Many world-class stars have left behind a rich creative legacy despite living relatively short lives. Among them is Bronx native Bobby Darin, who lived only 37 years but made a brilliant mark on the music and film industries. In this article on bronxski, we will explore the life and creative journey of this outstanding actor and singer.
A Grim Prognosis from Doctors
Bobby Darin’s real name was Walden Robert Cassotto. He was born in the Bronx in 1936 to a family with Italian roots. The boy’s mother, Polly—who would later turn out to be not at all who Bobby thought she was—made a living singing in vaudeville. She always encouraged him to pursue music, reading, and creativity. Walden grew up in a musical atmosphere, with songs by legends like Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald constantly playing at home. He quickly learned to play the piano and drums, spending all his free time reading books. From childhood, the boy was often sick. A severe bout of rheumatic fever proved fateful. At the age of 8, he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. During a conversation between Polly and a doctor, Walden accidentally overheard that even with the best medical care, he would likely not live past 20. This became a turning point, after which the boy began to live every day as if it were his last. Many believe this grim prognosis for a shortened life was the driving force behind Bobby Darin’s phenomenal success, as he was in a hurry to live and never put anything off for tomorrow.
While still a teenager, Walden began writing songs and distributing demos to music producers. A chance meeting in a candy store with music publisher Don Kirshner became a pivotal moment in his career; together, they started collaborating on writing jingles. As for the origin of the pseudonym Bobby Darin, there are several theories. Some say the young musician took his new name from the malfunctioning neon sign of a “Mandarin” restaurant, where only the last letters were lit. Others claim he simply chose a random name while flipping through a phone book. Whatever the case, it wasn’t long before everyone knew the name Bobby Darin. Read about another world-famous Bronx native, Woody Allen, at this link.
First Steps to Stardom
Proficient with several musical instruments, Bobby started playing in a band while still in high school. He also showed remarkable talent in dancing, often performing at school concerts. At 16, Darin and his friends went to work for the summer in the Catskills resort area. There, he displayed a gift not only for music but for comedy as well. Read about another prominent actor and comedian from the Bronx at this link.
After graduating from high school, Darin briefly attended Hunter College but soon became consumed with the idea of starting a professional career, knowing he didn’t have much time. Bobby wrote songs for the Aldon Music label and finally signed his first major contract with Atco Records.
In 1958, Darin achieved true fame with the upbeat rock-and-roll tune “Splish Splash,” which he wrote himself. It instantly soared into the Top 5 of all pop charts. The story goes that Darin wrote the song by chance in just 12 minutes, simply humming the melody over dinner.
Bobby quickly became a teen idol, with his most successful hit being “Queen of the Hop.” Other notable singles include “Dream Lover” and “Mack the Knife.” The latter became Darin’s debut No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts and earned him two Grammy Awards. “Mack the Knife” remained in the Top 10 for 52 weeks, nine of which were at the number one spot. It was then, in 1959, that Bobby changed direction and began recording more mature standards in the style of Frank Sinatra, whom he aimed to surpass. His childhood memories and dreams, shaped by that magical voice that filled his home almost daily, had come to the forefront.
A Fast-Paced Career in Music and Film
Fortunately, the doctors’ predictions did not come true. Darin celebrated his 20th birthday in good health and continued to write songs. The only outward sign of his severe illness was premature balding from the numerous medications he took. After turning 20, Bobby wore hairpieces for the rest of his life.
In 1960, Darin finally decided to try his hand at another art form: cinema. It had been a long-held dream of his, and an opportunity arose. Bobby wrote the soundtrack for the film “Come September” and was offered a small role in it. The filming took place in Rome, where another fateful event in Darin’s life occurred. On set, he met the young 16-year-old star Sandra Dee and fell head over heels in love. Despite the age difference, the couple got engaged two months after meeting, and a year later, their son Dodd was born.
Bobby continued to perform in nightclubs and act in movies. In 1964, he was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Captain Newman, M.D.,” but he lost to Melvyn Douglas, even though everyone had predicted the Oscar would be Darin’s.
The 1960s were a very prolific period for Bobby creatively. He earned acclaim from audiences and critics for his performance in the 1962 World War II drama “Hell Is for Heroes,” tried his hand at musicals by starring in “State Fair” in 1962 alongside Pat Boone and Ann-Margret, and became one of the most successful entertainers in Las Vegas.
Bobby Darin’s songs were always on the music charts, including “If I Were a Carpenter,” written by Tim Hardin; “Beyond the Sea”; “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby”; and the country hits “Things” and “You’re the Reason I’m Living.” Young women especially adored the song “18 Yellow Roses,” which Bobby wrote for his beloved Sandra.
Divorce and a Search for Self
But in 1967, everything fell apart. To everyone’s surprise, Darin filed for divorce. Sandra recalled that one morning he simply woke up and no longer wanted to be married. In reality, their careers often pulled them apart, and they had faced marital difficulties from the very beginning.
After the divorce, Darin immersed himself in politics. He actively supported Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, but after Kennedy’s assassination in June 1968, Bobby, disillusioned with life and the state of the world, decided to leave show business. Another blow came when Darin learned a stunning family secret. It turned out that the woman he believed to be his sister was actually his mother, and the woman he had considered his deceased mother was, in fact, his grandmother. This revelation was listed among VH1’s 100 Most Shocking Moments in Rock and Roll in 2001.
Having lost faith in the world, Darin sold his house and all his possessions and began living in seclusion in a mobile home in Big Sur.
But his love for music prevailed. A year later, Bobby returned to the music industry, founding his own record company, Direction Records, on which he released the album “Born Walden Robert Cassotto.”
A Strong Spirit and a Weak Heart
In the early 1970s, Bobby Darin returned to performing in Las Vegas, but due to his heart problems, he appeared on stage infrequently. In January 1971, he suffered a mild heart attack and later had two artificial valves implanted. After a long recovery, his condition improved by 1973, but the valves began to fail again. Although another operation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles was successful, Bobby died a few minutes later in the recovery room due to his weakened state on December 20, 1973.
Darin had no official funeral ceremony and willed that his body be donated to science for research.
Posthumously, Bobby Darin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1982 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2010, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His life was depicted in the 2004 film “Beyond the Sea” and the 1998 documentary “Beyond the Song.”
Five books have been written about Bobby Darin, and in 2018, a musical based on his biography, “Dream Lover,” became a success in Melbourne, Australia, winning a Helpmann Award. A Broadway musical about his life is currently in the planning stages.