Godspeed Tommy Kirk

Tommy Kirk, who starred in a string of Disney features including Old Yeller (1957), The Shaggy Dog (1959), and The Monkey's Uncle (1965), died on September 28 2021 at the age of 79.

Tommy Kirk was born on December 10 1941 in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved to Downey, California when he was only a baby. His acting career began when he accompanied his older brother Joe to an audition for Ah Wilderness at the Pasadena Playhouse. While his older brother was not cast, Tommy Kirk did get a part in the play. An agent saw him in the play and signed him.

Tommy Kirk made his television debut in an episode of Television Reader's Digest in 1955. It was followed by guest appearances on Lux Video Theatre, Frontier, Big Town, Crossroads, Gunsmoke, and The Loretta Young Show. He made his film debut in an uncredited role in The Peacemaker (1956). In 1956 he auditioned for a part in "The Hardy Boys" segment of The Mickey Mouse Club. He was cast as Joe Hardy and appeared in "Hardy Boys" segments on The Mickey Mouse Club from 1956 to 1957.  It was after his work on the "Hardy Boys" segment of The Mickey Mouse Club that Disney cast him as Travis Coates in Old Yeller (1957), his biggest role to date. He appeared in major roles in the Disney features The Shaggy Dog (1959) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960). He continued to guest star on television shows, including The Californians, Matinee Theatre, Playhouse 90, The Millionaire, and Bachelor Father.

In the Sixties Tommy Kirk continued to appear in various Disney projects, including a string of comedies. He appeared in the Disney films The Absent Minded Professor, Babes in Toyland (1961), Moon Pilot (1962), Bon Voyage! (1962), Son of Flubber (1963), Savage Sam (1963), and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964). It was while shooting The Misadventures of Merlin Jones that Disney learned that Tommy Kirk was seeing a 15 year old boy. The studio decided not to renew his contract. He appeared in the AIP film Pajama Party (1964) before returning to Disney for one more film, The Monkey's Uncle (1965). For the remainder of the Sixties Mr. Kirk appeared in the films Village of the Giants (1965), The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966), Unkissed Bride (1966), It's a Bikini World (1967), Catalina Caper (1967), Track of Thunder (1967), Blood of Ghostly Horror (1967), and Mars Needs Women (1968). On television he appeared in two mini-series on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, "The Horsemasters" and "Escapade in Florence." He guest starred on the shows Angel, Mr. Novak,  and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. He appeared in the TV special The Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot and the TV movie It's Alive!.

In the Seventies Tommy Kirk appeared in the movies Ride the Hot Wind (1971) and My Name is Legend (1975). He guest starred on The Streets of San Francisco. His appearances after the Seventies would be infrequent. He appeared in the films The Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfolds (1995), Little Miss Magic (1998), Billy Frankenstein (1998), and The Education of a Vampire (2001).

Tommy Kirk was a gifted actor who excelled at both drama and comedy. He gave an impressive performance as Travis Coates in both Old Yeller and its sequel Savage Sam. At the same time, he did well as Merlin Jones in both The Misadventures of Merlin Jones and The Monkey's Uncle. While Tommy Kirk's career was undeservedly short, it included many more memorable films than actors with longer careers. Between the movies Tommy Kirk made for Disney and for American International Pictures, it is safe to say people will be watching his films for years to come.