Tommy Kirk, a plucky and scrappy-looking actor from Kentucky, was born on December 10, 1941. His family moved to Downey, California when he was just an infant, seeking better job prospects. Kirk's interest in acting began at 13 when he was cast in a production of "Ah, Wilderness!" at the Pasadena Playhouse.
He was discovered by a Hollywood agent and went on to appear in several TV shows and films, including "Lux Video Theatre," "Frontier," "Gunsmoke," and "The Loretta Young Show." His breakthrough role came when he was cast as Joe Hardy in the Mickey Mouse Club, a popular TV series that launched his career.
Kirk became a prime juvenile hero for Disney, starring in several full-length comedy and drama classics, including "Old Yeller," "The Shaggy Dog," "Swiss Family Robinson," and "The Absent Minded Professor." He earned nationwide teen idol status for his exuberant work in these films.
However, Kirk's career took a downturn in the 1960s when he was arrested for marijuana use and discovered to be in a relationship with an underage boy. He was fired from his role in the John Wayne western "The Sons of Katie Elder" and was eventually released from his Disney contract.
Kirk struggled to find work in the entertainment industry, appearing in a string of low-budget films and TV shows. He also began to focus on his personal life, appearing in several musical stage productions and eventually building a successful carpet and upholstery cleaning company.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Kirk made sporadic appearances in low-budget films, including "Streets of Death," "Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfolds," and "Little Miss Magic." He also appeared in several documentary interviews for the DVD releases of his best-known films and TV shows.
Kirk lived in Las Vegas and occasionally appeared at film festivals and nostalgia conventions. Despite his tumultuous career, he remained a beloved figure among Disney fans and continued to work in the entertainment industry until his passing.
