Grim Facts About Bobby Driscoll, Disney’s Forgotten Child Star
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. The story of this child actor, who starred in films like Song of the South and Peter Pan, is a heart-wrenching one. 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.
1. He Was A Normal Kid
Bobby Driscoll was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3, 1937. By all accounts, he was your average little kid living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His parents had normal, respectable jobs. Nothing about his early childhood indicated a future career with Walt Disney. In fact, Driscoll stumbled into acting purely by chance…and it was all thanks to a fateful encounter.
2. His Career Started Accidentally
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.
After taking one look at Driscoll’s adorable little freckled face, the barber’s son got Driscoll an acting agent.
Just like that, precocious little Driscoll took his first steps toward a whole new life—but his road to stardom was not going to be an easy one.
3. He Had A Rough Start
Driscoll’s 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. The part for Driscoll was a tiny one—he would only be on screen for a grand total of two minutes—but the competition was fierce. In fact, 40 other applicants wanted the role!
Driscoll needed to stand out to get the part, so he ended up doing something that completely won the director over.
4. He Amazed The Director
What Driscoll did was simple, but revealed a curiosity for the world around him which deeply impressed the director for Lost Angels. While on a tour on the studio lot, Driscoll noticed a mock-up ship and curiously asked where the water was. Driscoll’s desire to learn dazzled the director, who ended up choosing Driscoll over the other 40 applicants.
Other studios quickly saw Driscoll’s potential too, and the boy soon had more roles than he knew what to do with.
