I just want to say, my readership is amazing. I have somehow JUST NOW seen that I had comments to approve and reply to from December, and if yours was one of them, I am so very sorry. I'm going to try to change some notification settings in hopes that I'll see them a little more quickly in the future.
So here we are again--another year out from Bobby's birth. It has been really interesting for me this year, as I now work as an activity director at an assisted living facility, and a good ninety percent of my residents are right around Bobby's age. It really gives perspective into what his life might be like now, and I'm always learning new things about the social climate of past decades. It keeps him close to me...
I know I posted this very early on, but Jack Nicholson, Jane Fonda, and Morgan Freeman will also be eighty-six this year. I've wondered many times if Jack Nicholson recalls being in an acting group with Bobby back in the late fifties, as we heard he was, along with Dean Stockwell (whom we sadly lost last year). But of course, given Nicholson's fame, good luck reaching him to ask the question I suppose...
Okay, enough of that. What I'd like to do today in honor of Bobby's 86th is do a Spotlight of a Fan. This young lady runs one of the Instagram accounts I've referred to earlier, f0rbobby (note the 0 for the first o, if you want to look her up), and I've been struck by how dang much she sounds like...me, actually! We seem to think a lot alike about Bobby, taking apart his work, his own words about himself and the words others have spoken to find out everything we can about the actual man. It was in that spirit that I contacted her and asked her to answer some questions for me!
So with no further ado, I'd like to introduce Juli!
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1. First things first! How did you become a fan of Bobby?
"Well, it started with becoming a major Disney’s Peter Pan fan. I never really had a deep connection to the movie when I was younger like some other people have had (I only had it on VHS, and I couldn’t figure out how to work the VCR when my parents weren’t around), so I really only saw the movie maybe once a year, if at all. Around late 2020 I had a newfound interest in it again, so I decided to look up the movie on Google. To my surprise, when I went to “Cast and Crew”, Bobby was the only photo that had him as a child, while Kathyrn Beaumont’s photo was more recent. I felt unsettled, partly because of the whole “never grow up” thing, and I figured Bobby must’ve died when he was a child, hence the photo (they have a photo of him from 1950). My curiosity got the best of me, and I clicked on his profile, the Entertainment Weekly article and multiple other links, discovering his sad story. His story was so unique, it never left my mind after I read about him. Almost subconsciously, I began watching the Lost Boy documentary, all of his shows…then his movies…then finding almost everything I could about him– which is something I rarely do. That, I think, was the start of my admiration for him."
2. Other than his untimely death, what was something about Bobby’s life, story or personality that has captivated you?
"Bobby’s life was certainly unique in many aspects, but what captivated me the most was how unapologetic he was about his sensitive personality. I think it’s a stereotype that most people usually depict guys in the ‘50s as being aggressive in demeanor with a superiority complex, but reading Bobby’s interviews, it is clear to me that he wasn’t afraid to make known that he loved the arts, and his love for other people. He talked about how he liked reading, writing, creating art and poetry, and listening to music, something I know many people even today look down upon as being of lesser value. His loyalty toward people he loved and how generous he was (including strangers; for example mowing people’s lawns and helping them move for free) truly made me adore his personality even more."
3. If you could point to a single factor that might have caused Bobby’s ultimate demise at the hands of drugs, what would it be? (just to give an example, in case that was worded weird: I personally see it as being the fact that drug rehab and NA groups were not as accessible or of the quality that they are now. For some people it might have been the Disney breakup, having a family at such a young age, the way his parents treated him, etc. I think it was a combination of all those factors, but what one stands out to you?)
" Although many people pin the blame on Disney when it comes to the root cause of Bobby’s drug use (initially, I did the same), I believe it was more than just the firing that led to his drug use, and to his demise. I have a big, long conclusion for what I think, but I’d like to provide context first. Around 1951/1952, I was able to deduce from his letters to Patricia Nolan that Bobby tried to get drunk occasionally, and that’s usually typical from teenagers, but in my experience with that kind of thing, it usually leads to being open to more things. I understand everyone's experience is different, and in no way at all am I saying alcohol is some sort of gateway to drugs, this is just how I have observed it with friends of mine. We know Bobby got moved to public school around this time also, where he encountered bullies and resorted to making friends with the “misfits” of the school, some who were probably drug users. From what I’ve read over the years about accounts from child stars, there is likewise an unhealthy amount of exposure to more adult activities, namely drinking and drugs, and the classy Old Hollywood was no exception. Furthermore, Bobby could’ve also been exposed to that. He even said that he hung out with older people exclusively, and that’s usually the case for child actors in Hollywood– they’re mostly in the company of adults. At the time of his firing, I presume Bobby was still trying to adjust to public school, trying to balance film work, school, and homelife, all while seeking some sort of validity and understanding for himself. Obviously, the Disney firing was a turning point, which I think caused the drive of desperation, and possibly leading to the instability that made him an easy target for trying drugs. I’m not saying this is true for everybody, but when something life-changing happens, it can be a major setback to someone. I believe Bobby looked up to Walt as a father figure, and the security of his contract meant he didn’t have to look for work right away. But with the carpet pulled out from beneath him, I can understand if that’s why many people believe that was Bobby’s reason for trying drugs. Moreover, I’m not sure how much the beatnik culture affected his decision. I did a little research on beatniks, and many people associated them with being drug users, so perhaps he was influenced by that in addition. Having a family young may have impacted on how much he was using everyday, due to the stressful environment and attempting to find work to support his family, but it’s difficult for me to think that specific factor was what caused his demise. Despite all this though, I would probably say the lack of adequate rehabs was the main factor that led to his demise, because I’ve read stories about people who had a downfall just as low as Bobby’s was, but they managed to overcome their addiction with the help of these centers. Unfortunately, society’s stigma and the products of its time were against Bobby. I’m not sure how effective Chino was, and returning to Suzanne, or associating with other drug users was not going to help him either. I mention society’s stigma because he was barred from acting jobs and his legal records had made him lose normal jobs as well, which contributed to the depression. I don’t think moving to New York did him any favors, because of the notoriety of the Factory– Bobby was still in that environment of drug use, so it’s hard to say which factor counted against him the most. It’s a very complicated thing for me to pinpoint, so I’d say I agree with you about rehabs being insufficient, although I think having a stronger support system could’ve helped Bobby greatly during those rough periods of his life as well."
4. What do you wish the rest of Bobby’s story would have looked like had he not fallen prey to his addiction?
"I would have liked to see Bobby’s wish of telling his life story be granted. Bobby seemed to be pretty desperate when he wrote to Truman Capote about it, and I’m sad that it never came to fruition… Most of all though, I would’ve loved to see Bobby living out the rest of his life with his family. Bobby was robbed of getting the chance to be a father because his addiction stole the best years of it away, but I think Bobby wanted to care for his children despite these limitations. He mentioned wanting to regain custody of his son and in the interview “The Terrifying Life of an Ex-Child Star”, Suzanne says that the reason Bobby had injured his foot was because he was “showing off for the kids”. I believe he still wanted to spend time with them and loved them with all his heart, but unfortunately that’s where the drugs interfered. So seeing Bobby enjoying family life would be the best thing for me, as well as putting aside time for his hobbies and interests (making collages, poetry, etc.). I agree with your thoughts that if Bobby were to do some acting on the side, it would be more occasional and television-focused, although it would be nice to see him in movies from time to time. A reunion with the cast of Peter Pan would be absolutely lovely, and some interviews here and there would be great too (but with Bobby’s consent, because I feel interviews overwhelmed him during his stardom, and understandably so). The possibilities are endless whenever I think of them, because Bobby had so much potential for future acting projects and also skill when it came to normal jobs. It could’ve taken so many different paths…it saddens me that we never got to see any of that. But overall, I wish the rest of his story was filled with hope, opportunities, and happiness for him."
5. What life lessons do you feel Bobby has taught you from beyond the grave?
"Speaking very personally here, I believe Bobby’s story has taught me empathy more than anything else. Before I discovered Bobby’s story, I always believed I was a generally open-minded person toward other people like him, but I didn’t fully realize how I changed my thoughts toward drug addicts and people with mental health issues– until I found his story. In retrospect, I feel ashamed that I even used to think like that, and I’m sad that it took me so long to recognize that those people have made mistakes just like the rest of us, and are just as deserving of dignity than anyone else. Part of me wanted to blame it on immaturity, or outside influences, but those were my thoughts, and I’m glad that my perception has changed. His story taught me that there is always a more complicated side of humanity than just what we see on the outside. I will always be grateful that he helped me realize that."
6. Other thoughts you’d like to share?
"I’d like to comment something about how the media treats Bobby today. He is treated as some sort of clickbait “Childhood Ruined” stories just because of how his life ended. While we can’t ignore the tragedy that fell upon him, it’s a very limiting way of thinking of someone like that. Bobby was more than his death, and he was more than just a “Disney kid”. It’s expected that people only focus on the negative, but why can’t we also talk about how much sensitivity Bobby had or how intelligent he was? Why can’t we focus on how accepting and non-judgemental Bobby was instead? Sure, Bobby had low points throughout his life, but he also had hopes and dreams that have become overshadowed by his tragedy. To be honest, I’m not sure this perception of him will ever fade. But as fans, we can try to do our best to let people know that Bobby is more than that, and that people shouldn’t just assume anything about his life– that’s how things get twisted and they become misconceptions, especially if they don’t know anything about it. Bobby had beauty and joy in his life, not all of it was darkness."
Thank you so much to Juli for participating! I absolutely loved reading your answers, and the thought you put into each one. Bobby's legacy won't be in danger of dying if we always have younger fans like yourself cropping up regularly.
If anyone else would like to speak into Juli's answers, or have answers of your own you'd like to share, please comment back! I promise I'll answer before three months has gone by this time...
As for Bobby, have a happy, happy birthday in heaven, this time with your daughter. But know you are still well beloved down here on earth.
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