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Tommy Kirk

Biography

Tommy Kirk was an American actor who appeared in many Walt Disney Studios films. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, and raised in Downey, California, he began acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and soon signed with an agent. In 1956 he played Joe Hardy in The Hardy Boys serial on The Mickey Mouse Club, which led to a long Disney association. His breakthrough came as Travis Coates in Old Yeller (1957), and he went on to appear in The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Babes in Toyland (1961), Son of Flubber (1963), and Savage Sam (1963). He starred as Merlin Jones in The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964) and The Monkey's Uncle (1965). Later he acted in beach party films such as Pajama Party (1964) and low-budget pictures including Village of the Giants (1965). He was named a Disney Legend in 2006 and died in 2021.

79years old at death

  • Born Louisville
  • Died Las Vegas
  • Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
  • Thomas Lee Kirk (birth name)

Movie Career

Films
15
Career span
38 years1957 to 1995

Genres

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  1. A role that slipped away

    Before The Hardy Boys, Kirk auditioned for the Disney serial Spin and Marty and did not get it. The open audition was run as a baseball game.

  2. Big break

    Kirk was cast as Travis Coates in Old Yeller in January 1957, the lead in a box-office hit that made him Disney's go-to choice for an all-American teenager.

  3. Beyond film

    Later in his career, Kirk went back to Kentucky, where he acted in musical theater. His roles included Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly!, Moonface Martin in Anything Goes and Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Tommy Kirk movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Old Yeller1957 Adventure, Drama, Family, Westernas Travis Coates

    IMDb rating 7.217K votes

  2. Swiss Family Robinson1960 Adventure, Familyas Ernst Robinson

    IMDb rating 7.120K votes

  3. The Absent-Minded Professor1961as Biff Hawk

    IMDb rating 6.710K votes

  4. The Shaggy Dog1959as Wilby Daniels

    IMDb rating 6.46.2K votes

  5. Village of the Giants1965as Mike

    IMDb rating 3.83.1K votes

  6. Babes in Toyland1961as Grumio

    IMDb rating 6.15.3K votes

  7. The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini1966as Chuck Phillips

    IMDb rating 4.61.5K votes

  8. Pajama Party1964as Go Go

    IMDb rating 5.01.5K votes

Most often with

Robert Stevenson directed five of these films, Don Weis two and James Neilson two. Kevin Corcoran appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Films together

Awards

One award and honor.

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Tommy Kirk's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
2006Disney LegendsHonored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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