Michael Kirby

Michael J.R. Kirby (February 20, 1925 – May 25, 2002 in Laguna Niguel, CA) was a Canadian figure skater who competed in men's singles, and was also (for a short while) an actor. Later was an ice rink owner and skating coach. Childhood and youth As a child he suffered from rheumatic fever and started ice-skating for physical therapy. When he turned 16, he became a Canadian national champion. He won the silver medal at the 1941 North American Championships and then won the gold medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1942 before turning professional and joining the Ice Follies in 1943. He also competed in fours with Therese McCarthy, Virginia Wilson, and Donald Gilchrist in 1941 and 1942. Career Acting In the later 1940s, Kirby moved to Hollywood and signed a contract with MGM. He appeared in several movies including Keep Your Powder Dry (1945) with Lana Turner, and Summer Holiday (filmed in 1946, released in 1948) as Mickey Rooney's older brother.