Profile Text
Birth Name: Thomas Lee Kirk
Date of Birth: December 10, 1941
Place of Birth: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Date of Death: September 28, 2021
Place of Death: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, some German and Scottish
Tommy Kirk was an American actor. He was a movie star of the late 1950s, and of the 1960s, having featured in The Snow Queen , in voice performance; Old Yeller (1957), The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), The Absent-Minded Professor , Babes in Toyland (1961), Moon Pilot , Bon Voyage! (1962), Son of Flubber , Savage Sam , The Misadventures of Merlin Jones , Pajama Party (1964), The Monkey’s Uncle , Village of the Giants , The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini , The Unkissed Bride , It’s a Bikini World , Catalina Caper , Track of Thunder , It’s Alive! (1969), Blood of Ghastly Horror , Ride the Hot Wind , My Name Is Legend , Streets of Death , Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold , and Billy Frankenstein ; the short film Down Liberty Road ; the made-for-tv movie Mars Needs Women , and the series Letter to Loretta , The Mickey Mouse Club , Matinee Theatre , The Horsemasters , and Escapade in Florence .
Tommy was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the son of Lucy Virginia, a legal secretary, and Louie Aljoe Kirk, a mechanic, who worked for the highway department. His family moved to Downey, Los Angeles, California, during his infancy.
Tommy’s paternal grandfather was Andrew Jackson Kirk (the son of Joseph Marcum Kirk and Nancy Dingus). Andrew was born in Kentucky. Joseph was the son of John M. Kirk and Clara C. Marcum. Nancy was the daughter of William Dingess.
Tommy’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Gobel/Goble (the daughter of Andrew Jackson Drury “Andy” Gobel/Goble and Naomi Jane Kestner). Elizabeth was born in Kentucky.
Tommy’s maternal grandfather was James Harvey Day (the son of Jasper Newton Day and Dicy Ann Sparks). James was born in Kentucky.
Tommy’s maternal grandmother was Ida May Weddington (the daughter of Harve Burns Weddington and Mary Jane Vencill). Ida was born in Kentucky. Harve was the son of Jacob Weddington, whose father was English, and of Parthenia Davis. Mary Jane was the daughter of Henry G. Vencill and Sarah Wheeler Horton.
Sources: Tommy’s parents on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Tommy’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Gobel/Goble) Kirk – https://www.familysearch.org