1961. His career never again reached its former heights, but he did register featured guest appearances on Gimme a Break with Nell Carter, What's Happening Now!!, Crazy Like a Fox, and 227. In 1983 he did a USO tour with Bob Hope to entertain the troops in Beirut, Lebanon as part of the multinational peacekeeping force. Imprisonment Arrested in 1977 for selling cocaine and heroin to an undercover officer, Kirby served three and a half years in prison. After his release, he visited schools to tell students to stay off drugs. Death Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in his later years, Kirby made his last public appearance at an all-star benefit in May 1995 given by his friends for his mounting medical bills. On September 30, 1995, Kirby died of Parkinson's disease at a nursing home in Las Vegas. He was survived by his wife, Rosemary. References External links 1923 births 1995 deaths African-American male actors African-American male comedians 20th-century African-American male singers American rhythm and blues musicians American male comedians American impressionists (entertainers) American male television actors Argo Records artists Neurological disease deaths in Illinois Deaths from Parkinson's disease Male actors from Chicago 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers Comedians from Illinois 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American male singers