Tommy Kirk
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Matinee Theater
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Jerry Pitcher
1955
Series
The Millionaire
Tom Morrison
1955
Series
The Streets of San Francisco
Roland Claridge
1972
Series
Mr. Novak
Tod Seaton
1963
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Biff Hawk (archive footage)
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Danny Grant
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Wilby Daniels
1954
Series
The Mickey Mouse Club
Self
1955
Series
Frontier
1955
Film
Old Yeller
Travis Coates
1957
Series
The Hardy Boys
Joe Hardy
1956
Film
Swiss Family Robinson
Ernst
1960
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
1961
Series
Letter to Loretta
Alvin Simms
1953
Series
Letter to Loretta
Mark Seaton
1953
Film
The Absent-Minded Professor
Biff Hawk
1961
Film
The Shaggy Dog
Wilby Daniels
1959
Film
Son of Flubber
Biff Hawk
1963
Film
Babes in Toyland
Grumio
1961
Film
The Horsemasters
Danny Grant
1961
Film
Moon Pilot
Walter Talbot
1962
Film
Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold
Passenger
1995
Film
Savage Sam
Travis Coates
1963
Film
Pajama Party
Go Go
1964
Film
The Wrecking Crew
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2008
Film
Backstage Party
Self
1961
Film
Bon Voyage!
Elliott Willard
1962
Film
The Monkey's Uncle
Merlin Jones
1965
Film
Mars Needs Women
Dop - Martian Fellow #1 / Mr. Fast - Seattle Sun Reporter
1968
Film
The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics
Self
2008
Film
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
Merlin Jones
1964
Film
Disneyland '59
Self
1959
Film
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
Chuck Phillips
1966
Film
Village of the Giants
Mike
1965
Film
Disney's Greatest Dog Stars
Wilby Daniels (uncredited)
1976
Film
Billy Frankenstein
Blind Monk
1998
Film
The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot
Malcolm Andrews
1965
Film
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure
Joe Hardy
1956
Film
It's Alive
Wayne Thomas
1969
Film
Track of Thunder
Bobby Goodwin
1968
Film
Little Miss Magic
Mr. Kenner
1997
Film
Down Liberty Road
Jimmy Rollins
1957
Film
Catalina Caper
Don Pringle
1967
Film
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm
Joe Hardy
1957
Club Dead
Private Detective
2000
Film
Escapade in Florence
Tommy Carpenter
1962
Film
'Old Yeller': Remembering a Classic
Self
2002
Film
The Shaggy Dog Kids
Self
2006
Film
It's a Bikini World
Mike / Herbert Samson
1967
Film
Ride the Hot Wind
Captain Gregory Shank
1971
Film
Blood of Ghastly Horror
Lt. Cross
1967
Film
Streets of Death
Frank Phillips
1988
Film
Escape to Paradise/Water Birds
1960
Film
Swiss Family Robinson: Adventure in the Making
Self (archive)
2002
Film
The Unkissed Bride
Ted
1966
Film
Fred MacMurray: With Fondness
Self
2006
Film
The Education of a Vampire
Albert Kornfield
2001