“We stand today on the edge of a new frontier-the frontier of the 1960s, a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils-a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats.” ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The actor passed away peacefully
at his home, his co-star Beverly Washburn confirmed to Fox News
By Lauryn Overhultz | Fox News
"Old Yeller" star Tommy
Kirk has died, Fox News can confirm. He was 79. Kirk's "Old Yeller"
co-star Beverly Washburn confirmed the actor passed away "peacefully"
at his home in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. "He was so loved,"
Washburn told Fox News in a statement. "Anybody who has ever met Tommy can
attest to the fact that he was so fan-friendly."
Kirk's long-time friend Paul
Peterson shared a tribute to the actor on Facebook. Peterson also pointed out
Kirk's love for his fans. "Please know that Tommy Kirk
loved you, his fans," Peterson wrote. "You lifted him up when an
Industry let him down in 1965."
Kirk had acting success, but got
his big break after being cast as Travis Coates in "Old Yeller." The
actor went on to star as Disney's go-to All-American teenager in a handful of
movies including "The Shaggy Dog" and "Swiss Family Robinson."
Kirk would be officially retired
from acting by 2006.Washburn, who also resides in Las
Vegas, and Kirk were set to participate in an upcoming "Old Yeller"
reunion.
Irene Ryan was born Jessie Irene
Noblitt on October 17, 1902, in El Paso, Texas. She was the second child and
latter daughter born to Catherine J. "Katie" (née McSharry) and James
Merritt Noblitt. Her father was an army sergeant from North Carolina and her
mother had emigrated from Ireland.
At 20, she married
writer-comedian Tim Ryan. The Ryans had no children and divorced in 1942,
although Irene kept the surname.
Ryan was cast in what was her
best known role in 1962 as Daisy "Granny" Moses, mother-in-law of
patriarch Jed Clampett, in The Beverly Hillbillies (although Ryan was only five
and a half years older than Ebsen). The character was named in honor of the
artist Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses, who had died aged 101 the
previous year, and only started her professional career as a painter in her
later years.
According to Filmways publicist
Ted Switzer, series creator and producer Paul Henning had decided to cast Bea
Benaderet as Granny, but when Ryan read for the role "with her hair tied
back in a bun and feisty as all get-out," everyone was taken with her
performance. Executive producer Al Simon and Henning immediately said,
"That's Granny!"
"With nearly a glance from
the poolside crowd beside them, the world-famous singing and instrumental
group, The Beatles, their long locks soaking, climb fully-clothed recently from
a pool during a scene in a movie they are making here. No doubt the crowd is in
on their shenanigans. This is the second "flick" for the zany
singers, and despite the frequent dunkings and occasional spills on bicycles
the script calls for, the four men from Britain seem to be enjoying all of
it."
The former child star has written a new memoir titled 'Forever
Young'
Hayley Mills became one of the biggest child stars of the ‘60s
after working with Walt Disney himself – and today she’s reflecting on
surviving the family business.
On Tuesday, the actress unveiled a new memoir titled "Forever Young." It
explores how the daughter of British screen star Sir John Mills came to America
and found fame in Hollywood with iconic films like "Pollyanna" and
"The Parent Trap."
While Mills’ wholesome image made her adored by many, she
yearned to transform herself as a woman in the spotlight. She learned many
lessons along the way – and is now sharing them with the world.
The 75-year-old spoke to Fox News about writing her book,
befriending Disney, being considered for "Lolita," as well as
marrying a filmmaker over 30 years her senior.
Fox News: What inspired you to
write a memoir now? Hayley Mills: It was the right time and I wanted
to do it. I’ve been thinking about doing it. I’ve written lots of rough drafts
for years actually… But you know, I’m one of the few people that not only met
Walt Disney but knew him and loved him. So that was a bit of a wake-up call.
I remember I was taken to his office that had been recreated
with all of his possessions exactly how it was when he left that day… It was
incredibly moving. It’s not a particularly grand room, but it did take me back
to a special place in my life. And I didn’t want those moments to be forgotten
with time… I have children and grandchildren and I want them to hear these
stories.
Fox News: What was your initial
impression of Walt Disney? Mills: He was so accessible. He was warm and
friendly. He was tall but he was also a bit shy. But I just remember him being
a very sweet man. There was a tremendous sweetness to him that was just
genuine. He had all these dreams with his films and Disneyland.
He once told me, "I want to show people the best in
themselves." And he did. When you look back at his films, they all have a
tremendously powerful message about love, listening to your conscious and being
compassionate. And that studio reflected his personality. He loved children and
I couldn’t have been luckier to have worked with somebody like that. I wasn’t
exploited or treated badly, rudely or unkindly.
Fox News: Usually child stars don’t
always have the greatest outcomes in Hollywood. Mills: I was fortunate. I was working for a studio
with a boss who was a genuinely good man. He cared about the people who worked
for him. I also had the support of my parents who were both in the business. My
father was a film star in England and my mother had been an actress and then a
successful writer. So I had support. The business can really come at people
like an express train. You’re suddenly surrounded by wealth and showered with
attention at an immense pace. It’s very intense and very, very easy to lose
your way unless you have that support.
I certainly had my struggles. But I think we all face struggles
in growing up. You’re trying to make sense of life and who you are, except
you’re trying to figure all of this out in Hollywood. When you’re in that
environment, it’s hard to hang on to reality. But after I worked, I went home.
I went to boarding school in England. So in some ways, I think I had it better
than others.
Fox News: You were 12 when you
embarked on your acting career. How did you cope with being in the spotlight as
you faced puberty? Mills: Adolescence is a nightmare for everybody.
One of the reasons you suddenly become self-conscious is because that innocence
of childhood when you’re completely in the moment is gone. You suddenly look at
yourself in a different way. You’re judging yourself, comparing yourself to
others. It was a struggle.
Fox News: According to the book you didn’t take on
the role of "Lolita." How do you feel about that decision today? Mills: As I said in the book, I can’t believe I’m
actually saying those words *laughs*. But I wanted to do it at the time. I very
much wanted to do it. I thought it was a really interesting part. But I didn’t
fully understand Humbert’s obsession – sexual obsession. I was a virgin. I was
14. I didn’t know very much about things. But I instinctively sensed things
about this character. I would have loved to have played it, but particularly, I
would have loved to have worked with Stanley Kubrick. That would have been
something special. But there you are. I didn’t get the part in the school
nativity [play]. They all hurt *laughs*.
Fox News: According to your book,
you began receiving countless fan mail after "Pollyanna." Some people
even tracked down your home address. What was that experience like for you,
knowing that you had achieved fame at such a young age? Mills: It was staggering. I was living on a remote
farm that took nearly two hours to get to from London in those days, before
motorways. I was no stranger to fan mail because my father used to get fan
mail. So I felt I was simply doing what he did. It was a family business. But
the amount was just incredible. I answered a lot of those letters but it did
get to be time-consuming. So many of them were very, very sweet. But it got
quite out of control.
Fox News: What’s your favorite
memory from filming "The Parent Trap"? Mills: The whole film was a fantastic experience.
There were so many clever, talented, funny, marvelous actors in the movie. That
gives you a great sense of confidence. You feel safe. And I loved working with
Maureen O’Hara. She was one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.
And she was very professional. She saw the business very clearly
from the moment she started and I think her work influenced me. I was lucky to
have met so many of my inspirations. She was definitely one of them. Overall,
it was a very positive experience for me. I got to play two characters, with
one of them being American, which was great. It was like playing two sides of
me. I could certainly identify with both.
Fox News: Were you ever frustrated
to take on very childlike roles as you were becoming a young woman? Mills: I would have liked to take on things that
had more of a dramatic element. But you know, once I was committed to playing a
part, I always enjoyed it. But towards the end, I did become aware that I
wasn’t being stretched. I didn’t feel like I was learning. I was spinning my
wheels a little bit. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the films I did. I enjoyed
them greatly and always gave it my all. But I did feel that I needed new
experiences. I had to go back to acting school. That’s when I went into the
theater.
)
Fox News: Things changed when you
did "The Family Way," which allowed you to approach a more adult
role. How nervous were you to do your nude scene, especially after being a Disney
star? Mills: It was a stark experience. I wouldn’t have
done it if I didn’t believe it was integral to the story and important to the
plot… So knowing it was integral to the film made it a lot easier. But it was
certainly a difficult thing to do *laughs*.
Fox News: You met director Roy
Boulting in that film. At age 20 you married him when he was 53. What was the
biggest lesson you learned from that experience? Mills: I learned that even though there was a
great disparity in our ages, we understood each other on a personal, spiritual
level. We understood each other and we were quite alike. I always felt that he
was emotionally vulnerable. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with him.
I never felt age was a barrier to friendships or love or anything like that.
It’s such a unique, individual thing.
And actually, you know, I was struggling. I think I was just
trying to become independent. I needed an older, older man, I think, to help me
make sense of my life. I was on my own. I left Disney and I wanted to be
independent of my parents. But all these things, I think, were subconscious
reasons. The reason that it happened to me, ultimately, is that I fell in love
with a remarkable man. That was it.
Fox News: It
sounded like the two of you kept your friendship even though the marriage didn’t
last. Mills: He was a very, very generous person. I mean
generous spiritually. It wasn’t acrimonious. I think that part of him always
knew there was a good chance that this was going to happen. It didn’t make it
easier when it happened, but he was always wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
Fox News: In the book, you also
discussed dealing with bulimia. When did you realize that you needed to get
help or address it? What was that wake-up call moment for you? Mills: I achieved the skeletal weight that I was
aiming for. I stopped getting my period and it affected my skin. My skin broke
out and I had to take antibiotics for years actually. But I didn’t know that
this was something that other people did. I thought I’d come up with it myself.
I think I do mention it in the book, but I met this famous champion jockey and
he told me that to make himself throw up, he used to eat grass. So after he ate
a meal, he’d eat grass to throw up the meal.
… So I started doing it. Of course, I didn’t tell anybody. I had
no idea [bulimia] existed and it had a name. It’s a very difficult thing to go
through. Things are so much better today. People are not so afraid to reveal
things about themselves and things that are common to the human condition,
things that so many other people are dealing with. Because when you hide it or
keep it a secret from others, it makes it worse. It was such a stigma in those
days. Now it’s not the case and I’m so thankful for that. Now we can talk about
it, but also do something about it.
Director Terence Young (June 20, 1915 – September 7, 1994), pictured with Sean Connery on location in Istanbul, Turkey during the filming of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
