Isn't that Tim Considine and David Stollery from The Adventures of Spin and Marty on the old Mickey Mouse Club? I didn't know there was a sad story connected to either of them....do tell.
Actually, the kid on the right is Tommy Kirk. He was signed to a long term contract with Disney in 1955 and was one of the original Mousketeers. Yes, I believe this pic is from "Spin and Marty." In 1957, he starred in Ol'Yeller (first movie I ever saw in a theater!). He made a number of other Disney flicks. In 1964, when he was 23, his bosses found out he was gay and he was immediately released from his contract. His career went down the drain from that point on. He struggled with drug addiction and various other demons. At present, he runs a carpet and upholstery business, which is successful, but his acting career has basically been kaput since 1972--all because he was gay.
L