Brash, self-confident musical performer who in a few brief years from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s rose from teen singing idol to smooth, polished nightclub headliner to Oscar-nominated actor (as a shell-shocked GI in 1964's "Captain Newman, M.D."). Sickly from early childhood, with recurring bouts of rheumatic fever which weakened his heart, Darin developed a swaggering, finger-snapping assertive style as a performer. With a keen understanding of the music industry, he wrote popular songs for the teen market while developing a wider, more adult audience by branching out with pop renditions of more sophisticated fare such as Kurt Weill's "Mack the Knife" winning him nightclub popularity, numerous TV appearances (earning up to $40,000 a show) and two film contracts. Darin appeared in fifteen films over a thirteen-year span, mostly light romantic comedies with a few forays into more dramatic fare (John Cassavetes' "Too Late Blues" 1961 and "Pressure Point" 1962) and wrote songs and often the scores for most of the films in which he appeared. His wildly diverse career was cut short by a fatal heart ailment that originally seemed poised to fell him as a young boy, possibly the reason he packed so much into his brief life. Darin's story was eventualy told on film, and stylishly, by one if his most ardent admirers, actor Kevin Spacey, who co-wrote, directed and starred in "Beyond the Sea" in 2004.
- Also Credited As:
Walden Robert Cassotto
- Born:
May 14, 1936 in Bronx, New York, USA
- Died:
December 20, 1973.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Drummer, Master of ceremonies, Gun cleaner for Navy, Janitor at metal factory
Family
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Grandfather: Saverio Anthony Cassotto. died in prison from narcotics withdrawal seven months before son was born
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Grandmother: Vivian Fern Cassotto. married twice previously; remarried after Cassotto s death; died of stroke in 1959; for years Darin thought she was his mother
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Mother: Vanina Cassotto. for years Darin thought she was his sister
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Son: Dodd Mitchell Cassotto. born on December 16, 1961; mother, Sandra Dee
Significant Others
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Companion: Connie Francis.
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Companion: Jo-Ann Campbell. became engaged briefly in 1960
Education
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Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, 1952
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Hunter College, New York, New York
Milestones
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1957 Signed by Atco Records (subsidiary of Atlantic Recording Company) (date approximate)
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1958 Co-wrote and recorded first hit, Splish Splash (sold 100,000 copies in three weeks; rose to Number 1 over a 13-week period)
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1958 TV acting debut on Way of the West (an installment of the TV anthology series, Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars )
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1959 Signed two seven-year contracts with Universal and Paramount
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1960 First feature film appearance as himself in Pepe
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1961 Film acting debut, Come September (also wrote title tune and song Multiplication )
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1962 Left Atco to record for Capitol
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1963 Received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in Captain Newman, M.D.
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1966 Returned to Atco
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1967 Booed from stage of Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas in concert of political diatribes against Richard Nixon, freedom songs and anti-Vietnam songs
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1968 After Robert Kennedy s assassination, Darin sold his music publishing company and possessions, bought a trailer and moved to Big Sur
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1971 Underwent open-heart surgery with the implant of two plastic valves
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1972 Hosted own TV variety show, Dean Martin Presents The Bobby Darin Amusement Company (summer replacement show)
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1972 Signed with Motown Records
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1973 Final screen role, Happy Mother s Day...Love George
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Changed name to Bobby Darin (reputedly from the phone book; another version says from the sign of a Chinese restaurant, Mandarin with the first three letters burned out)
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Dropped by Decca (due to intercession of Connie Francis father)
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Held a variety of odd jobs: swept up scrap in metal factory, cleaned guns for the US Navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
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Recorded Early in the Morning for Brunswick Records under singing group name of The Rinky Dinks ; Brunswick forced to withdraw record after Splish Splash became hit (and re-recorded song with Buddy Holly)
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Signed by Decca to a one-year recording contract
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Suffered recurring attacks of rheumatic fever from the age of eight until age 13
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TV debut, plugging his first recorded songs on CBS Stage Show
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Worked summers at Catskill resorts as singing waiter, drummer in local band and later filled in as singer, emcee and did impressions
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Wrote radio commercials which he sometimes sang with former Bronx High School of Science classmate, Don Kirschner (later a music publisher and promoter); also wrote songs together