Celebrity Dogs

 

ACE the WONDER DOG

Was a German Shepherd who made Sixteen films and film serials between 1938 and 1949. See his films listed at www.imbd.com/name/nm1211064

AIR BUD – Oscar Winner

The star of Air Bud, (Buddy) a 1997 movie about a dog that could play basketball, was a Golden Retreiver named Ben. At the 1998 Academy Awards Ceremony they honored animals in film. Air Bud (Ben) was named one of the “Greatest Animal Actors of all Time” and received an Honorary Oscar. Debra J. Coe trained Ben for the movie and also trained the “stunt doubles” who were used in the roof and bathtub scenes. www.airbud.com

Sadly Ben died from cancer about a year after the movie was made and all the sequels and spin offs had to find a new dog. In the sequels, Buddy learns how to play different sports: Air Bud: Golden Receiver (football), Air Bud: World Pup (football) Air Bud: Spikes Back (beach volleyball), Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (baseball) Air Buddies, Snow Buddies, Space Buddies and Air Bud: Aussie Rules (rugby).

 

ASTA

Asta, a Wire-Haired Terrier, who’s real name was Skippy was popular in the 1930’s Thin Man movies. He also appeared in “Topper Takes A Trip,” “Bringing Up Baby” and in “The Awful Truth.” Learn more at www.iloveasta.com

BAXTER

Was the name of the dog in the ’08 Will Ferrel movie, Anchorman. Baxter was played by “Peanut” a terrier mix who gets kicked off a bridge in the movie. Not the kind of treatment we like to see in movies.

BENJI

a famous movie dog owned and trained by Frank Inn was actually a mixed breed dog rescued from a shelter in Burbank, CA., Higgins. Higgins, one of the best known dog actors of the 60s and 70s was also the canine star of the popular TV series from 1964 to 1970, Petticoat Junction, when he was known as “Dog”. He had a 14 year career in show business. He starred in the movie "Mooch Goes to Hollywood" and came out of retirement at age 14 to star in the first BENJI movie in 1974. Read more about Benji and movie producer Joe Campo at www.benji.com

BLAIR - FIRST FAMOUS DOG MOVIE STAR

The first dog “Movie Star” (in 1905) was a Collie named Blair that starred in the British movie “Rescued by Rover.” Owned by one of the actors in the movie, Cecil Hepworth, “Rover” rescued a kidnapped baby.

BRUISER

was the constant companion of Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in the hit movies "Legally Blonde" and "Legally Blonde II." Now Legally Blond is a Broadway play starring Laura Bell Bundy. Chico is the Chihuahua who plays "Bruiser" in the play. He’s trained by animal trainer Bill Berloni who also trained "Sandy", the dog in "Annie". Learn how he taught Chico to talk for the conversation between Bruiser and Elle’s friend Margot at: www.playbill.com/news/article107102.html

DEMON

was the dog with devil eyes in "Snow Dogs". He was a Siberian Husky played by real life Husky "D.J". D.J. also played the role of Max in Eight Below.

EDDIE

Eddie, the Jack Russell Terrier in the hit TV series Frasier was the faithful companion of Frasier’s dad, Martin. His real name was Moose and he was a popular star on the series for eight years.

HOOCH

The dog star of Turner & Hooch (with Tom Hanks) was actually named Beasley, an unusual breed called Dogue de Bordeaux.

LASSIE - MOST FAMOUS DOG STAR

Without a doubt Lassie has starred in more movies, TV shows, books, and videos over her career than any other dog star. Stories about Lassie first appeared in the then popular magazine, Saturday Evening Post in 1938. In 1940, author Eric Knight’s publisher printed the first book about Lassie. How did Lassie have such a long career? Puppies! All the Lassie stars where male puppies from the family of the very first Lassie.

LAIKA THE SPACE DOG

Laika became famous around the world when she was put in the Soviet Unions (now Russia) spaceship to orbit the earth back in 1957. The name of the spaceship was Sputnik II. Sadly, there was no way to retrieve Sputnik II from space so Laika never came back with all the wonderful stories she must have had to tell.

PETEY

Another dog with a black ring around his eye (although this one was fake – drawn on by the makeup department) was the dog star of “The Little Rascals” gang. The Little Rascals were stars in the “Our Gang” TV series as well as a lot of movies. Petey was a white American Pit Bull.

RIN TIN TIN

Rin Tin Tin was the United States first dog Movie Star. His first movie, in 1925, was “Where the North Begins.” During World War I an American, Corporal Lee Duncan, rescued the little puppy from a bombed out dog kennel in Lorraine, France. Duncan brought 2 puppies, a male and a female, back to the US. The pups famous name came from a French puppet named Rintintin. Once back in the US with Duncan, Rin Tin Tin was “discovered” at a dog show in California where he amazed everyone with his climbing abilities. For more about the history of Rin Tin Tin and the movies he appeared in visit his official website: www.rintintin.com

SANDY

Sandy was Annie’s adopted (from the streets) dog in the 1977 hit Broadway musical, and subsequent movies of the same name. There’s even a song that Annie sings about Sandy. Animal Trainer Bill Berloni rescued the original Sandy from a New York City shelter. Learn more about Sandy and other dogs he’s trained at www.theatricalanimals.com

SHADOW

The Star of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a Golden Retriever named Bud. He also played “William” in Maybe Baby, “Rusty” in Purely Belter, and “Messenger” in Made in Hong Kong.

SPUDS MacKENZIE

“Spuds” was actually a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with a black circle around one eye, who’s often called the “original party animal.” Her real life name was Honey Tree Evil Eye. She was “adopted” by the Anheuser-Busch Company as a star in their Super Bowl commercial for their product Bud Light Beer in 1987.

TACO BELL DOG

A female Chihuahua, Gidget was the famous “Taco Bell Chihuahua.” She was also in the Movie Legally Blonde, where she played the mother of Elle’s constant companion, Bruiser