Kevin Corcoran | |
|---|---|
 Corcoran inSavage Sam (1963) | |
| Born | Kevin Anthony Corcoran (1949-06-10)June 10, 1949 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Died | October 6, 2015(2015-10-06) (aged 66) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Other names | "Moochie" |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1954–2009 |
| Known for | The Shaggy Dog Swiss Family Robinson Toby Tyler |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Donna Corcoran (sister) Noreen Corcoran (sister) Kelly Corcoran (brother) |
Kevin Anthony "Moochie"Corcoran (June 10, 1949 – October 6, 2015) was an Americanchild actor. He appeared in numerousDisney projects between 1957 and 1963, leading him to be honored as aDisney Legend in 2006.
Born in 1949 inSanta Monica, California, Corcoran was one of eight children. His father, William "Bill" Corcoran Sr. was a police officer and then director of maintenance atMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Corcoran's mother, the former Kathleen McKenney, was, like her husband, a native ofQuincy, Massachusetts.[1]
Between 1956 and 1960, Corcoran played several different (but similar) characters, each bearing the nickname "Moochie". Although he was never a Mouseketeer, Corcoran appeared in threeMickey Mouse Club serials, beginning withAdventure in Dairyland, where he played Moochie McCandless, a farmer's son.[2] This was the first of Corcoran's many Disney credits. He soon returned, as Montgomery (Moochie) O'Hara, in twoSpin and Marty serials,The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty andThe New Adventures of Spin and Marty.[2]
Corcoran appeared in a Mouseketeer outfit with the name Moochie across his chest just once. InDisneyland: The Fourth Anniversary Show (1957), "Mouseketeer" Moochie repeatedly badgersWalt Disney for information aboutZorro.[2] Also on the fourth anniversary show, aired on September 11, 1957, segments were shown ofThe Rainbow Road to Oz, a proposed live-action film about characters in theLand of Oz. Inspired byL. Frank Baum's Oz books, the film was to star some of the Mouseketeers, includingDarlene Gillespie as Dorothy andAnnette Funicello as Ozma, as well asTommy Kirk and Corcoran.[3]
Continuing his fictional Moochie roles, Corcoran played Montgomery "Moochie" Daniels in the 1959 Disney filmThe Shaggy Dog. He also starred as Moochie Morgan inMoochie of the Little League (1959) andMoochie of Pop Warner Football (1960), both for the Disney anthology series.Character actor Russ Conway played his father.[2]
In each iteration, Moochie likes to hang out with the older "guys" (big brother Wilby inThe Shaggy Dog, the title characters inSpin and Marty), and hates being treated like the little kid he is. His determination to emulate elder peers despite adult warnings (swimming, helping Wilby, even switch-hitting) frequently gets him in trouble, but Moochie's bravado always returns soon afterward. Film writer Donald Liebenson has called Corcoran's character "part All-American boy and part hellion."[4]
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, inToby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus (1960). He also starred in Disney'sJohnny 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:
Kevin Corcoran andTommy Kirk played brothers in five films, beginning with 1957'sOld Yeller, and Kevin always played the role of a rambunctious animal lover who would try to catch and befriend various animals, ranging from cuddly puppies to dangerous animals like tigers and bears. The other films in this category wereThe Shaggy Dog (1959),Swiss Family Robinson (1960),Bon Voyage! (1962) andSavage Sam (sequel toOld Yeller, 1963).Fred MacMurray played their father inThe Shaggy Dog andBon Voyage!;Dorothy McGuire played their mother inOld Yeller andSwiss Family Robinson.
In 1961, he did the voice of Goofy Jr. in the animated shortAquamania. He played a role inWagon Train in the episode "The Cassie Vance Story".
Corcoran largely retired from acting afterA Tiger Walks, although he also appeared in the 1968 filmBlue in a minor role. In an interview for the DVD release ofThe Shaggy Dog, he credits his studio teachers with having prepared him well for his college studies.
Corcoran graduated fromCalifornia State University, Northridge with a degree intheatre arts. After this, he returned to Disney, this time working behind the camera as an assistant director and producer. His credits from this era includeSuperdad (1973),The Island at the Top of the World (1974) andPete's Dragon (1977). He also worked onThe New Mickey Mouse Club (1977). He was an associate producer onTreasure of Matecumbe (1976), on the sequelReturn from Witch Mountain (1978) and onThe North Avenue Irregulars (1979). He co-producedHerbie Goes Bananas (1980), and was the producer of the comedy television seriesHerbie, the Love Bug (1982) andZorro and Son (1983). Corcoran's later contributions to Disney included commentaries and interviews on such Disney DVD releases asThe Shaggy Dog andPollyanna.
He also served as first assistant director on several non-Disney television series, includingScarecrow and Mrs. King,Quantum Leap,Profiler andKaren Sisco; and produced a number of projects. Over the course of his tenure on theAngela Lansbury seriesMurder, She Wrote, he was credited as first assistant director, assistant producer, and director.
Kevin Corcoran was the brother ofDonna Corcoran,Noreen Corcoran, Hugh Corcoran, Brian Corcoran, Kerry Corcoran, andKelly Corcoran. 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.
Kevin Corcoran and his wife, Laura Soltwedel, were married from 1972 until his death on October 6, 2015.[5]
Corcoran was diagnosed withcolorectal cancer at age 60. He died from this illness at age 66 on October 6, 2015. His remains were cremated by theNeptune Society, and his ashes were scattered into thePacific Ocean ten days later.[6]
Kevin Corcoran was honored as aDisney Legend on October 9, 2006. Among the other recipients at the 2006 ceremony were the two lead actors in Corcoran'sSpin and Marty serials,Tim Considine andDavid Stollery, and Corcoran's frequent co-star,Tommy Kirk, who was a veteran ofThe Mickey Mouse Club serials aboutThe Hardy Boys.[7]
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