Old Yeller star Kevin Corcoran, who went on to become a producer on Sons Of Anarchy and The Shield, dies aged 66 after cancer battle

Published: 18:38 EST, 7 October 2015 | Updated: 20:02 EST, 7 October 2015

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Kevin Corcoran, who played the youngest brother in Old Yeller, has died aged 66.

The former child actor who went on to become a successful producer, passed away on Tuesday after a five-year battle with colorectal cancer.

His wife Laura, to whom he was married since 1972, confirmed the sad news to The Hollywood Reporter.

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RIP: Kevin Corcoran, who played the youngest brother in Old Yeller, passed away on Tuesday aged 66

Born in Santa Monica California in 1949, Corcoran was one of eight siblings who all acted in the 50s and 60s.

He appeared in several Disney films between the age of eight and 14, bizarrely almost always playing a character nicknamed 'Moochie', even though they were different roles every time.

One of his most famous roles was Arliss Coates, the youngest brother of Travis - played by Tommy Kirk - in the classic tear-jerker Old Yeller.

Runs in the family: Born in Santa Monica California in 1949, Corcoran was one of eight siblings who all acted in the 50s and 60s (pictured right in 2006)

It is Arliss whom the rabid dog attempts to bite which forces Travis to shoot the beloved family pet in one of Hollywood's most infamous heartbreaking scenes.

The twosome went on to play brothers in several more Disney classics including The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, and Bon Voyage! as well as reuniting for the Old Yeller sequel Savage Sam.

With more than two dozen acting credits under his belt by age 19, he decided to give up working in front of the camera, and sought out a career behind it instead.

Something in my eye: One of his most famous roles was in the classic tear-jerker as Arliss Coates, whom the rabid Old Yeller attempts to bite, which causes the beloved family pet to be put down in one of Hollywood's most heart-breaking scenes

In a 2012 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he described reading for a part shortly after he made what would be his final film - Blue - in 1968.

'I got called in to read for a picture,' he said. 'Usually they would give you pages from the script, let you know what the character is like.

'But this director and producer said they wanted to hear about my version of the character. I said, "Well, what is this character about?" And they fumbled around because they didn't know. Then it hit me. You know what? I know more about making movies than the guy making this picture. I'm done acting.

Child star: the actor appeared in dozens of films in the late 50s and early 60s, including Pollyanna opposite Hayley Mills

'I left that meeting and called my agent. I said, "Thanks a lot, but no more auditions. I'm done".'

Corcoran went on to become an assistant director on the likes of Quantum Leap, Baywatch and Murder, She Wrote, and worked as a co-producer on The Shield and Sons Of Anarchy right up to 2011.

In 2006 he received the Disney Legend award for his prolific career with the studio.