Darryl Hickman - child actor known for roles in The Grapes Of Wrath and Leave Her to Heaven - dead at 92

Darryl Hickman, a child actor whose career in TV and film stretched into adulthood, passed away at age 92 on Wednesday, May 22, as confirmed by his family to Deadline.

The Hollywood, California native appeared in more than 40 films after having been a contract player at Paramount and MGM in the late 1930s.

In one of his most notable roles, Rickman played Winfield, the youngest member of the Joad family in John Ford's film adaption of The Grapes Of Wrath (1940) when he was just eight-years-old.

He also starred as the younger version of Van Heflin's character in the noir drama The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (1946) as a teenager.

In 1951, Rickman made the shock move of retiring from acting and entered a monastery. But he ended up returning to the industry just over a month later.

Darryl Hickman, a child actor whose career in TV and film stretched into adulthood, passed away at age 92 on Wednesday, May 22, as confirmed by his family to Deadline; seen in 2016 

Among his many other films included The Star Maker (1939), Untamed (1940), Men Of Boys Town (1941), Mob Town (1941), Joe Smith, American (1942), The Human Comedy (1943), Rhapsody In Blue (1945), Two Years Before The Mast (1946), Boys’ Ranch (1946), Alias Nick Beal (1949), and The Set-Up (1949).

He also had a number of supporting roles on television such as The Life And Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Untouchables, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Climax!, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Electric Theater, and Wanted: Dead or Alive.

As he transitioned from a boy into adulthood, Rickman saw his opportunities as an actor lessen over the years.

He did star in several films when he reached his 50s, including the comedy drama Network (1976) and Sharky's Machine (1981).

From there, he moved to Broadway, taking over for Robert Morse as J. Pierrepont Finch in the original production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.   

Rickman later became a screenwriter and television executive. 

He also served as the head of CBS daytime programming for nearly five years. 

 

The Hollywood, California native was a child actor who starred alongside Henry Fonda in the drama film adaption of The Grapes Of Wrath (1940) 

Hickman (right) also went on to star in many more films and television shows as an adult, including the series The Untouchables 

Hickman was married to actress Pamela Lincoln, with whom he had acted with in the horror film The Tingler (1959) in November 1959, but they divorced in 1982 after welcoming two kids; seen in 2016

Hickman was married to actress Pamela Lincoln, with whom he had acted with in the horror film The Tingler (1959) in November 1959.

The couple ended up having two sons together, but they ultimately got divorced in 1982. 

Tragically, the former couple's son Justin committed suicide when he was just 19-years-old in 1985.

So far, there's no official word on Hickman's cause of death.