Biographie

24 novembre 1911 · Butte, Montana, États-Unis

30 octobre 1985 · Titusville, Floride, États-Unis (accident de la route)

Kirby Grant Hoon Jr.

Kirby Grant was killed in a road accident on Wednesday 30 October 1985 while on his way to watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He was to be honored by the shuttle astronauts for his achievements. The Space Shuttle Challenger was lost three months later on Tuesday 28 January 1986.

His skill as a violinist and a singer won him a scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

The popular TV program Sky King inspired thousands of future pilots across the country. From the late 1970's until his untimely death, Kirby Grant never had to pay for any commercial flights and was automatically bumped up to first class. During flights, the pilots would often invite him up to the cockpit.

After he left show business he became the public relations director for Sea World in Orlando, Florida.

He was chosen as the male winner of Jesse L. Lasky's "Gateway to Hollywood" radio talent search in July, 1939. His reward was membership in the Screen Actor's Guild and the stage name "Robert Stanton", which he used for several years before reverting to his birth name. The female winner of the same contest was a woman named Dorothy Howe who became Virginia Vale.