The wildly different fates of Disney's first child stars – from an anonymous death to an Academy Award win

Kevin Corcoran found fame in several early Disney hits, including tear-jerker Old Yeller and The Shaggy Dog, as well as '60s hits like Pollyanna and Savage Sam.

Later in his career, Kevin transitioned to production and directorial roles, with credits on series like The Shield and Sons of Anarchy. He tragically passed at the age of 66 in 2015, following a five-year battle with colorectal cancer.

Luana Patten starred in films throughout the '40s, '50s and '60s, appearing in Disney features like Fun and Fancy Free and Melody Time. In 1946, she performed in her first feature, the Disney musical Song of the South.

The actress largely stepped back from the screen in the '70s, aside from a cameo in horror feature Grotesque (1988). She sadly passed away at the age of 57 in 1996.

David Stollery became a household name thanks to the popular Disney Western Spin and Marty, in which he played spoiled rich boy Marty Markham. He also starred alongside Bing Crosby in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court after proving his Broadway talent opposite Judith Anderson.

Rather than building on his early fame, David chose to pursue a career designing cars. He was hired by Toyota in 1973 and named California Designer of the Year for his design of the 1978 Toyota Celica.

Tim Considine appeared in hit Disney feature The Adventures of Spin and Marty, rising to leading child star status in The Shaggy Dog opposite Fred MacMurray. He was named a Disney legend in 2006.

The My Three Sons actor later became a photographer and writer, publishing books such as The Photographic Dictionary of Soccer (1979) and The Language of Sport (1982). Notably, he took the shot of Joni Mitchell that became her iconic album cover for Blue. Tim passed away at the age of 81 in 2022.

Hayley Mills became a star thanks to leading roles in '60s Disney hits like The Parent Trap, Pollyanna and That Darn Cat!. She first appeared on screen with her real-life father John Mills in the 1959 crime drama Tiger Bay and won a BAFTA for the role. In 1961, she won an honorary Academy Juvenile Award for her role in Pollyanna.

She's still working today and released her autobiography Forever Young in 2021, which recalls her teenage years as a Hollywood actress. More recently, Hayley appeared as Dr. Josephine Grant in M. Night Shyamalan's thriller feature Trap (2024).

Bobby Driscoll has one of Disney's most tragic tales. The child star appeared in '40s hits like Song of the South and So Dear to My Heart before he was abruptly dropped by the studio.

Following difficulties at school and the transition into adult acting, Bobby suffered from substance abuse. He was found dead at 31 years old in an abandoned East Village apartment in New York and buried unidentified on Hart Island. He was later identified when his family instigated a search and was awarded a star on the Walk of Fame in 1960.

Tommy Kirk starred in several Disney favourites from the '50s, including The Hardy Boys, Old Yeller and The Shaggy Dog, as well as the 1960 feature Swiss Family Robinson.

His career was disrupted by substance issues and Tommy later left the world of acting – aside from a few cameo roles – to run a business in carpet cleaning and furniture upholstery. He retired after 20 years and took on a few small parts in features like The Education of a Vampire (2001).

Before he was a Golden Globe-nominated actor, Kurt Russell was a prominent young actor with the Walt Disney Company, with credits in Follow Me, Boys!, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and Superdad.

Now, he's better known as the star of The Hateful Eight, Tombstone and The Christmas Chronicles. Kurt has been in a committed relationship with fellow actor Goldie Hawn since 1983.