Movies

Shallow Hal actor dies aged 70 after being hospitalised for two months as his family pay tribute

BBG News

Shallow Hal star Rene Kirby has died, aged 70. 

The actor passed away on July 11, following a two-month stay in the hospital due to infections and complications related to his esophagus, kidneys, and bladder, as confirmed by his brother, Jon Kirby.

According to the local news outlet Seven Days, he passed away at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

In the past, I faced a challenging battle against throat cancer, an ordeal that required the surgical removal of my larynx. As a result, I’ve been unable to speak these last few years.

In the 2001 film “Shallow Hal,” Rene took on an unforgettable character named Walt, who, similar to Rene, was wheelchair-bound as a result of spina bifida.

In my professional journey as a lifestyle expert, I’ve had the privilege of dabbling in acting too. For instance, I graced the silver screen in the 2003 movie “Stuck on You” and made a brief appearance in the television series “Carnivale.” It was quite an exciting detour from my usual lifestyle gigs!

Rene was born without a significant portion of his lower spine, and it wasn’t connected to his pelvis. As a result, his legs didn’t grow properly.

In 1999, he unexpectedly wound up acting alongside Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow on set after running into Hollywood director Peter Farrelly.

In the hometown of Rene, specifically Burlington, Vermont, Farrelly was filming Me, Myself & Irene, featuring the talented Jim Carrey.

In a casual conversation over a beer, the director made the decision to include Rene in his upcoming movie. Reflecting on this choice in a 2001 interview, he remarked about Rene, “He possesses an infectious zest for life and is incredibly humorous.

In the movie “Shallow Hal,” which they both wrote and directed, their brother, Rene, had a role that was penned by Farrelly.

The movie centered around seeing past external looks, making it an ideal role for the novice actor since Rene truly embodies inner charm.

Rene was the second son of Don and Janet Kirby and had six siblings. 

Instead of complying with the doctor’s advice to use a brace to extend their infant son’s legs, they opted to motivate him by presenting the bottle, which he could reach for.

By the age of one Rene was walking on his hands.

As a teenager he won state titles in gymnastics before working for IBM for 20 years. 

In a 2008 documentary, he shared that he had never viewed himself as disabled. Meanwhile, Farrelly remarked: “Rene is unlike anyone I’ve ever met; he leads an extraordinary life. Truly embodying inner beauty, this man certainly possesses it.

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2025-07-23 15:48

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