LAMAMIMET

John Kirby was an American actor and acting coach who worked in film and television for several decades. Born in 1950 or 1951, he was the son of actor Bruce Kirby. He appeared in numerous television programs including Maude, Sanford and Son, The Fall Guy, Eight Is Enough, Airwolf, and M*A*S*H. His film credits included Almost Summer and Dracula's Dog, and he was known for playing Frank the bartender in the miniseries Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder.

Beyond his acting work, Kirby established himself as a respected acting coach in Hollywood. He coached actors on major productions including Peter Pan and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He was a frequent collaborator with actor Jim Caviezel, working closely with him on various projects.

In 2023, Kirby was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He lived with the disease for three years before dying from it on July 15, 2026, at the age of 75.