Laton was born to William Mayberry Kirk and Minnie Matilda Stubbs. Laton Riley married Stefanie "Bertha" Eichler they had 5 children.

Layton, Dolores,Barbra June, Patsy, Laton. He starred in 2 Gene Autry movies Gold Town Ghost Riders and Riders of Ghost Town. He had roles in Wagon Train & Death Valley Days,

4 episodes, 1952-1953

- Land of the Free (1953) ... Dr. Henry Cabell (as Kirk Riley)

- The Bell of San Gabriel (1953) ... Don Pedro (as Kirkley Riley)

- The Lost Pegleg Mine (1952) ... DeCourcey (uncredited)

- How Death Valley Got Its Name (1952) ... James Arcane (as Kirkley Riley) also had parts in movie Bend in the River 1952 filmed in Oregon as an extra, and How The West Was Won as an extra. He was the grand Marshal in several parades in Portland Oregon, He rode his horse Flash and Beauty in several of the Rose Parades during the 1950s. He was a kind generous man. He had beautiful thick red hair with bright green eyes, he adored his family. He and his wife Bertha, owned the Sunny Side Store across from the grange next to Carl Otts. He had a radio show on KOIN the early days and Lucky K ranch where he sang with his daughter Patsy Ruth Kirk Compton. He was an accomplished cowboy. Laton and his wife Bertha owned a little grocery store at 13175 SE Sunnyside road in Clackamas Oregon. It was there home and business until their deaths.