Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 3, 1937, a young Driscoll was discovered by his barber at age 5 after his family relocated to California.
After Driscoll landed the uncredited role in the 1943 film, he caught the attention of Walt Disney himself, becoming the first actor to sign a long-term contract with Walt Disney Studios when he was cast as Johnny in the 1946 live-action movie Song of the South. He went on to appear in subsequent Disney films So Dear to My Heart in 1949 and Treasure Island in 1950 before voicing the titular character in the 1953 Disney animated classic Peter Pan.
Driscoll—who won a juvenile Oscar for his performance in the 1949 RKO film The Window—was released from his Disney contract in 1953, effectively ending his partnership with the studio. He continued to act until 1960, booking small television parts and starring in the 1958 movie The Party Crashers.
In 1961, Driscoll was arrested twice within a matter of weeks—first in April for suspicion of burglary of cash and checks from a veterinarian’s office (the charges were ultimately dismissed) and then in May for cashing a stolen check and driving under the influence of drugs. He pleaded guilty to both of those charges, receiving a sentence of six months of drug addiction treatment at the California Institute for Men in Chino.
After completing his addiction treatment, Driscoll reportedly remained in California until his probation ended in 1964, working as a carpenter and maintaining his sobriety. He subsequently moved to New York City, where he struggled to find acting gigs due to his past substance abuse. By late 1967, he was no longer in contact with his family and friends.
Since there was no identification found on Driscoll’s body and no one in the area recognized him either, he was considered a John Doe and buried in an unmarked grave in New York City. More than a year passed before Driscoll’s family learned his fate. His mother, Isabelle, later publicly shared the news of her son’s death in 1971 leading up to the theatrical return of Song of the South.
When Disney tried to track down Driscoll, fingerprint records confirmed his death. Despite the heartbreaking outcome, Isabelle was grateful her son was not on drugs when he died.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.
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