Overview

• René Kirby died July 11 at age 70 at the University of Vermont Medical Center after a two-month hospital stay.
• He faced lifelong spina bifida, developed esophageal, kidney and bladder complications following a battle with throat cancer that cost him his voice.
• Before acting he excelled as a swimmer and gymnast in Burlington and worked for more than twenty years at IBM.
• He made his film debut in Shallow Hal (2001) as Walt and later co-starred in Stuck on You (2003) before his last screen role in a 2005 episode of Carnivàle.
• Fans and colleagues have hailed his charisma and authenticity for advancing visibility of performers with disabilities.