Celebrity acting coach John Kirby, who is 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 died. He was 75 years old at the time of his death.
John: Kirby died at the age of 75
Recently, Kirby’s acting studio manager, Nathan Nesbitt, confirmed the news that the legendary acting coach died on his Instagram account. He wrote, “I am here officially, with a heavy heart, to announce the death of our beloved John in the early morning of Wednesday, July 15, and it is devastating for all of us, and we are trying to find a way to cope.”Three years ago, the acting coach revealed that he was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and was fighting the disease. He further shared that, “I can’t turn on the television or watch a movie without knowing someone who was coached, mentored or influenced by John. His fingerprints are everywhere in this industry.He has also worked with many celebrities on film sets, 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, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a “neurodegenerative condition that affects how nerve cells communicate with your muscles. This leads to muscle weakness that worsens over time. Symptoms can affect your movement, speech, and breathing. Treatment for ALS includes therapies and medications to manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
The tributes are coming in for John Kirby
Many celebrities, family friends, and citizens alike took to social media accounts to share tributes for the acting coach. Chrissy Metzone of the many actresses he trained, who is known for his drama series, ‘This is Us’, took to his 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 to win, my sounding board without judgment, full of encouragement, and always from a deep place of love. I can never thank you enough for believing in me. I will never forget your innate sense of intuition, every time. In your suffering, you remain a brilliant and selfless teacher who continues to bring people together. Your legacy will live on in each of us, always.”
Who is John Kirby?
John Kirby is the son of an actor Bruce Kirby from ‘Columbo’ and actor Bruno Kirby’s brother from ‘When Harry Met Sally.’ While he has a family history of acting, Kirby has made a career out of helping people get in front of the camera; instead of choosing the same stream, he chose to become an acting coach.Over the course of his career, he trained many 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 is also known for providing destination-based consultations as well.
