Rene Kirby Passes Away At 70 After Lifelong Fight With Spina Bifida, Was Hospitalised For 2 Months

Shallow Hal actor, Rene Kirby, passed away on July 11, 2025, in Burlington, Vermont, U.S.A, at the age of 70. Rene's brother, Jon, had given the confirmation that the late actor passed away at the University of Vermont Medical Centre. According to Seven Days, Rene was in the hospital for two months as he had kidney, bladder and oesophagus-related issues apart from also succumbing to multiple infections. Kirby earlier had throat cancer, but then had lost the ability to talk after his larynx was removed. Sadly, the actor was born with Spina Bifida.

Rene Kirby used to walk with hands due to the Spina Bifida condition

Rene, since birth, had Spina Bifida, a condition where the spine and spinal cord of the foetus do not close properly early during the pregnancy. It leads to many issues, such as difficulty in walking, paralysis in the legs, and scoliosis. Kirby reportedly used to walk with his hands that he had learnt. Rene's brother, Jon, lived two homes away from his brother in Burlington and told the publication:

"He just showed me that there's no limitations on what anyone can do."

Jon also added that Rene used to always tell him to stand out and not stand up in life. Rene was then seen in the 2003 movie, Stuck On You, where he played the role of 'Phil Rupp', and the film was of the Farrelly brothers. Rene was last seen in a 2005 final episode segment of Carnivale. He was also a carpenter and, along with his brother, had remodelled many homes.

Rene's character in Shallow Hal also had Spina Bifida

Kirby was in the Hollywood industry for more than two decades, but his role in Shallow Hal made him stand out. The Farrelly Brothers' romantic comedy had Jack Black along with Gwyneth Paltrow. Rene's role as 'Walt' was also seen having Spina Bifida and was penned especially for the actor. When director, Peter Farrelly was in the town shooting for Me, Myself and Irene, he saw Kirby walking on all fours. He got to know the actor better, and his role was added to the film. Speaking of Rene, Peter had shared in an interview with the Burlington Free Press that:

"Rene’s a guy we met in real life, on our travels, in Burlington. He’s not the kind of guy you see in a movie. You see him in Burlington, but you don’t see him in the movies. There’s a disconnect there."

Renen Kirby's challenges with Spina Bifida

After working with Farelly on Shallow Hal, Kirby was then cast as 'Phil Rupp' in Stuck On You. He was born on February 27, 1955, back in Burlington, and in his Spina Bifida case, reportedly, the foot of his lower spine was not there and his spine was attached to his legs, which were never developed, so he could never bend his knees. Despite facing such challenges, Kirby surpassed all expectations. A report by the Seven Days revealed that Kirby's parents refused the suggestion of doctors who had told him to use leg braces or use surgical extensions. Rene Kirby's parents wanted him to be independent. His mom used to place his bottle out of his normal reach, which motivated him to find his way.

Team BollywoodShaadis offers condolences to the family of Renen Kirby.

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