Veteran Acting Coach John Kirby, Brother of Bruno Kirby and Son of Bruce Kirby, Dies at 75

John Kirby, an acclaimed acting coach, brother of City Slickers star Bruno Kirby, and son of Bruce Kirby, has passed away at the age of 75.

He died on the morning of Wednesday, July 15, three years after his diagnosis with ALS.

Longtime associate Nathan Besbitt announced the heartbreaking news on social media, stating, “With a broken heart, I officially announce the passing of our beloved John early on Wednesday morning, July 15, a loss that has deeply affected us all, and we are striving to find a way to cope.”

Kirby was diagnosed with ALS on July 7, 2023, a year after symptoms first appeared, following a fall and a fractured hip that prompted medical testing and the subsequent diagnosis.

Kirby maintained a long‑standing coaching relationship with Jim Caviezel, beginning with the 2000 film Frequency. He later served as Caviezel’s acting coach on projects including Pay It Forward (2000), Angel Eyes (2001), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), High Crimes (2002), I Am David (2003), The Final Cut (2004), Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004), and Unknown (2006).

In addition, Kirby appeared in films such as Peter Pan (2003), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Underdog (2007), Outlander (2008), Hotel California (2008), Scream 4 (2011), Prom (2011), and The Age of Adaline (2015), among others.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 15 at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills, and a GoFundMe page has been created to accept donations.

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