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.

Known For

Matinee Theater

Gunsmoke

The Streets of San Francisco

The Millionaire

Mr. Novak

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

All Movies (44)

• The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics2008 · as Self
• The Wrecking Crew2008 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Shaggy Dog Kids2006 · as Self
• Fred MacMurray: With Fondness2006 · as Self
• Swiss Family Robinson: Adventure in the Making2002 · as Self (archive)
• 'Old Yeller': Remembering a Classic2002 · as Self
• The Education of a Vampire2001 · as Albert Kornfield
• Club Dead2000 · as Private Detective
• Billy Frankenstein1998 · as Blind Monk
• Little Miss Magic1997 · as Mr. Kenner
• Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold1995 · as Passenger
• Streets of Death1988 · as Frank Phillips
• Disney's Greatest Dog Stars1976 · as Wilby Daniels (uncredited)
• Ride the Hot Wind1971 · as Captain Gregory Shank
• It's Alive1969 · as Wayne Thomas
• Mars Needs Women1968 · as Dop - Martian Fellow #1 / Mr. Fast - Seattle Sun Reporter
• Track Of Thunder1968 · as Bobby Goodwin
• Blood of Ghastly Horror1967 · as Lt. Cross
• Catalina Caper1967 · as Don Pringle
• It's a Bikini World1967 · as Mike / Herbert Samson
• The Unkissed Bride1966 · as Ted
• The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini1966 · as Chuck Phillips
• The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot1965 · as Malcolm Andrews
• Village of the Giants1965 · as Mike
• The Monkey's Uncle1965 · as Merlin Jones
• Pajama Party1964 · as Go Go
• The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964 · as Merlin Jones
• Savage Sam1963 · as Travis Coates
• Son of Flubber1963 · as Biff Hawk
• Escapade in Florence1962 · as Tommy Carpenter
• Bon Voyage!1962 · as Elliott Willard
• Moon Pilot1962 · as Walter Talbot
• Backstage Party1961 · as Self
• Babes in Toyland1961 · as Grumio
• The Horsemasters1961 · as Danny Grant
• The Absent-Minded Professor1961 · as Biff Hawk
• Swiss Family Robinson1960 · as Ernst
• Escape to Paradise/Water Birds1960
• Disneyland '591959 · as Self
• The Shaggy Dog1959 · as Wilby Daniels
• Old Yeller1957 · as Travis Coates
• The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm1957 · as Joe Hardy
• Down Liberty Road1957 · as Jimmy Rollins
• The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure1956 · as Joe Hardy

All TV Shows (15)

• The Streets of San Francisco1972 · as Roland Claridge
• Mr. Novak1963 · as Tod Seaton
• The Wonderful World of Disney1961
• The Hardy Boys1956 · as Joe Hardy
• Matinee Theater1955
• The Mickey Mouse Club1955 · as Self
• Frontier1955
• Gunsmoke1955 · as Jerry Pitcher
• The Millionaire1955 · as Tom Morrison
• The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Biff Hawk (archive footage)
• The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Danny Grant
• The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Self
• The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Wilby Daniels
• Letter to Loretta1953 · as Alvin Simms
• Letter to Loretta1953 · as Mark Seaton