Darryl Hickman was a prolific child star in Hollywood during World War II and the post-war era. Born on July 28, 1931, in Hollywood, California, he began taking dance classes at age 3 and was discovered by his dance school director, who placed him with a child troupe at age 5.
Paramount Studios signed him to a contract, and he made his film debut at age 6 in "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1937). He went on to appear in several films, including "If I Were King" (1938),"The Star Maker" (1939),"Untamed" (1940),and "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940),where he played the role of young Winfield Joad.
MGM quickly bought out his Paramount contract, and he became a popular loan-out child player, appearing in films such as "Sign of the Wolf" (1941),"Young People" (1940),and "Mob Town" (1941). He worked with top stars such as Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, and Mickey Rooney, and had notable roles in films like "Men of Boys Town" (1941),"Joe Smith, American" (1942),and "The Human Comedy" (1943).
As he grew older, Darryl transitioned from child to juvenile parts, appearing in films like "Captain Eddie" (1945),"Rhapsody in Blue" (1945),"Kiss and Tell" (1945),and "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" (1946). He also reunited with Shirley Temple in "A Kiss for Corliss" (1949).
In the 1950s, Darryl's career slowed down, and he began to appear in TV shows, including "Sky King," "The Lone Ranger," and "Perry Mason." He also made guest appearances on his brother Dwayne's popular TV show "Dobie Gillis."
By the early 1960s, Darryl had moved behind the scenes, becoming a TV writer and later a program executive. He briefly attempted TV producing in the 1970s and later became a respected acting coach in Los Angeles.
Darryl Hickman married actress Pamela Lincoln in 1959, and they had two children before divorcing in 1982. He married production assistant Lynda Farmer Hickman at the time of his death.
