{"id":285660,"date":"2025-07-23T16:43:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/285660\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T16:43:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:43:13","slug":"shallow-hal-actor-dies-aged-70-after-being-hospitalised-for-two-months-as-his-family-pay-tribute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/285660\/","title":{"rendered":"Shallow Hal actor dies aged 70 after being hospitalised for two months as his family pay tribute"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JOANNA CRAWLEY FOR MAILONLINE<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 08:41 EDT, 23 July 2025 | Updated: 09:44 EDT, 23 July 2025 <\/p>\n

Shallow Hal star Rene Kirby has died, aged 70.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The actor died on July 11 after being hospitalised for two months with infections as well as problems with his esophagus, kidneys and bladder, his brother Jon Kirby has said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He died at the University of\u00a0Vermont<\/a>\u00a0Medical Center, as reported by Vermont publication Seven Days<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He had previously battled throat cancer<\/a> with his\u00a0treatment including removal of his larynx meaning he had lost his ability to talk in recent years.<\/p>\n

Rene had a memorable role in the 2001 movie Shallow Hal, playing Walt, who like Rene had no use of his legs due to spina bifida.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Shallow <\/p>\n

Shallow Hal star Rene Kirby has died, aged 70. The actor died on July 11 after being hospitalised for two months with infections (pictured in a 2008 documentary)\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Rene <\/p>\n

Rene had a memorable role in the 2001 movie Shallow Hal, playing Walt, who like Rene had no use of his legs due to spina bifida – pictured with Gwyneth Paltrow\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rene’s acting career also\u00a0included a role in the 2003 film Stuck on You as well as one episode of the TV show Carniv\u00e0le.<\/p>\n

Rene was born with more than a foot of his lower spine missing whilst his spine was detached from his pelvis and his legs never developed.<\/p>\n

He found himself sharing the screen with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow when he bumped into\u00a0Hollywood director Peter Farrelly in 1999.<\/p>\n

Farrelly was in Rene’s hometown of Burlington, Vermont shooting\u00a0Me, Myself & Irene\u00a0starring Jim Carrey<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The director bought Rene a beer and after a night of talking, he had decided to cast Rene in hius next film, recalling in a 2001 interview:\u00a0‘He’s got a zest for life that is contagious and he’s extremely funny.’<\/p>\n

Farrelly wrote a part for Rene in Shallow Hal, which he and his brother, Bobby, co-wrote and co-directed.<\/p>\n

The film was about looking beyond outward appearances so Farrelly deemed it a perfect fit for the acting newcomer as Rene ‘epitomizes inner beauty.’<\/p>\n

\"Rene <\/p>\n

Rene was born with more than a foot of his lower spine missing whilst his spine was detached from his pelvis and his legs never developed\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Rene's <\/p>\n

Rene’s acting career also included a role in the 2003 film Stuck on You as well as one episode of the TV show Carniv\u00e0le<\/p>\n

Rene was the second son of Don and Janet Kirby and had six siblings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His parents pushed back on doctor’s recommendations to use a brace to stretch their baby son’s legs, instead encouraging him to reach for his bottle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By the age of one Rene was walking on his hands.<\/p>\n

As a teenager he won state titles in gymnastics before working for IBM for 20 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He revealed in a 2008 documentary how he ‘never considered myself disabled’, whilst Farrelly declared:\u00a0‘I’ve never met anyone like Rene, he has an amazing life. Talk about inner beauty – this guy really has it’.<\/p>\n

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