Career
He was best known for playing Johnny Travers, the youthful sidekick of Hopalong Cassidy in six films in the 1940s. Kirby was born William B. George in Missouri. He was an aviation cadet in the United States. Army Air Forces during World World War II but does not appear to have served long, as his screen appearances are continuous throughout the war and afterward for several years.
In 1949 he reverted to his real name, Bill George, for his last feature film and his subsequent television roles.
He died at 44 and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery.
