Kevin Corcoran obit

'Old Yeller' actor Kevin Corcoran dies

He was not on the list.

Actor Kevin Corcoran, who helped move audiences to tears as a child star in "Old Yeller," died at age 66.

"We are extremely sad to hear of the passing of Kevin Corcoran," the Walt Disney Family Museum said on Facebook.

Corcoran died of colorectal cancer in Burbank, California, on Tuesday, Karnel Watkins, his niece, said.

Corcoran spent parts of seven decades in Hollywood.

While he's probably best known for his role as Arliss Coates, the youngest of the two sons in 1957's "Old Yeller," Corcoran co-starred in a host of Disney movies including "The Shaggy Dog," "Pollyanna" and "Swiss Family Robinson." He also had a regular role on the "Mickey Mouse Club" as Moochie.

After graduating from California State University, Northridge with a degree in theater arts, he shifted his focus to behind the camera, according to Walt Disney archives.

In more recent years, he produced "Sons of Anarchy," but also racked up scores of TV credits for shows like "Baywatch," "Quantum Leap," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Scarecrow and Mrs. King."

Corcoran credited his success and longevity in the business to his family's down-to-earth sensibility.

"Some people's families are in the delicatessen business," he said. "My family was in the picture business.”

Kevin Corcoran was the brother of Donna Corcoran, Noreen Corcoran (1943–2016), Hugh Corcoran, Brian Corcoran, Kerry Corcoran, and Kelly Corcoran (1958–2002). Another brother, Bill Corcoran Jr. (former Dean of Students at California State University, Fresno), died in 2007.

Elder siblings Donna, Noreen, and Hugh Corcoran have extensive film and television credits as child actors during the 1950s. Donna, Noreen, and Kevin all appeared in the 1955 film Violent Saturday.

Noreen Corcoran starred as Kelly Gregg on the television series Bachelor Father from 1957 to 1962. During its five-year run, Bachelor Father was seen on all three national networks.

Brian Corcoran played Kevin's brother, and Kerry, his sister, in the 1960 Daniel Boone miniseries on Walt Disney Presents, then on ABC. Brian also was Willie Winkie to Kevin Corcoran's Boy Blue in the 1961 film Babes in Toyland.

Donna Corcoran played Moochie's sister Marian in Moochie of the Little League (1960). She also played Bridget White, ("... eight years old") as the little orphan who saw the "Angels in the Outfield" in the original 1951 version with Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh. Younger brother Kelly Corcoran (1958–2002) portrayed 8-year-old Kip Pride in the NBC western series The Road West (1966–1967), starring Barry Sullivan. Kevin Corcoran and his wife, Laura Soltwedel, were married from 1972.

Corcoran appeared in numerous Disney projects (and a handful of non-Disney ones) without the Moochie name. He starred as Toby, an orphan who runs off to join the circus, in Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus (1960). He also starred in Disney's Johnny Shiloh in the title role. These were the only two theatrical films in which Corcoran had the lead roles. Important co-starring roles include the following: 

Old Yeller (1957) — younger son Arliss Coates
The Shaggy Dog (1959) — younger son Moochie Daniels
The Rabbit Trap (1959) — Duncan Colt
Goliath II (1960) — Goliath II (voice)
Pollyanna (1960) — Pollyanna's friend, orphan Jimmy Bean
Swiss Family Robinson (1960) — youngest son Francis Robinson
Daniel Boone (1960 Disney miniseries) — son James Boone
Toby Tyler (1960) — Toby Tyler
Babes in Toyland (1961) — nursery rhyme character Boy Blue
Aquamania (1961) — Goofy Jr. (voice)
Bon Voyage! (1962) — younger son Skipper Willard
The Mooncussers (1962 Disney TV movie) — Jonathan Feather
Johnny Shiloh (1963 Disney TV movie) — Union Army drummer (later sergeant) Johnny Lincoln Clem
Savage Sam (1963) — Arliss Coates again
A Tiger Walks (1964) — Tom Hadley
Blue (1968) — Rory Calvin

Kevin Corcoran and Tommy Kirk played brothers in five films, beginning with 1957's Old Yeller. The other films in this category were The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), Bon Voyage! (1962) and Savage Sam (sequel to Old Yeller, 1963). Fred MacMurray played their father in The Shaggy Dog and Bon Voyage!; Dorothy McGuire played their mother in Old Yeller and Swiss Family Robinson. In 1961, he did the voice of Goofy Jr. in the animated short Aquamania. He played a role in Wagon Train in the episode “The Cassie Vance Story”.

Corcoran largely retired from acting after A Tiger Walks, although he also appeared in the 1968 film Blue in a minor role. It was probably around the time of the latter film that he attended college. In an interview for the DVD release of The Shaggy Dog, he credits his studio teachers with having prepared him well for his college studies.

Filmography:

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (14 credits)

 2005 Sleeper Cell (TV Series) (first assistant director - 1 episode)

- Hijack (2005) ... (first assistant director)

 2005 Crossing Jordan (TV Series) (first assistant director - 2 episodes)

- Enlightenment (2005) ... (first assistant director)

- There's No Place Like Home II (2005) ... (first assistant director)

 2003 Karen Sisco (TV Series) (first assistant director)

 1999-2001 Providence (TV Series) (first assistant director - 21 episodes)

- Rule Number One (2001) ... (first assistant director)

- Meet Joe Connelly (2001) ... (first assistant director)

- Exposure (2001) ... (first assistant director)

- Parenthood (2001) ... (first assistant director)

- The Lion Sleeps Tonight (2001) ... (first assistant director)

 1998-1999 Profiler (TV Series) (first assistant director - 8 episodes)

- Las Brisas (1999) ... (first assistant director)

- Grand Master (1999) ... (first assistant director)

- Three Carat Crisis (1999) ... (first assistant director)

- Spree of Love (1999) ... (first assistant director)

- Heads, You Lose (1999) ... (first assistant director)

 1997 Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest (TV Movie) (first assistant director)

 1997 Columbo (TV Series) (first assistant director - 1 episode)

- A Trace of Murder (1997) ... (first assistant director)

 1996 Mrs. Santa Claus (TV Movie) (first assistant director)

 1991-1996 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) (first assistant director - 53 episodes)

- Death by Demographics (1996) ... (first assistant director)

- Evidence of Malice (1996) ... (first assistant director)

- Something Foul in Flappieville (1996) ... (first assistant director)

- Unwilling Witness (1995) ... (first assistant director)

- Deadly Bidding (1995) ... (first assistant director)

 1991 Quantum Leap (TV Series) (first assistant director - 3 episodes)

- Shock Theater - October 3, 1954 (1991) ... (first assistant director)

- Heart of a Champion - July 23, 1955 (1991) ... (first assistant director)

- A Hunting Will We Go - June 18, 1976 (1991) ... (first assistant director)

 1990-1991 Over My Dead Body (TV Series) (first assistant director - 2 episodes)

- Naked Brunch (1991) ... (first assistant director)

- Carrie Christmas and a Nappie New Year (1990) ... (first assistant director)

 1989 Baywatch (TV Series) (first assistant director - 6 episodes)

- The Reunion (1989) ... (first assistant director)

- The Cretin of the Shallows (1989) ... (first assistant director)

- Cruise Ship (1989) ... (first assistant director)

- The Drowning Pool (1989) ... (first assistant director)

- Second Wave (1989) ... (first assistant director)

 1987-1989 Simon & Simon (TV Series) (first assistant director - 15 episodes)

- Simon Says 'Good-Bye' (1989) ... (first assistant director)

- First, Let's Kill All the Lawyers (1988) ... (first assistant director)

- The Richer They Are the Harder They Fall (1988) ... (first assistant director)

- Simon & Simon Jr. (1988) ... (first assistant director)

- Love Song of Abigail Marsh (1988) ... (first assistant director)

  Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series) (first assistant director - 12 episodes, 1986 - 1987) (second assistant director - 11 episodes, 1985 - 1986)

- A Matter of Choice (1987) ... (first assistant director)

- Suitable for Framing (1987) ... (first assistant director)

- One Flew East (1987) ... (first assistant director)

- Do You Take This Spy? (1987) ... (first assistant director)

- Santa's Got a Brand New Bag (1986) ... (first assistant director)

Actor (33 credits)

 2009 It Starts with Murder!

Beatnik Bartender

 1968 Blue

Rory Calvin

 1967 My Three Sons (TV Series)

Pete Snell

- Both Your Houses (1967) ... Pete Snell

 1964 A Tiger Walks - Tom Hadley

 1964 The Littlest Hobo (TV Series)

Mike McGregor - Black Satan (1964) ... Mike McGregor

 1963 Johnny Shiloh (TV Movie) - Johnny Lincoln Clem

 1959-1963 Wagon Train (TV Series)

Davie Vance / Young Boy

- The Cassie Vance Story (1963) ... Davie Vance

- The Estaban Zamora Story (1959) ... Young Boy (uncredited)

 1963 Savage Sam -  Arliss Coates

 1957-1963 The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)

James Boone / Moochie Morgan / Johnny Lincoln Clem / ...

- Johnny Shiloh: Part 2 (1963) ... Johnny Lincoln Clem

- Johnny Shiloh: Part 1 (1963) ... Johnny Lincoln Clem

- The Mooncussers: Wake of Disaster (1962) ... Jonathan Feather

- The Mooncussers: Graveyard of Ships (1962) ... Jonathan Feather

- Daniel Boone: The Promised Land (1961) ... James Boone

 1962 Mooncussers

Jonathan Feather

 1962 Bon Voyage!

Skipper Willard

 1961 Aquamania (Short)

Goofy Jr. (voice, uncredited)

 1960 Swiss Family Robinson - Francis Robinson

 1960 Babes in Toyland

Boy Blue

 1960 Pollyanna   -  Jimmy Bean

 1960 Goliath II (Short)

Goliath II (voice, uncredited)

 1960 Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus  - Toby Tyler

 1960 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series)

Actor

- Episode #13.18 (1960) ... Actor

 1959 The Rabbit Trap

Duncan Colt

 1959 The Shaggy Dog

Moochie (Montgomery) Daniels

 1958 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof    - Child (uncredited)

 1957 The New Adventures of Spin and Marty (TV Series)

Moochie

 1957 Old Yeller

Arliss Coates

 1956 Gun for a Coward

Deke (uncredited)

 1956 Further Adventures of Spin and Marty (TV Series)

Moochie

 1956 Adventure in Dairyland (TV Series)

Moochie McCandless

- Off to Wisconsin (1956) ... Moochie McCandless

 1956 Written on the Wind

Boy on Electric Hobbyhorse (uncredited)

 1953-1956 The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series)

Jamie / Mike

- Mr. Kagle and the Baby Sitter (1956) ... Jamie

- Double Bet (1953) ... Mike

 1956 December Bride (TV Series)

Ed's son

- Swimming Pool (1956) ... Ed's son

 1956 The Birds and the Bees

Hans (uncredited)

 1955 Violent Saturday

David Stadt (uncredited)

 1955 Untamed

Young Paul (uncredited)

 1954 The Glenn Miller Story

Steve Miller - Age 4 (uncredited)

Producer (13 credits)

 2009 Sons of Anarchy (TV Series) (co-producer - 13 episodes)

- Na Triobloidi (2009) ... (co-producer)

- The Culling (2009) ... (co-producer)

- Service (2009) ... (co-producer)

- Balm (2009) ... (co-producer)

- Fa Guan (2009) ... (co-producer)

 2008 The Shield (TV Series) (co-producer - 10 episodes)

- Petty Cash (2008) ... (co-producer)

- Moving Day (2008) ... (co-producer)

- Parricide (2008) ... (co-producer)

- Bitches Brew (2008) ... (co-producer)

- Animal Control (2008) ... (co-producer)

 1984 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) (assistant producer)

 1984 Whiz Kids (TV Series) (coordinating producer - 5 episodes)

- Altaira (1984) ... (coordinating producer)

- Father's Day (1984) ... (coordinating producer)

- The Sufi Project (1984) ... (coordinating producer)

- The Lollypop Gang Strikes Back (1984) ... (coordinating producer)

- Maid in the USA (1984) ... (coordinating producer)

 1983 Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- Pilot ... (producer)

 1983 Zorro and Son (TV Series) (producer)

 1982 Herbie, the Love Bug (TV Series) (producer - 5 episodes)

- Calling Doctor Herbie (1982) ... (producer - as Kevin Corcoran)

- Herbie the Best Man (1982) ... (producer - as Kevin Corcoran)

- My House Is Your House (1982) ... (producer - as Kevin Corcoran)

- Herbie to the Rescue (1982) ... (producer)

- Herbie the Matchmaker (1982) ... (producer - as Kevin Corcoran)

 1980 Herbie Goes Bananas (co-producer)

 1980 The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) (producer - 1 episode)

- The Kids Who Knew Too Much (1980) ... (producer)

 1979 The North Avenue Irregulars (associate producer)

 1978 Hot Lead and Cold Feet (associate producer)

 1978 Return from Witch Mountain (associate producer)

Production manager (2 credits)

 2008-2009 Sons of Anarchy (TV Series) (unit production manager - 26 episodes)

- Na Triobloidi (2009) ... (unit production manager)

- The Culling (2009) ... (unit production manager)

- Service (2009) ... (unit production manager)

- Balm (2009) ... (unit production manager)

- Fa Guan (2009) ... (unit production manager)

 2007-2008 The Shield (TV Series) (unit production manager - 16 episodes)

- Moving Day (2008) ... (unit production manager)

- Parricide (2008) ... (unit production manager)

- Bitches Brew (2008) ... (unit production manager)

- Animal Control (2008) ... (unit production manager)

- Game Face (2008) ... (unit production manager)

 Director (1 credit)

 1996 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- What You Don't Know Can Kill You (1996)

- Murder in Tempo (1996)