Bobby Darin

As a child Walden Robert Cassotto contracted rheumatic fever which severely damaged his heart and he was not expected to live past his teens. His doting family encouraged Bobby's love of music and he began writing songs at an early age. He graduated from the prestigious The Bronx High School of Science and attended Hunter College briefly before deciding to pursue his music full time. He worked writing and, later, recording demo records designed to promote songs to other singers. In 1958 at age 22, Bobby Darin appeared on the major teen music program of the time Dick Clark's Bandstand singing Splish, Splash. The huge hit led to an even bigger success.

In 1959, Bobby Darin's recording of the Kurt Weill/Bertolt Brecht composition Mack the Knife from The Threepenny Opera went to #1 on Billboard's Pop Singles and #6 on the Black Singles chart. Darin also won two Grammies in 1959: one for Best New Artist and another for Best Record for Mack the Knife. Mack the Knife was #1 for nine weeks, remained in the Top Ten for 52 weeks and was Bobby's fourth gold record. It remains the definitive version of the song.

Darin made his film debut in 1957 with an uncredited role in the Jerry Lewis vehicle The Sad Sack. In 1960 he appeared in Come September and wrote the title song for the film. He was nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) in 1964 as Best Supporting Actor for his role in Captain Newman, M.D.. He made thirteen films and numerous television appearances in his career.

In 1971, he had heart surgery and went on to host a popular self-named variety show, The Bobby Darin Show. During this period, his health problems increased and he struggled to perform, but he never let his audience know. In 1973, he entered Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for second open-heart surgery. He died shortly after the surgery was completed. He was only 36 and had packed as much life as he could in that short period of time.

Darin was married twice. He had one son, Dodd Mitchell Cassotto (aka Dodd Darin), with his first wife, actress Sandra Dee.

In 1990, Bobby was deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Movie Credits
Happy Mother's Day, Love George (1973) - Eddie
The Happy Ending (1969) (as Robert Darin) - Franco
Stranger in the House (1967) - Barney Teale
Gunfight in Abilene (1967) - Cal Wayne
Captain Newman, M.D. (1963) - Cpl. Jim Tompkins
Pressure Point (1962) - Patient
If a Man Answers (1962) - Eugene Wright
Hell Is for Heroes (1962) - Pvt. Corby
State Fair (1962) - Jerry Dundee
Too Late Blues (1961) - John 'Ghost' Wakefield
Come September (1961) - Tony
Pepe (1960) - Himself
Heller in Pink Tights (1960) (uncredited) - Servant