Tommy Kirk
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.
Personal Details
Movies (42)
The Wrecking Crew
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2008
The Shaggy Dog Kids
as Self
2006
Fred MacMurray: With Fondness
as Self
2006
Swiss Family Robinson: Adventure in the Making
as Self (archive)
2002
'Old Yeller': Remembering a Classic
as Self
2002
The Education of a Vampire
as Albert Kornfield
2001
Club Dead
as Private Detective
2000
Billy Frankenstein
as Blind Monk
1998
Little Miss Magic
as Mr. Kenner
1997
Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold
as Passenger
1995
Streets of Death
as Frank Phillips
1988
Disney's Greatest Dog Stars
as Wilby Daniels (uncredited)
1976
Ride the Hot Wind
as Captain Gregory Shank
1971
It's Alive
as Wayne Thomas
1969
Mars Needs Women
as Dop - Martian Fellow #1 / Mr. Fast - Seattle Sun Reporter
1968
Track Of Thunder
as Bobby Goodwin
1968
Blood of Ghastly Horror
as Lt. Cross
1967
Catalina Caper
as Don Pringle
1967
It's a Bikini World
as Mike / Herbert Samson
1967
The Unkissed Bride
as Ted
1966
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
as Chuck Phillips
1966
The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot
as Malcolm Andrews
1965
Village of the Giants
as Mike
1965
The Monkey's Uncle
as Merlin Jones
1965
Pajama Party
as Go Go
1964
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
as Merlin Jones
1964
Savage Sam
as Travis Coates
1963
Son of Flubber
as Biff Hawk
1963
Escapade in Florence
as Tommy Carpenter
1962
Bon Voyage!
as Elliott Willard
1962
Moon Pilot
as Walter Talbot
1962
Backstage Party
as Self
1961
Babes in Toyland
as Grumio
1961
The Horsemasters
as Danny Grant
1961
The Absent-Minded Professor
as Biff Hawk
1961
Swiss Family Robinson
as Ernst
1960
Escape to Paradise/Water Birds
1960
Disneyland '59
as Self
1959
The Shaggy Dog
as Wilby Daniels
1959
Old Yeller
as Travis Coates
1957
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm
as Joe Hardy
1957
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure
as Joe Hardy
1956
