Bobby Darin

Biography

Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, impressionist, and actor in film and television. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music. He started his career as a songwriter for Connie Francis. He recorded his first million-selling single, "Splish Splash", in 1958. That was followed by "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife", and "Beyond the Sea", which brought him worldwide fame. In 1962 he won a Golden Globe Award for his first film, Come September, co-starring his first wife, actress Sandra Dee. During the 1960s, he became more politically active and worked on Robert F. Kennedy's Democratic presidential campaign. He was present on the night of June 4/5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles at the time of Kennedy's assassination. During the same year, he discovered he had been raised by his grandmother, not his mother, and that the woman he thought was his sister was actually his mother. Those events deeply affected Darin and sent him into a long period of seclusion. Although he made a successful comeback (in television) in the early 1970s, his health was beginning to fail, as he had always expected, following bouts of rheumatic fever in childhood. The knowledge of his vulnerability had always spurred him on to use his musical talent while still young. He died at the age of 37 after a heart operation in Los Angeles.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

Ironside

The Merv Griffin Show

Run for Your Life

What's My Line?

Burke's Law

Night Gallery

All Movies (23)

• The True Buddy Holly Story2012 · as Self (archive footage)
• In Concert Series: Bobby Darin2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• Judy Garland Duets2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Rock 'n' Roll and the 1950's Vol. 22003 · as Self (archive footage)
• Happy Mother's Day, Love George1973 · as Eddie
• Bobby Darin: Mack is Back1973
• The Marshal of Madrid1972 · as Billy Dobbs
• The Jackson 5: Goin' Back to Indiana1971 · as Self
• The Happy Ending1969 · as Franco
• Stranger in the House1967 · as Barney Teale
• Bobby Darin in London1967 · as Self
• Gunfight in Abilene1967 · as Cal Wayne
• That Funny Feeling1965 · as Tom Milford
• Captain Newman, M.D.1963 · as Cpl. Jim Tomkins
• Pressure Point1962 · as Patient
• If a Man Answers1962 · as Eugene Wright
• Hell Is for Heroes1962 · as Pvt. Dave 'J.J.' Corby
• President Kennedy's Birthday Salute1962 · as Self
• State Fair1962 · as Jerry Dundee
• Too Late Blues1961 · as John 'Ghost' Wakefield
• Come September1961 · as Tony
• Pepe1960 · as Bobby Darin
• Shadows1960 · as Man at Rehearsal (uncredited)

All TV Shows (29)

• The Bobby Darin Show1973
• The Midnight Special1972 · as Self
• Night Gallery1970
• The Flip Wilson Show1970 · as Self
• The Barbara McNair Show1969 · as Self
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self
• Ironside1967
• ABC Stage 671966 · as Self
• Run for Your Life1965 · as Mark Shepherd
• The Judy Garland Show1963 · as Self
• Burke's Law1963 · as Roland Trivers (uncredited)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• The Grammys1959 · as Self
• The Big Party1959 · as Self
• Startime1959 · as Self
• The Music Shop1959
• Kraft Music Hall1958 · as Self
• The Bob Crosby Show1958
• The Dick Clark Show1958 · as Self
• American Bandstand1957 · as Self
• The Big Beat1957
• The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1956 · as Self
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• This Is Your Life1952 · as Self
• The Jack Benny Program1950 · as Bobby Darin
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self - Mystery Guest
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self