Walden Robert Cassotto, better known as Bobby Darin, was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1936. His childhood was marked by severe rheumatic fever, which left his heart scarred and led to an overprotected and pampered upbringing. His family, however, fostered and encouraged his love of music, which would become the defining aspect of his life.
As a young musician, Darin started by writing songs and taking demos to various music producers. His big break came in 1958 when he performed the song "Splish, Splash" on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The song became a huge hit, eventually selling over one million copies. The following year, Darin won two Grammys, for Best Record ("Mack the Knife") and Best New Artist.
"Mack the Knife" remained in the top ten for 52 weeks, with nine of those weeks at number one. This was Darin's fourth gold record. He continued to produce hit songs, and his next goal was to make a movie. This opportunity came in 1960 with the film Come September, for which he also wrote the title song. The movie was filmed in Rome, where Darin met Sandra Dee, who was 16 years old and at the height of her career.
The two were engaged just two months after meeting and had a son, Dodd Darin, the following year. Darin continued to perform in nightclubs and make movies, and in 1964, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Captain Newman, M.D. Although he lost the Oscar to Melvyn Douglas, he continued to work in the entertainment industry.
In 1967, Darin asked for and was granted a divorce from Dee, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple had struggled with their marriage from the beginning, and their careers had kept them apart more often than not. Darin underwent heart surgery in 1971 and experienced bouts of ill health following his recovery.
Despite his health issues, Darin continued to work when he could, performing in nightclubs and doing a popular summer variety show called The Bobby Darin Show in 1973. The last year of his life was marked by ongoing health problems related to his heart, but he remained committed to his craft.
Sadly, Darin's life was cut short when he passed away on December 20, 1973, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, following open-heart surgery.
