Tommy Kirk, child star of 'Old Yeller,' dead at 79: 'He lived a quiet, but full life'

[Jilly_in_VA]

Tommy Kirk, a child star who played in Disney films such as “Old Yeller” and “The Shaggy Dog,” has died. He was 79.

Kirk’s longtime friend and former child star, Paul Petersen, said he was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Tuesday. The cause of death has not been released.

Petersen said Kirk lived a private life as a gay man and was estranged from what “remains of his blood family.”

“He was very much a part of our kid star community,” Peterson said. “He made some wonderful films back in the day. We saw and enjoyed them. He was respected in his church. He lived a quiet, but full life."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/09/29/tommy-kirk-child-star-old-yeller-the-shaggy-dog-dead-79/5925623001/
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He looked a lot like my first love, who was the same age, so I liked him back then. RIP, Tommy.

[3catwoman3]

1. I remembered his face right away.

Old Yeller had such a tear jerker ending IIRC. Like so many Disney movies. I would never watch it again.