Disney legend Tommy Kirk passes away at age 79

Disney teen idol and yesteryear actor, Tommy Kirk, passed away on Tuesday (September 29) at Las Vegas, Nevada. The actor was found dead in his house, no foul play is suspected, according to reports. The actor was 79.

His friend and former child star, Peter Peterson, shared the news of Kirk’s demise on Facebook. Peterson’s post read: “My friend of many decades, Tommy Kirk, was found dead last night. You will surely recall his string of Disney movies; Shaggy Dog. ‘Ol’ Yeller,’ etc. Tommy was intensely private. He lived alone in Las Vegas, close to his friend…and ‘Ol’ Yeller’ co-star, Bev Washburn…and it was she who called me this morning.”

He added that “Tommy was gay and estranged from what remains of his blood-family. We in a minor consideration are Tommy’s family.” Peterson added that Kirk loved his fans and that they lifted him up when the film industry let him down in 1965.

Tryst with Disney

Born on December 10, 1941, to Louis and Lucy, Kirk touched hearts as a child actor with his portrayal of Travis Coates, alongside a Labrador retriever companion, in the 1957 film Old Yeller. Tommy’s performance was so well received that Disney signed him on for other films. Kirk, in fact, said Disney considered him “a good luck charm”.

He went onto Act in The Shaggy Dog in 1959, which turned out to be the beginning of the first of four movies he would be in with Fred McMurray. He also acted in films like the Swiss Family Robinson, The Absent Minded Professor and Son of Flubber.

Kirk was also recognized for his performance in the serialized television shows: Hardy Boys: The Mystery of The Applegate Treasure and The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm.

Later years 

In an interview in 1973, Kirk came out as gay, a fact he always knew but had “no outlet for his feelings.” Kirk left Disney in 1964 but continued to act in a few films but due to personal problems and a drug addiction he quit films in 1974 and did odd jobs. Kirk’s last film was The Education of a Vampire (2001).

Disney legend

In 2006, Disney inducted Kirk, along with Tim Considine and Kevin Corcoran, as a Disney legend.

Disney’s statement

Disney released a statement following Kirk’s demise: “We are saddened by the passing of Tommy Kirk, the beloved and iconic star of such Disney family favorites from the 1950s and 1960s as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones.”

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