Driscoll.
PETER PAN released on February 5, 1953
Bobby Driscoll voiced "Peter":
Above, Driscoll in costume for the animators, and Walter Elias Disney.
Below, are shots of Bobby Driscoll with his "Wendy", Kathryn Beaumont, also the voice of "Alice" in 1951's, "Alice in Wonderland", going through their positions for the animators.
"Peter Pan", at the time of its release, was a major financial success for "The Disney Company".
Part Two: The Darkside of Child Acting
One month after the release of "Peter Pan", the "Board of Directors for Disney" met, and Bobby Driscoll's name came up. A decision was made to let him go three-years prior to the end of his seven-year contract.
As the story goes, Bobby heard of his possible termination, went to see Walt Disney and Disney's secretary informed the sixteen-years-old actor that Mr. Disney was to busy to see him. Adding, according to the story, the secretary excused herself for a moment, left the boy, returned to inform him that:
The Disney Company no longer needed his services.
Bobby Driscoll's reaction was to break down in tears and the secretary's reaction was to call Security and have him escorted off the property.
Now, Bobby Driscoll's schooling changed dramatically, his parents withdrew him from "Hollywood Professional School", a private school in Hollywood, California, for young people in show business, grades K-12.
Among the student body at one time, or another, were Natalie Wood, Annette Funicello, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Betty Grable, and John Drew Barrymore.
Bobby was enrolled in "Westwood University High", a completely different environment from what he had known until then, and his grades started to drop.
Bobby Driscoll was experiencing being bullied by many of the students, because he was a "Big Walt Disney Star". Additionally, he needed to wear heavy make-up on his face, because of a severe case of acne.
In an article by Barbara Epstein, in the July 1972, issue of "Movie Digest", is this 1958 quote from Bobby Driscoll about "Westwood University High".
To fight that perception, Bobby Driscoll attempted to become Robert Driscoll, but only found work on television as Bobby Driscoll.
His first television appearance was in "The Big Sophomore", the October 1, 1953, episode of producer, writer, and star, Jack Webb's "Dragnet". Speak to irony for Bobby Driscoll, the filming location was 500 South Buena Vista Boulevard, Burbank, California, otherwise known as "The Walt Disney Studio".
Returning to "Peter Pan", in December 1953, a special radio version of the story was heard, and Bobby Driscoll portrayed "Peter". Which only makes sense, if the radio production had been recorded prior to his termination.
The other kids didn't accept me. They treated me as one apart. I tried desperately to be one of the gang. When they rejected me, I fought back, became belligerent and cocky—and was afraid all the time.
His parents bowed to their son's wishes and Bobby returned to "Hollywood Professional" until his high school graduation in May 1955.
However, there was another aspect to Bobby Driscoll's grades at "Westwood University High". To protect himself, he became part of a gang and start experimenting with different drugs.
In a "Los Angeles Times" article for July 12, 1956, "Actor Bobby Driscoll, 19, Seized On Dope Charge", Driscoll is quoted as stating:
I was 17 when I first experimented with the stuff. In no time I was using whatever was available... mostly heroin, because I had the money to pay for it
As to that charge, the following day it was dismissed,
Hollywood Gossip Columnist Hedda Hopper wrote about the drug charge in the "Los Angeles Times", for July 24, 1956, that:
This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career.Bobby Driscoll's agent had been attempting to get him roles in motion pictures after he was terminated by "The Disney Company", but both his agent and Driscoll, himself, met with resistance. He was seen as "A Disney Kid". A problem that would be faced by many of the young people who worked for Walt Disney.
To fight that perception, Bobby Driscoll attempted to become Robert Driscoll, but only found work on television as Bobby Driscoll.
His first television appearance was in "The Big Sophomore", the October 1, 1953, episode of producer, writer, and star, Jack Webb's "Dragnet". Speak to irony for Bobby Driscoll, the filming location was 500 South Buena Vista Boulevard, Burbank, California, otherwise known as "The Walt Disney Studio".
Returning to "Peter Pan", in December 1953, a special radio version of the story was heard, and Bobby Driscoll portrayed "Peter". Which only makes sense, if the radio production had been recorded prior to his termination.
Four more television roles followed "Dragnet", and then Bobby Driscoll was awarded, from a nationwide poll conducted by "Mars Candies", the 1954, "Milky Way Award", for his radio and motion picture work.
More 1955 television appearances were seen and, also, fourteenth billing as "Ben Potter" in the motion picture, "The Scarlet Coat", starring Cornel Wilde, Michael Wilding, George Sanders, and Ann Francis. Which was about "Benedict Arnold" being pursued by the new "Secret Service".
My reader should note that Bobby Driscoll's name appears in semi-large print in seventh position on the above poster. Indicating that he still had name recognition over Robert Douglas and John McIntire with the general public.
My reader should note that Bobby Driscoll's name appears in semi-large print in seventh position on the above poster. Indicating that he still had name recognition over Robert Douglas and John McIntire with the general public.
Above and below, Bobby Driscoll in "The Scarlet Coat".
Next, it was back to eight television appearances in 1956, but also becoming a member of what was known as the "Beat Generation". The name was introduced by writer Jack Kerouac in 1948 to describe what was perceived as an underground, anti-establishment, youth movement, in New York City. Bobby Driscoll became a "Beatnik", defined by "Merriam-Webster" as:
a person who participated in a social movement of the 1950s and early 1960s which stressed artistic self-expression and the rejection of the mores of conventional society
Bobby Driscoll was introduced to Wallace "Wally" Berman, below second picture, by his actor friend Dean Stockwell, directly below in 1956's "Gun for a Coward". Berman was an experimental film maker and a full-time artist within the 1950's "Beat Movement" and highly influential. He had noted, as had Stockwell, Driscoll's art work, but the actor was not interested in pursuing it.
Of interest, Wallace Berman's photo, taken by Dean Stockwell, appeared on the cover of 1967's, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album, directly above John Lennon's. Dennis Hopper gave Berman a small role in 1969's, "Easy Rider".
During the summer of 1956 in Manhattan Beach, California, Bobby met Marilyn Jean Rush, not Brush as it is sometimes misspelled, and in a whirlwind romance eloped to Mexico and the underage couple were married. The parents were able to have the marriage annulled, but on March 8, 1957, they were legally married in a ceremony held in a Los Angeles Cemetery.
The couple relocated to Santa Monica, and Bobby Driscoll went to work in a haberdashery in Pacific Palisades to support his marriage. In 1957, he was only able to appear on two television shows, "The Ordeal of S-38", on "The Silent Service", July 12, 1957, and "Pete Love Mary", October 11, 1957, on "M Squad".
Before that second appearance, Bobby Driscoll's son was born, the couple would have two more children, both daughters, and divorce in 1960.
Above, Bobby Driscoll and Marilyn Jean Rush in double exposure of the picture of Driscoll getting his "Juvenile Oscar". Unknown how this was made. Below, the couple in another weird looking picture.
On June 12, 1960, Bobby Driscoll was seen on the television anthology series, "The Chevy Mystery Show", in "The Summer Hero". About the same time that television program was showing, he was arrested in Malibu for striking one of two hecklers with the side of a pistol. The facts show Driscoll was washing his, then, girlfriend's car, and the two hecklers were making insulting remarks. The charges against the actor were disturbing the peace, and assault with a deadly weapon. Both charges would later be dropped.
On December 16, 1960, Bobby Driscoll appeared on televisions "Rawhide", in the episode entitled, "Incident of the Captive ". Some sites state this was also his last role on-screen role as an actor, but that is incorrect. Driscoll would have the uncredited role described as a "Young Mexican Holding Chapel Door", in the Sidney Poitier, 1963, "Lilies of the Field".
Sometime the following year, Bobby Driscoll moved into a home in Topanga Canyon, that runs between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, with his girlfriend Suzanne Stansbury. On March 4, 1961, the day after Bobby turned twenty-four, the two were arrested for stealing money from an animal clinic, but a burglary charge would be dropped. In April, Bobby Driscoll was arrested for forging a check, and plead guilty as charged.
On December 16, 1960, Bobby Driscoll appeared on televisions "Rawhide", in the episode entitled, "Incident of the Captive ". Some sites state this was also his last role on-screen role as an actor, but that is incorrect. Driscoll would have the uncredited role described as a "Young Mexican Holding Chapel Door", in the Sidney Poitier, 1963, "Lilies of the Field".
Sometime the following year, Bobby Driscoll moved into a home in Topanga Canyon, that runs between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, with his girlfriend Suzanne Stansbury. On March 4, 1961, the day after Bobby turned twenty-four, the two were arrested for stealing money from an animal clinic, but a burglary charge would be dropped. In April, Bobby Driscoll was arrested for forging a check, and plead guilty as charged.
On May 2, 1961, Bobby Driscoll was again arrested, this time for possession of narcotics. In October 1961, Bobby Driscoll was referred to a psychiatric court and committed for six-months to the "Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California Institution for Men", located in Chino, California. Some sites, incorrectly, state Bobby Driscoll was in Tehachapi, which is the correctional women's institution.
In April 1962, Bobby Driscoll was released from Chino and placed on a three-year parole, but he couldn't find work as an actor, which became depressing for the actor. According to the "Los Angeles Times", at that time, he was quoted saying:
I have found that memories are not very useful. I was carried on a silver platter—and then dumped into the garbage.
What exactly he did till almost the end of 1963, I could not locate. However, he met Sharon "Didi, Dee Dee" Morrill and went to work as a carpenter for a company in Los Angeles.
A marriage was performed by another member of the "Beat Generation", Bob Alexander, I could not locate exactly who he was, but no paperwork was ever filed to make the marriage legal and several sites do not even mention Sharon.
According to Sharon's brother, Terry Morrill, both his sister and Bobby were into drugs. The three planned to sell a lot of pot in New York City, then fly out of the country to Crete, but something went wrong, and Terry claimed they were "ripped off". Bobby and Sharon went to Montreal, Canada, later, probably 1965, she went to Los Angeles and he went to New York City, but the two were still together.
In New York City, Bobby Driscoll hoped to become an actor on the Broadway stage, but he could not get any offers.
However, as I had previously mentioned, back in 1956 Wally Berman attempted to get Bobby Driscoll to look at becoming an artist. Andy Warhol, below, had what became known as "The Factory", a "hip-hang-out" for artists, musicians, celebrities, and what were known as "Warhol's Superstars". Into this world Bobby Driscoll entered, and Warhol, like Berman, suggested Driscoll work on his artistic skills. It was through Andy Warhol that Driscoll appeared in his real last on-screen performance, in director Piero Heliczer's, 1965, twelve-minute-short, "Dirt".
In 1967, Bobby Driscoll and Sharon Morrill broke-up!
It was reported that Bobby Driscoll became extremely depressed, was without money, and had developed Hepatitis. He was arrested again in February 1968, and wrote writer and poet Allen Ginsberg for money.
It was reported that Bobby Driscoll became extremely depressed, was without money, and had developed Hepatitis. He was arrested again in February 1968, and wrote writer and poet Allen Ginsberg for money.
On March 30, 1968, two boys were playing in a deserted East Side, lower Manhattan tenement, at 371 East 10th Street, and found the body of Robert Cletus "Bobby" Driscoll laying on a cot with beer bottles and religious pamphlets around it. A post mortem examination had determined that he had died from heart failure caused by advanced atherosclerosis from drug use. There was no identification on the body, and photos of the deceased were shown around the neighborhood, but had no results of identifying the body.
Bobby Driscoll was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in Potter's Field, Hart Island, New York.
In late 1969, Isabelle Katz Driscoll, arrived at the Burbank, California, studios of Walt Disney. She was seeking their help in finding her son, because his father Cletus Driscoll was nearing death. This resulted in a fingerprint match by the police department to the unknown body found by the two boys, because the bodies in Potter's Field are unmarked, there was no way to find her son's actual grave and return his body to his mother.
Robert Cletus Driscoll's name appears on his father's gravestone in, Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, California, but his son is not with his father.
Bobby Driscoll was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in Potter's Field, Hart Island, New York.
In late 1969, Isabelle Katz Driscoll, arrived at the Burbank, California, studios of Walt Disney. She was seeking their help in finding her son, because his father Cletus Driscoll was nearing death. This resulted in a fingerprint match by the police department to the unknown body found by the two boys, because the bodies in Potter's Field are unmarked, there was no way to find her son's actual grave and return his body to his mother.
Robert Cletus Driscoll's name appears on his father's gravestone in, Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, California, but his son is not with his father.
This following link, at the time of my writing, will take my reader to a video made by Bobby Driscoll's middle daughter, Aaren Hope Driscoll in memory of her father and "Hoping Her Voice Is Heard" about who he was:
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