Terry Kilburn

Terence Edward Kilburn (born November 25, 1926), to working-class parents Tom and Alice Kilburn.

Career

Hollywood and Broadway Known for his innocent, dreamy, doe-eyed look, Kilburn achieved fame at the age of 12 portraying Tiny Tim in the 1938 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film version of A Christmas Carol, and also as four generations of the Colley family in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939).

As a child actor, Kilburn also played leading roles in two films which starred Freddie Bartholomew: Lord Jeff (1938) and Swiss Family Robinson (1940). He was featured in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) with Basil Rathbone. In addition to Lord Jeff (1938), he worked alongside Mickey Rooney in Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939), A Yank at Eton (1942), and National Velvet (1944).

In 1946 Kilburn was Joe, the horse's groom, in Black Beauty. In his early 20s, in 1947 and 1948, he was in four back-to-back Bulldog Drummond films, as Seymour, a reporter; and in 1950 he had small roles in two seagoing films.

After high school, Kilburn concentrated on stage work, and studied drama at UCLA. He thereafter remained committed to live performances, as both actor and director. Meadow Brook Theatre is the largest non-profit professional theater in Michigan and presents classic plays, comedies, and musicals. The theater is known for its annual production of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Kilburn's partner, Charles Nolte.

Personal life Since 1994 Kilburn has resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His partner of over 50 years, actor Charles Nolte, died in January 2010.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1934 No Greater Glory Paul Street Boy Film debut 1938 Lord Jeff Albert Baker A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim Sweethearts Brother 1939 The Great Man Votes Student Goodbye, Mr. Chips Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever 'Stickin' Plaster They Shall Have Music Limey The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Billy 1940 Swiss Family Robinson Ernest Robinson 1941 Mercy Island Wiccy 1942 A Yank at Eton Hilspeth Uncredited 1944 National Velvet Ted 1946 Black Beauty Joe 1947 Song of Scheherazade Midshipman Lorin Bulldog Drummond at Bay Seymour Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back Seymour 1948 The Challenge Seymour 13 Lead Soldiers Seymour 1950 Tyrant of the Sea Dick Savage Fortunes of Captain Blood Kenny Jensen 1951 Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration Stephen Teleplay, Family Theatre Only the Valiant Trooper Saxton 1953 Slater's Dream Samuel Slater Teleplay, Cavalcade of America Slaves of Babylon King Cyrus 1954 King Richard II Harry Percy TV movie Night Must Fall Dan Ponds Theater You Touched Me! Kraft Theatre 1956 The Honor Code Cadet Eddie Garley Teleplay, West Point Miss Mabel Peter Lux Video Theatre 1957 The New Adventures of Martin Kane Bill Wright TV series, episode "The Railroad Story" The Long Christmas Dinner Sam TV adaptation of play 1958 Fiend Without a Face Capt. Al Chester The New Adventures of Charlie Chan Col. Arthur Ross TV series, episode "Safe Deposit" 1962 Lolita Man Final film 1969 Get Smart Shirtsinger TV series, episode "Hurray for Hollywood"