Old Yeller star, Tommy Kirk passed away at 79

Tommy Kirk

Tommy Kirk, the child star who played Travis Coates in the Disney film Old Yeller, has passed away. He was found in his Las Vegas home Tuesday night; he was 79 years old and a few months away from his 80th birthday.

Kirk’s body was discovered by his neighbor.

Kirk was born on December 10, 1941, in Louisville, Kentucky. He got his start in show business when an agent saw him performing a minor role in a play. His first TV appearance would be in an episode of The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs.

Kirk’s other credits included The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, Pajama Party, Track of Thunder, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones. He was also a member of the Mickey Mouse Club. Kirk would later be inducted as a Disney Legend.

Story via TMZ