Ruinous Facts About Tommy Kirk, The Disney Star With A Secret
The Disney Star With A Secret
The success of child star Tommy Kirk made a fortune for Disney—and then he simply disappeared. What happened to him? And what made him leave the entertainment world behind?
1. He Kept It To Himself
As a boy, Tommy Kirk quickly became a family favorite playing the boy-next-door roles in some of Disney’s most treasured films.
He even guaranteed himself a permanent place in pop culture history by shooting his beloved dog in a movie scene that emotionally scarred an entire generation. But Kirk’s abrupt departure from Disney left his fans feeling confused.
The thing was, Kirk had a secret—and when Disney found out, they wanted nothing to do with him.
2. They Had To Move
Tommy Kirk was born on December 10, 1941, in Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up with three brothers—but sadly, his parents had trouble putting food on the table. They decided that a move was in order—to somewhere with promising work opportunities. Like many Americans, the Kirks moved west to California.
Little did they know what a huge impact this move would have on their lives.
3. He Got An Offer
Kirk’s older brother, Joe, had somehow caught the acting bug, and he dragged his little brother Tommy to an audition at the Pasadena Playhouse. Sadly, Joe didn’t get the part he wanted, but something unexpected happened. Even though it was Joe who wanted to act, it was Tommy who got a part.
This seemingly random incident would change Kirk’s life forever.
4. They Signed Him
Kirk’s part at the Pasadena Playhouse was only a handful of lines and paid exactly zero dollars. But there was an agent in the audience one night, and Kirk impressed him. The agent represented the Gertz agency, and they quickly signed Kirk on.
Before he knew it, Kirk was off the stage and on to much more lucrative media.
5. He Was On A Path
Kirk’s first role away from live theater was on a TV Reader’s Digest episode called, “The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs”. While his brother had to consider other career options—he eventually became a dentist—Kirk was on a path to stardom. It didn’t take long for the folks at Disney to notice Kirk, and they came calling.
