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.
Awards & recognition
- Disney Legends · 2006
Filmography22 titles
The Wrecking Crew!
The Streets of San Francisco
Swiss Family Robinson
Old Yeller
Gunsmoke
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
Letter to Loretta
The Absent Minded Professor
The Mickey Mouse Club
The Shaggy Dog
Son of Flubber
The Monkey's Uncle
Babes in Toyland
Bon Voyage!
Moon Pilot
Savage Sam
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
Little Miss Magic
Track Of Thunder
Pajama Party
Mars Needs Women
It's Alive