Terry Kilburn

Terence E. Kilburn, known professionally as Terry Kilburn during his early career, was born on 25 November 1926 in West Ham, Essex, England to working‑class parents Tom and Alice Kilburn. After a brief period of unpaid performances as a child, a talent scout discovered his potential while he rehearsed for Eddie Cantor’s radio show, prompting a move to Hollywood with his mother in 1937 and his father the following year. Kilburn’s dreamy, doe‑eyed appearance quickly catapulted him to fame; at eleven he portrayed the iconic Tiny Tim in MGM’s 1938 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, a role that cemented his status as a beloved child star of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He continued to delight audiences as Peter Colley across four generations in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) and starred alongside Freddie Bartholomew in Lord Jeff (1938) and Swiss Family Robinson (1940). His early screen credits also include The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939), A Yank at Eton (1942) and National Velvet (1944), showcasing his versatility from endearing juveniles to earnest supporting characters.

After graduating from high school, Kilburn pursued formal training at UCLA and shifted his focus to the stage, debuting on Broadway in a 1952 revival of Shaw’s Candida under the name Terrance Kilburn. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s he balanced modest film parts—his final screen role was a brief appearance in Lolita (1962)—with a steady stream of television work, appearing in nearly a dozen teleplays and series episodes until 1969. Transitioning behind the curtain, he served as artistic director of Oakland University’s Meadow Brook Theatre from 1970 to 1994, directing classic productions and adapting A Christmas Carol with his longtime partner, actor Charles Nolte, who remained by his side until Nolte’s death in 2010. Since 1994 Kilburn has resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he continues to be celebrated for his enduring contributions to film, theater, and education.