Thomas Lee Kirk, better known as Tommy Kirk, was an American actor and businessman. He is best known for his excellent performances in the Walt Disney films Old Screamer and Shaggy Dog. Tommy was found dead in his Las Vegas home on September 28, 2021. Tommy Kirk’s net worth at the time of his death is estimated to be approximately $500,000.
| Full Name | Thomas Lee Kirk |
| Birth Date | December 10, 1941 |
| Birth Place | Louisville, Kentucky, U. S. |
| Profession | Actor |
| Relationship Status | Unmarried |
| Net Worth | $500 thousand |
| Died | September 28, 2021 |
Early life
Tommy Kirk was born on December 10, 1941 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. He grew up with three brothers. His father was a mechanic and his mother was a legal secretary. His family moved to Downey in Los Angeles when he was only 15 months old.
Tommy took his first steps in the world of acting auditioning accompanied by his older brother Joe. Both auditioned for a role in the production of the comedy “Ah, Desert!”. Although his brother Joe was not cast in the play, Tommy was lucky to be cast. He had the opportunity to go on stage for the first time with the famous politician and writer Will Rogers Jr.
Tommy was then cast in an episode of the television drama series Reader’s Digest. From there he began his television journey where he appeared in various other television series such as Lux Video Theatre, Big Town, Gunsmoke, Crossroads, Letter to Loretta and Matinee Theatre.
Tommy Kirk’s net worth and career
Tommy’s career took off again when he was cast as Joe Hardy in The Hardy Boys: The Applegate Treasure Mystery. His performance in the film was widely praised. Tommy got a major role in his career in 1957 when Disney cast him as Travis Coates in the drama Old Screamer. He played the main role in the film, for which he received positive reviews everywhere.
After his incredible performance in Old Screamer, he became Disney’s first choice when it came to playing an American teenager. In 1959, he scored another big hit when he featured his breakout performance in the comedy The Shaggy Dog. The film was a huge success, and Disney subsequently offered him another long-term contract.
Tommy gained popularity and success with the 1961 fantasy comedy The Absent-minded Professor. In 1964, he had another big break when he played the character of a student inventor in the science fiction comedy The Misadventures of Merlin Jones.
Kirk stopped acting in the mid-1970s after overcoming drug addiction. Then for several years he worked as a driver and waiter. He later started his own carpet cleaning business in the San Fernando Valley, which he ran for 20 years. Kirk was about to make a movie based on the story of Abraham Lincoln. Although he began writing the script for the film in 1990, it never came to fruition. Tommy officially retired from his job in 2006.
Personal Life
Tommy Kirk was a gay man who lived alone. He always knew his true orientation, but he didn’t reveal it until he was 21 years old. In 1973, Tommy publicly declared his homosexuality for the first time, after which he ended his acting career. He later became addicted to drugs. He too was arrested on Christmas Eve 1964 on suspicion of possession of marijuana in his home.
Tommy Kirk sadly passed away on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. The news of his death has been confirmed by his longtime friend Paul Peterson, who was also his former child star. Paul said he found him dead at his Las Vegas home. The true cause of his death is not yet known.
Tommy Kirk net worth
Tommy Kirk’s net worth was approximately $500,000 until his death on September 28, 2021. He must have made a lot of money from his acting career and the carpet business.
