BIOGRAPHY:

Born into a theatrical family, he made a much-acclaimed Broadway debut at the age of nine in "The Member of the Wedding." He was the first child actor to win the Donaldson Award and went on to repeat his role in the film version directed by Fred Zinnemann in 1952. As the blonde, blue-eyed Joey who idolizes the strange gunman (Alan Ladd (I)) in Shane (1953), he stole the picture and was rewarded with an Oscar nomination the following year. He starred in his own television series "Jamie" (1953) during 1953-54 and made his mark as a screen adolescent during the 1960s, playing younger brothers in All Fall Down (1962) and Hud (1963) starring Paul Newman (I). However, he managed to keep his career building up to his adult status. While en route to appear in a play "Butterflies Are Free," he was tragically killed in a car accident. He was only thirty years old.

TRIVIA:

When he died he left behind one small son.
Originally buried in Hollywood, California, but his parents later moved his remains to Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, New York in Suffolk County, to be closer to their home in Long Island. Father, Frederick De Wilde died in 1980 and mother, Eugenia De Wilde died in 1987.
The son of a stage-manager father and actress mother. Made his stage debut at age seven in 492 performances of the Broadway hit, "The Member of the Wedding." He also became the first juvenile to win the Donaldson Award.
De Wilde had hoped to embark on a music career. He watched as Paul McCartney wrote the song Wait during the filming of the Beatles movie Help! (1965).
Close friend (and sometimes singing partner) country-western legend Gram Parsons immortalized De Wilde's tragic death in Parsons' and Emmylou Harris's song "In My Hour of Darkness"; Once I knew a young man went driving through the night. Miles and miles without a word, with just his high-beam lights. Who'd have ever thought they'd build such a deadly Denver bend. To be so strong, to take as long as it would till the end.
His son's name is Jesse.
Although he was the only one of the four principal players not nominated for an Oscar for the 1963 film _Hud (1963)_ (qv), Brandon got to share Oscar night glory nevertheless when he went on stage to accept the Best Supporting Actor trophy for co-star 'Melvyn Douglas' (qv), who was in Israel at the time. 'Patricia Neal' (qv) won for "best actress," but 'Paul Newman (I)' (qv) lost "best actor" to 'Sidney Poitier' (qv) for _Lilies of the Field (1963)_ (qv).
De Wilde is pronounced duh-WIL-duh.

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