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Tommy Kirk, RIP

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Tommy Kirk, who acted in a series of family films as a child in the ’50s and ’60s, died at his home here Sept. 29. He was 79.
Kirk was known for such films as “Old Yeller,” “The Shaggy Dog,” “Swiss Family Robinson,” “The Absent Minded Professor” and its sequel, “Son of Flubber.”

MSTies will remember him as Don Pringle in the movie in episode 204- CATALINA CAPER and Mike in the movie in episode 523- VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS.

The Hollywood Reporter has the story and nice remembrance.

8 Replies to “Tommy Kirk, RIP”

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  1. Terry the Sensitive Knight says:

    Creepy Girls everywhere mourn his passing.
    It’s sad that his career was derailed for being gay, but seeing the all-consuming corporate monster Disney has become maybe it was for the best that he left there.
    Thankfully, times have changed and being LGBT isn’t the leprosy it once was.
    How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, It’s a Bikini World, Blood of Ghastly Horror, Mars Needs Women, Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfolds and Billy Frankenstein all sound like they’re dying for the MST treatment. Of course, we already loved him in Catalina Caper and Village of the Giants which also get mentioned in the article.

       12 likes

  2. jay says:

    It is always saddening to read of someone dying alone. RIP

       14 likes

  3. Yeti of Great Danger says:

    I resent “Catalina Caper” being called “lamentable” in that tribute. It’s one of my go-to movies, MST’ed version only of course, when I need cheering up. Don Pringle is so relentlessly happy-go-lucky, and who doesn’t love all the frenzied dancing.

    Anyway, it’s great that even though Disney dumped him, so many people remember Kirk and his early roles. Thanks, Tommy, and RIP.

       10 likes

  4. Kenneth Morgan says:

    Yeti of Great Danger:
    I resent “Catalina Caper” being called “lamentable” in that tribute.It’s one of my go-to movies, MST’ed version only of course, when I need cheering up.Don Pringle is so relentlessly happy-go-lucky, and who doesn’t love all the frenzied dancing.

    I’ll go along with that. It’s not as good as the AIP Frankie/Annette/Eric von Zipper movies, but it’s pleasant enough.

       6 likes

  5. Sitting Duck says:

    jay:
    It is always saddening to read of someone dying alone.RIP

    At least it wasn’t as bad as what happened with Yvette Vickers.

       9 likes

  6. duke of puddles says:

    Yeti of Great Danger:
    I resent “Catalina Caper” being called “lamentable” in that tribute.It’s one of my go-to movies, MST’ed version only of course, when I need cheering up.Don Pringle is so relentlessly happy-go-lucky, and who doesn’t love all the frenzied dancing.

    Anyway, it’s great that even though Disney dumped him, so many people remember Kirk and his early roles.Thanks, Tommy, and RIP.

    Yeah, the talent has little to say about how the movie goes overall. And, crap, they had a lot of names in that film so I don’t see it being any better or worse than some of the other ‘mega-spectacles’ that were made and could have been better. (SST:Deathflight, City on Fire and Independence Day, I’m looking at you)

    Now, if you’ll excuse me, I feel the urge to put on some upsetting small shorts and pick a fight with Beau Bridges for the love of a 50 foot tall pug nosed blonde in a hot bikini.

       7 likes

  7. DarkGrandmaofDeath says:

    I don’t know why it makes me so sad to hear about the death of someone I’ve never met personally, but there it is. There was something so perfectly ’60s about Tommy Kirk that I really appreciated, especially in Catalina Caper with its beach scenes and dance numbers and silly plot. Like you, Yeti, Catalina Caper is one movie I can watch any time I’m feeling a little blue, and Tommy Kirk is one of the main reasons (along with the Creepy Girl, Del Moore and Little Richard, who add so much muchness). Thank you, Tommy Kirk, and flights of Cascades sing thee to thy rest.

       9 likes

  8. Yeti of Great Danger says:

    Me again. Last night I was a little blue so I brought out my DVD of “Village of the Giants,” and sure enough, an hour and a half later I felt much better. What a ridiculous movie, but great riffing! And Tommy Kirk did a decent job. Just read this quote from him about the film on IMdB: “”It’s kind of a crazy movie but the production values are pretty good and it sort of holds together. I could have done without the dancing ducks, though.”

       1 likes

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