Tommy Kirk
Known For
Acting
Born
1941-12-10 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died
2021-09-28
Biography
Thomas Lee Kirk (December 10, 1941 − September 28, 2021) was an American actor, best known for his performances in films made by Walt Disney Studios such as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, The Absent-Minded Professor, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, as well as the beach party films of the mid-1960s. He frequently appeared as a love interest for Annette Funicello or as part of a family with Kevin Corcoran as his younger brother and Fred MacMurray as his father. Kirk's career with Disney ended when news of his homosexuality threatened to become public. He struggled with drug addiction and depression for several years, appearing in a series of low-budget films before leaving the acting business in the mid-1970s. Kirk opened a carpet cleaning business and lived a mostly ordinary life, occasionally appearing at fan conventions. He died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, in September 2021, aged 79.
Most Known For
Gunsmoke
as Jerry Pitcher
Matinee Theater
The Streets of San Francisco
as Roland Claridge
The Millionaire
as Tom Morrison
The Mickey Mouse Club
as Self
Mr. Novak
as Tod Seaton
Savage Sam
as Travis Coates
Pajama Party
as Go Go
Frontier
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Biff Hawk (archive footage)
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Danny Grant
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Wilby Daniels
Backstage Party
as Self
Letter to Loretta
as Alvin Simms
Letter to Loretta
as Mark Seaton
The Wonderful World of Disney
Old Yeller
as Travis Coates
Swiss Family Robinson
as Ernst
The Hardy Boys
as Joe Hardy