Darryl Hickman was a child actor best known for playing Winfield Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath” and Danny in “Leave Her to Heaven.”
- Died: May 22, 2024 (Who else died on May 22?)
- Details of death: Died in Montecito, California at the age of 92.
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Darryl Hickman’s legacy
Darryl Hickman signed an acting contract with Paramount at an early age, appearing in several small roles in the late 1930s. He made his biggest splash in 1940, when he portrayed Winfield Joad in John Ford’s adaptation of “The Grapes of Wrath,” widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. Dozens of roles followed through the 1950s.
Hickman also had a notable role in 1945’s dark melodrama, “Leave Her to Heaven,” in which he played an ill-fated polio victim. However, he largely left acting in the 1960s and ‘70s, going into scriptwriting (“The Loretta Young Show”), producing (“Love of Life” and “A Year at the Top”), and working as an acting coach. In 2007, he published a book on the skill, “The Unconscious Actor: Out of Control, In Full Command.”
Hickman did not completely leave acting, though. He had film roles in 1976’s “Network,” “Looker” and “Sharkey’s Machine,” both in 1981. His last role was five years later, doing voice work for “GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords.”
Tributes to Darryl Hickman
Full obituary: The Washington Post
