Rene Kirby, a Vermont resident whose unexpected meeting with a film director changed his life from corporate worker to Hollywood performer, passed away July 11, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont. He was 70 years old.
Born February 27, 1955, to Don and Janet Kirby, Rene was diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition affecting spine and spinal cord formation during fetal development. While doctors suggested braces to stretch his underdeveloped legs, his parents opted for a different approach. Janet created her own approach, positioning the bottles at a distance from her baby, which motivated him to reach for them independently. Before age one, Rene had mastered moving using his hands.
The second child among seven siblings in Burlington, Rene was surrounded by his family who watched his extraordinary journey. Jon, his youngest brother, lived two houses away and witnessed how Rene handled life’s obstacles. Jon explained that Rene’s condition initially caused him to be L-shaped and unable to lie flat, but this never weakened his resolve.
During high school, Rene captured state championships in gymnastics, swimming, and skiing, demolishing beliefs about what people with spina bifida could achieve athletically. From age 10, he traveled in Burlington on a custom three-wheeled bicycle built by an Essex machinist, becoming a familiar and inspiring presence for residents who observed him moving independently. His IBM career lasted twenty years before he made a surprising move into entertainment.
The life-changing event occurred one evening in 1999 at a Burlington establishment when director Peter Farrelly, working on “Me, Myself and Irene,” met Rene during an informal night out. Their discussion uncovered something extraordinary about this Vermont local that captivated the Hollywood professional, who recognized an authentic character that traditional cinema seldom featured.
This encounter led to Rene’s casting in “Shallow Hal,” the 2001 romantic comedy that became his most notable performance. He played Walt, a role mirroring his spina bifida condition. Collaborating with Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jason Alexander, Rene brought authenticity to sequences that highlighted the film’s message about discovering inner beauty beyond physical appearance.
The director later shared thoughts about what made Rene unique. Farrelly told the Burlington Free Press in 2023 that Rene was someone they encountered in real life during Burlington travels, describing him as not the type typically seen in movies. He noted that while you might see Rene in a town like Burlington, you don’t see him in the cinema, highlighting the gap between Hollywood’s casting and real-world representation.
“Shallow Hal” proved to be a financial success, earning $141 million worldwide. Rene worked again with the Farrelly brothers on 2003’s “Stuck on You,” starring Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear as connected twins. He played Phil Rupp, showing increasing confidence. His final screen appearance occurred through HBO’s “Carnivàle” in 2005, portraying Hoppy in a “The Road to Damascus” episode.
Beyond entertainment, Rene engaged in carpentry with brother Jon, helping with home renovations throughout Vermont. These projects required coordination, technical expertise, and problem-solving that challenged assumptions about what individuals with spina bifida could achieve in hands-on work.
Rene’s outlook on disability influenced how others understood both him and their restrictions. In a 2008 television conversation with Seven Days, he expressed his viewpoint. He described that moving on his hands was simply what he’d always known, and he had never thought of himself as disabled, representing his lifelong refusal to accept limitations.
This attitude motivated everyone who met Rene throughout Burlington and beyond. Residents characterized him as someone who greeted each day with excitement rather than defeat, demonstrating that physical obstacles don’t reduce life’s opportunities.
Later years brought health difficulties challenging Rene’s strength. Throat cancer demanded treatments, eventually requiring voice box removal. This operation ended his speaking ability, creating communication barriers that he approached with determination. Sister Cheryl St. Amour verified that while Rene fought the cancer successfully, the treatment consequences seriously affected his life quality.
Physical deterioration became obvious during the final months. Jon noticed his brother could no longer climb onto his cherished bicycle by fall 2024, describing that Rene couldn’t manage to get on it anymore. This represented a pivotal shift for someone whose movement and self-reliance had characterized his Burlington identity.
The ultimate health crisis affected multiple body systems, producing a complicated medical situation that overwhelmed Rene’s extraordinary endurance. He received treatment during his final two months at Vermont Medical Center, where doctors addressed infections and complications impacting his esophagus, kidneys, and bladder. These issues, combined with spina bifida and cancer treatments, became too difficult to overcome.
Jon’s reflections revealed Rene’s impact on others. Jon stated that Rene regularly showed that there are no restrictions on what anyone can accomplish, a teaching that reached beyond their family to affect everyone who knew him. Jon recalled that Rene frequently told people that you don’t have to stand up to stand out, summarizing his conviction that real distinction develops from inner characteristics.
Rene leaves behind his mother, Janet; his brothers, Ric, Daryl, and Jon; his sisters, Donn, Cheryl, and Jean; and other family members. His father died three years earlier. A memorial gathering is planned for August 21 from 4-6 p.m. at Ready Funeral Home South Chapel. Instead of flowers, the family recommends donating to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
