“Six Schizophrenic Brothers,” Discovery Channel’s new four-part docuseries, explores the tragic true story of the Galvin family that was torn apart when six out of 12 siblings developed schizophrenia.
The docu-series is based on Robert Kolker’s 2020 nonfiction #1 New York Times best-seller “Hidden Valley Road.”
Key Takeaways
- “Six Schizophrenic Brothers” is a true-story documentary series about the infamous Galvin family that can be streamed on Max.
- Six of the 12 siblings of the family were diagnosed with schizophrenia, which completely destroyed their household.
- Of the six, only two brothers, Donald and Matthew, are alive today.
All About The Galvin Family: Who Are They?
The Galvin family was a middle-class family from Colorado Springs.
The patriarch, Don Galvin, taught at the Air Force Academy, and the matriarch, Mimi Galvin, was a stay-at-home mom.
The high school sweethearts were married in December 1944
12 children. 10 boys. 2 girls. Six with schizophrenia.#SixSchizophrenicBrothers premieres Monday, June 10 at 11p ET on @Discovery and on @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/RnraNtKxGF
— Discovery (@Discovery) June 9, 2024
Everything was normal in their life, except six of their 12 children (10 sons and 2 daughters) were diagnosed with schizophrenia.
It started with their oldest son, Donald, followed by other brothers: Matthew, Peter, Joseph, Jim, and Brian.
The Galvin family struggled a lot as each of the boys was admitted to a mental hospital and was in and out of institutions.
Moreover, at that time, Schizophrenia treatment wasn’t as advanced as it is today.
A young and promising Galvin family.#SixSchizophrenicBrothers starts now on @Discovery and is on @StreamOnMax. pic.twitter.com/gxVTAuG2MW
— Discovery (@Discovery) June 11, 2024
This all changed when Dr. Lynn DeLisi came into play and took matters into her own hands. She was determined to find out more about the disease.
The Galvin family and Dr. DeLisi collaborated, and they made an incredible discovery: genetics play a role in the development of schizophrenia.
Although the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, the disease is better understood now due to the contribution of the Galvin family.
Where Are The Galvin Family Today?
The heads of the Galvin family have already passed away: father, Don, in 2003 and mother, Mimi, in 2017.
Only two Galvin brothers are alive today—Donald, the oldest, and Matthew, the ninth son, who was a promising artist before becoming ill. They still reside in Colorado Springs.
Whew! What a case study! #SixSchizophrenicBrothers pic.twitter.com/QKemA4p6SN
— D’Wayne, Wayne (@waynes_ambition) June 11, 2024
Sadly, Peter, the 10th child, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
According to the family website, today, Donald is quiet and reserved.
He enjoys riding in the car, is particularly fond of McDonald’s filet-o-fish and cheeseburgers, and loves going to the ballet, opera, symphony, or theater.
Similarly, Matthew went through a major transition in 2020, going from living independently in a Section 8 apartment to several months of hospitalization.
In 2020, it was reported that Matthew was stuck in a hospital bed at UCHealth Memorial as he couldn’t find placement at a Colorado Springs long-term care facility.
Thankfully, now he is living in a skilled nursing facility.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Brian, the fourth son, shot and killed his wife before dying by suicide decades ago.
- Jim and Joseph each passed away several years ago; their de*ths were related to their medications.
- Margaret Galvin Johnson and her little sister Lindsay (née Mary) Galvin Rauch were the youngest and the only girls.
- The sisters are in their 50s now and have previously admitted that their brother Jim sexually abused them both since they were toddlers.
- Four brothers did not have schizophrenia: Richard, Mark, Michael, and John.
