Tommy Kirk
American actor (1941–2021) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thomas Lee Kirk (December 10, 1941 – September 28, 2021)[1] 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.
Tommy Kirk | |
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Born | Thomas Lee Kirk (1941-12-10)December 10, 1941 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
Died | September 28, 2021(2021-09-28) (aged 79) (date body found) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1953–1975, 1987-2001 |
Known for | The Shaggy Dog Swiss Family Robinson The Absent-Minded Professor Old Yeller |
Parent(s) | Louis and Lucy Kirk |
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.