Profile Text
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: *75% Italian *12.5% English *12.5% Scandianvian [Danish, Norwegian]
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 included the films 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 had become 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 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. In 2020, it was discovered through DNA testing that Bobby’s biological father was Emilio “Milton” LePore. Emilio was the brother of actor Richard LePore, and a cousin of actor Anthony Franciosa.
Bobby had a son with his former wife, actress Sandra Dee ; and a son with waitress Lillian Sweet.
Bobby’s biological paternal grandfather was Gennaro Lepore (the son of Emilio Lepore and Vincenza Cocolicchio). Gennaro was born in Melfi, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. Emilio was born in Melfi, the son of Giuseppe Lepore and Maria Nicola Lasala. Vincenza was born in Melfi, the daughter of Michele Cocolicchio and Luigia Andretta.
Bobby’s biological paternal grandmother was Maria Assunta Franciosa (the daughter of Santo Franciosa and Palmina Cignarale). Maria was born in Melfi, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. Santo was born in Melfi, the son of Vincenzo Franciosa and Grazia Ricciardi. Palmina was born in Melfi, the daughter of Francesco Cignarale and Maria Saveria Martino.
Bobby’s maternal grandfather was Saverio Antonio “Sam” Cassotto (the son of Francesco Paolo Cassotta and Giovannina “Jennie” Sacchitelli/Sacchitella). Saverio was an Italian emigrant, from Melfi, Potenza, Basilicata. Francesco was born in Melfi, the son of Francesco Saverio Cassotta and Rita Perna. Giovannina was born in Melfi, the daughter of Vincenzo Sacchitella and Teresa Murano.
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 Racine, Wisconsin, and was a vaudeville singer. Frank was born in Burrillville, Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Job Augustus Walden and Narcissa Lavinia/Lavina Salisbury, and had Colonial American (English) ancestry, with deep roots in RI. Bobby’s great-grandmother Julia was born in Racine, the daughter of Anthony Hanson, who was from Sakskøbing, Storstrøm, Denmark; and of Fannie Jane Gilbert, who was Norwegian.
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