Celebrity acting coach John Kirby, who was best known for working with names like Cameron Diaz, Hillary Duff, Renée Taylor, Jordin Sparks, Jeremy Sumpter, Lewis Tan, Frank Capra, and many others, has passed away. He was 75 years old at the time of his passing.
John Kirby passes away at 75
Recently, Kirby’s acting studio manager, Nathan Nesbitt, confirmed the news that the legendary acting coach had passed away on his Instagram account. He wrote, “I am here to officially, with a broken heart, announce the passing of our beloved John on the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 15, and it has been devastating for all of us, and we’re trying to just find a way to cope.”Three years ago, the acting coach had revealed that he had been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and was coping with the disease. He further shared that, “I can’t turn on a television or watch a film without recognizing someone John coached, mentored or influenced. His fingerprints are everywhere in this industry. His impact extends far beyond the performances we see on screen — it’s woven into the very fabric of Hollywood.”He has worked with a lot of celebrities on the set of the film as well, including names like ‘Peter Pan’, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, ‘Outlander’, ‘Hotel California’, ‘Scream 4’, ‘Stick It,’ and ‘Prom.’
What is ALS?
ALS is, according to Cleveland Clinic, a “neurodegenerative condition that affects how nerve cells communicate with your muscles. It leads to muscle weakness that gets worse over time. Symptoms can affect how you move, speak, and breathe. ALS treatment includes therapies and medications to manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.”
Tributes pour in for John Kirby
Many celebrities, family friends, and citizens alike took to social media accounts to share tributes for the acting coach. Chrissy Metz, one of the many actresses that he trained, who is best known for her drama series, ‘This is Us’, took to her Instagram account to share a photo of the two of them smiling at the camera. She wrote, “My John. My mentor. My friend. My cheerleader when there was no chance of winning, my sounding board free of judgment, full of encouragement, and always from a deep place of love. I will never be able to thank you enough for believing in me. I will never get over your innate sense of intuition, every single time. In your suffering, you remained a brilliant and selfless teacher who will continue to bring people together. Your legacy will live on in every one of us, always.”
Who was John Kirby?
John Kirby was the son of actor Bruce Kirby from ‘Columbo’ and the brother of actor Bruno Kirby from ‘When Harry Met Sally.’ While he had a family history in acting, Kirby made a career in helping people get in front of the camera; rather than opting for the same stream, he chose to become an acting coach.Over the course of his career, he trained quite a lot of legendary actors and actresses who went on to star in blockbuster and hit films. This list includes names like Jeff Bridges, Jim Caviezel, Cameron Diaz, Chrissy Metz, Morris Chestnut, Judith Light, Renée Taylor, Jordin Sparks, Hillary Duff, Jeremy Sumpter, Lewis Tan, Frank Capra, Jessica Marie Garcia, Alyson Stoner, and star Kara Killmer.Not only that, but he was also known for providing destination-based consultations as well.