Tommy Kirk

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 AbsentMinded Professor and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones as well as the beach party films of the mid1960s 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 Kirks 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 lowbudget films before leaving the acting business in the mid1970s 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