Tommy Kirk - 3907

American child star, the archetypal freshly-scrubbed All-American Kid.

Kirk was 13 years old when he was discovered by talent agents in a production of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" at the Pasadena Playhouse. He was swiftly brought to the attention of Walt Disney who signed him to a long-term contract. In 1955, he joined "The Mickey Mouse Club" TV series and won a legion of young fans as teen sleuth Joe Hardy in the "Hardy Boys" serial

He starred in many of Disney's full-length classics including Old Yeller (1957), The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), The Absent Minded Professor (1961), Babes in Toyland (1961) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964).

In 1964, the Disney factory found out Kirk was gay and immediately released him from his contract after finishing The Monkey's Uncle (1965). He was effectively blacklisted from the industry and deemed "box office poison." And his career went into a tailspin and he turned to drugs, nearly dying at one point. Finally he abandoned show business and began a successful carpet and upholstery cleaning business.

This is a fine black and white photograph (8" x 10"), showing Kirk in his best-known film, Old Yeller (1957). There's a fine signature and inscription ("To John, best wishes always, Tommy Kirk") in black ink across a lighter area of the image. In very good condition.