Tommy Kirk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tommy Kirk
Kirk on the set of Son of Flubber
Born	Thomas Lee Kirk (1941-12-10)December 10, 1941 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	September 28, 2021(2021-09-28) (aged 79) 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

Thomas Lee Kirk (December 10, 1941 – September 28, 2021) was an American actor. He was famous for his roles in many Disney movies. Some of his best-known films include Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, and Swiss Family Robinson.

He often played a family member with Kevin Corcoran as his younger brother and Fred MacMurray as his dad. He also appeared in fun beach-party movies in the 1960s. Kirk's career with Disney ended in the mid-1960s. After acting, Kirk started a carpet cleaning business. He passed away in 2021.

Early Life and First Roles

Kirk was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was one of four sons. His family moved to Downey, California, when he was just 15 months old.

In 1954, Kirk went with his older brother Joe to an audition. It was for a play called Ah, Wilderness! at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. Joe did not get a part, but Tommy did! He made his first stage appearance with Will Rogers Jr.. Kirk said he got the part because it was small and not many people showed up.

An agent saw his performance and signed him. Soon after, Kirk got a role in an episode of TV Reader's Digest. This show was called "The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs". Kirk quickly became a popular young actor.

Becoming a Disney Star

In April 1956, Kirk was chosen to play Joe Hardy. This was for The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. The serial was called "The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure". It was filmed in the summer of 1956 and shown in October.

The show and Kirk's acting were very popular. This led to a long working relationship between Kirk and the Disney studio. Kirk also hosted short travel shows for The Mickey Mouse Club. Sometimes he did these with Annette Funicello.

Kirk in a photo for Old Yeller (1957)

Kirk's biggest acting chance came in January 1957. Disney cast him as Travis Coates in Old Yeller. This was an adventure story about a boy and his brave dog. Kirk had the main role in the movie. It was a big hit at the box office. He became Disney's top choice for playing an all-American teenager. Kevin Corcoran often played his younger brother in movies.

In July 1958, Kirk was cast in The Shaggy Dog. This was a comedy about a boy who turns into an Old English Sheepdog. He worked again with Corcoran, Fred MacMurray, and Annette Funicello. The Shaggy Dog was a huge success.

After this, Disney offered Kirk another long-term contract. He then starred as Ernst Robinson in Swiss Family Robinson (1960). This adventure film also starred John Mills and Dorothy McGuire. Kirk said this was his favorite movie.

Kirk during recording for the English dub of The Snow Queen

Kirk then appeared in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) with Fred MacMurray. This was another big hit. Disney sent Kirk to England for The Horsemasters (1961). This film was about horse riding and was made for TV in the U.S. He also appeared in Babes in Toyland (1961).

In 1962, Kirk acted in Bon Voyage. This was a family comedy with MacMurray and Jane Wyman. Kirk also starred with Annette Funicello in Escapade in Florence (1962). This story was filmed overseas and shown on TV in the United States.

In 1963, Kirk played Travis Coates again in Savage Sam. This was a sequel to Old Yeller. It reunited him with Kevin Corcoran.

Disney then cast Kirk as student inventor Merlin Jones in The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964). He starred opposite Annette Funicello again. This movie was a surprise hit. Disney asked them to make a sequel, The Monkey's Uncle (1965). This second movie was also very successful.

Television Appearances

Kirk started working in television in 1956 and 1957. He appeared in episodes of shows like TV Reader's Digest, Frontier, and Gunsmoke.

He also supported Angie Dickinson in a short film called Down Liberty Road (1956). This film promoted Greyhound buses.

While working on Disney films, Kirk continued to guest star on TV. He appeared in The Californians, Playhouse 90, and The Millionaire. He also had roles in Bachelor Father and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Later Film Roles

After his time with Disney, Kirk worked for American International Pictures (AIP). He co-starred with Annette Funicello in Pajama Party (1964). This movie was a musical comedy and a box-office success. AIP then cast him in The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966).

Throughout the rest of the 1960s, Kirk made many low-budget films. These included Village of the Giants (1965) and Mars Needs Women (1968). In the 1970s, he appeared in an episode of The Streets of San Francisco (1973). He also starred in the western film My Name Is Legend (1975).

Life After Acting

Kirk at the 2009 Disney D23 Expo

Kirk stopped acting in the mid-1970s. He worked as a waiter and a chauffeur for a while. Then, he started a carpet-cleaning business in Los Angeles. He ran this business for 20 years.

He still acted sometimes in small roles. He also enjoyed writing and going to film conventions to meet fans.

On October 9, 2006, Kirk was named a Disney Legend. This is a special honor from Disney. His former co-stars Tim Considine and Kevin Corcoran were also honored that day. At that time, Kirk was retired and living in Redding, California.

Death

Tommy Kirk passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 28, 2021. He was 79 years old.

Filmography

Features

• 1956 The Peacemaker as Tommy (uncredited)
• 1957 Old Yeller as Travis Coates
• 1957 The Snow Queen as Kay (voice in 1959 English dubbed version)
• 1959 The Shaggy Dog as Wilbur "Wilby" Daniels
• 1960 Swiss Family Robinson as Ernst Robinson
• 1961 The Absent-Minded Professor as Biff Hawk
• 1961 Babes in Toyland as Grumio
• 1961 The Horsemasters (TV Series) as Danny Grant
• 1962 Moon Pilot as Walter Talbot
• 1962 Escapade in Florence (TV Series) as Tommy Carpenter
• 1962 Bon Voyage! as Elliott Willard
• 1963 Son of Flubber as Biff Hawk
• 1963 Savage Sam as Travis Coates
• 1964 The Misadventures of Merlin Jones as Merlin Jones
• 1964 Pajama Party as Go Go The Martian
• 1965 The Monkey's Uncle as Merlin Jones
• 1965 Village of the Giants as Mike
• 1966 The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini as Chuck Phillips
• 1966 The Unkissed Bride as Ted
• 1967 It's a Bikini World as Mike Samson / Herbert Samson
• 1967 Catalina Caper as Don Pringle
• 1967 Track of Thunder as Bobby Goodwin
• 1968 Mars Needs Women (TV Movie) as Dop / Martian Fellow #1 / Mr. Fast / Seattle Sun Reporter
• 1969 It's Alive! (TV Movie) as Wayne Thomas
• 1970 Blood of Ghastly Horror as Sergeant Cross
• 1971 Ride the Hot Wind as Captain Gregory Shank
• 1975 My Name is Legend
• 1988 Streets of Death as Frank Phillips
• 1995 Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold as Passenger
• 1998 Little Miss Magic as Mr. Kenner
• 1998 Billy Frankenstein as Blind Monk
• 2000 Club Dead as Private Detective
• 2001 The Education of a Vampire as Albert Kornfield

Short Subjects

• 1956 Down Liberty Road

Television

See also

In Spanish: Tommy Kirk para niños