publicity photo of Bobby Darin c. 1959, General Artists Corporation (management), by Bruno of Hollywood/Bruno Bernard
Birth Name: Walden Robert Cassotto
Date of Birth: May 14, 1936
Place of Birth: East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: December 20, 1973
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*maternal grandfather – Italian
*maternal grandmother – English, Danish
*biological father – publicly unknown
Bobby Darin was an American singer, musician, and actor. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music. His songs included “Splish Splash,” “Dream Lover,” “Mack the Knife,” and “Beyond the Sea.” His roles include Pepe, Come September, Captain Newman, M.D., The Happy Ending, and Happy Mother’s Day, Love George.
Bobby’s mother was Vanina Juliette “Nina” Cassotto. She became pregnant with him at the age of eighteen during a summer. Bobby was raised believing that his maternal grandmother was his mother, and that his mother was his sister. Even after the true circumstances of his birth was revealed to him at age 32, she refused to tell Bobby who his biological father was. Bobby’s family moved to the Bronx during his early years.
Bobby had a son with his former wife, actress Sandra Dee; and a son with waitress Lillian Sweet.
Bobby’s maternal grandfather was Saverio Antonio “Sam” Cassotto (the son of Paulo Cassotto and Giovannina “Jennie” Sacchitelli). Saverio was an Italian emigrant, from Basilicata.
Bobby’s maternal grandmother was Vivian Fern “Polly”/”Paula”/”Pauline” Walden (the daughter of Frank Salisbury Walden and Julia/Juliet E. Hanson). Polly was born in Rhode Island, Illinois, or Wisconsin, and was a vaudeville singer. Frank was born in Rhode Island, the son of Job Augustus Walden and Narcissa Lavinia/Lavina Salisbury, and had English ancestry. Julia was born in Wisconsin, to Danish parents, with her father’s name having been Anton Hanson.
Sources: Genealogies of Bobby Darin (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Bobby’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Bobby’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Bobby’s maternal grandparents, Saverio Antonio “Sam” Cassotto and Vivian Fern “Polly”/”Paula”/”Pauline” Walden – https://familysearch.org
Bobby’s maternal great-grandparents, Frank Salisbury Walden and Julia/Juliet E. Hanson, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Death record of Bobby’s maternal great-grandfather, Frank Salisbury Walden – https://familysearch.org
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