Rene Kirby, the actor best known for his role in the 2001 Farrelly Brothers comedy Shallow Hal, has died at the age of 70.
According to Seven Days, Kirby passed away on July 11 at the University of Vermont Medical Center following a two-month hospitalization due to complications related to his esophagus, kidneys, and bladder.
Born with spina bifida, a congenital condition in which the spine and spinal cord don't develop properly, Kirby lived his entire life without the use of his legs. Despite this, he embraced an active lifestyle, engaging in activities such as hand-cycling, skiing, and gymnastics. He also had a two-decade career at IBM and enjoyed online stock trading in recent years.
Kirby was cast in two Farrelly Brothers films: Shallow Hal, where he portrayed Walt, a character who also had spina bifida, and Stuck on You (2003), starring Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear. In 2005, he made a guest appearance in HBO’s Carnivàle as Hoppy in the episode “The Road to Damascus.”
In a 2008 episode of Seven Days’ web series Stuck in Vermont, Kirby spoke candidly about living with his condition. “I’ve never thought of myself as disabled,” he said, referring to himself humorously as “a gimp without a wimp.”
Kirby also survived throat cancer in recent years, though the treatment required the removal of his larynx, leaving him unable to speak. His brother Jon Kirby noted that Rene had not ridden his bike since the previous fall due to declining mobility.
Rene Kirby is survived by his mother and six siblings. His father passed away three years ago.
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