Sad Truth Behind The Original Child Actor That Played 'Peter Pan' Exposed

Peter Pan was the kid who never grew up, and Bobby Driscoll was the only kid who could've played him. As a young actor in the 1940s and '50s, Bobby led a fast-paced Hollywood life that ended far too soon. When he came face-to-face with a real-life Captain Hook, his entire world came crashing down. Unlike Peter Pan's, the child star's life proved to be far from a fairytale.

Breakout Barber Shop

“A barber in Pasadena told me I should be in the movies," Bobby told Entertainment Weekly in a 1946 radio interview. At the time of the interview, Driscoll was just 9 years old! "We found out [the barber's] son was in the movies, and [the latter] got me an appointment with his agent. His agent took me out to a part." The director was instantly charmed by Bobby, who seemed unaware of his own charisma.

Starting Strong

Bobby's first role came in 1943's Lost Angel. Even though Bobby was on screen for a short time, Hollywood fell in love with him. Not only were his button nose and freckled face perfect for the big screen, but Bobby was also remarkable at remembering his lines. Over the course of just three years, he starred in over ten movies! His tenth film with Disney was his biggest role yet, but it was met with instant controversy.

Song of the South

The film was Song of the South. Despite making him a household name, Song is now considered one of Disney's most controversial creations, with Bobby playing a young boy on a journey to his grandfather's plantation in the segregated south. And yet, this didn't stop Bobby from going on to star in a film that ended up winning him the most prestigious award in Hollywood.

Academy Award

At age 12, Bobby won a juvenile Oscar for his role in The Window, a suspense film about a boy who witnesses a man murdering his neighbors. His acting was so believable that audiences were awed by the boy's talent. All they wanted was more Bobby! Disney was more than happy to oblige — and cash in on Bobby's success.