6 adorably talented animal actors who stole our hearts
As long as there have been actors, there have been animal actors – even the ancient Greeks enlisted the help of their four-legged friends on stage – but we reckon these six furry stars are simply unbeatable.
Pal
While “Pal” may not sound too familiar, we bet “Lassie” does! The rough collie was the first dog ever to portray the iconic pooch, starring in the 1943 film Lassie Come Home and the two pilot episodes for the Lassie TV series. She passed away in 1958 at the ripe old age of 18 and her descendants continued to carry on her legacy in the Lassie franchise.
Bart the Bear
If you saw a bear in any movie in the 80s or 90s, chances are it was Bart the Bear. The 680kg Alaskan Kodiak bear appeared in such films as The Bear (for which he was reportedly nominated for an Oscar!), White Fang, Legends of the Fall and The Edge. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 23. Trainers Doug and Lynne later named their next adopted bear after Bart.
Terry
Who could forget this little cairn terrier? Terry the dog was hugely busy in the 30s and 40s, appearing in more than a dozen films. Her most notable role, however, was as Dorothy’s dog Toto in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, for which the pint-sized talent earned $125 a week – that’s more than many of her human co-stars! She lived to the age of 11.
Rin Tin Tin
Perhaps the most well-known four-legged film star of all time, Rin Tin Tin the German Shepherd was a worldwide star, appearing in 27 films in his nearly 14 years of life. The pup came from humble beginnings, rescued by an American soldier in WWI. He passed away in 1932, but his bloodline still continues today.
Crystal
Twenty-two-year-old capuchin monkey Crystal began her career in 1997 in George of the Jungle and continues to appear regularly in film and on television. Some of her most notable roles include appearances in the Night at the Museum movies, The Hangover Part II (and Part III) and Animal Practice.
Uggie
You’d have a hard time finding a more talented pooch than Uggie the Jack Russel terrier. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, his roles definitely will – most famously in The Artist, for which he received the Palm Dog Award (an annual award given to dog actors) at the Cannes Film Festival. There was even a social media campaign to get him an Oscar nomination! Sadly, Uggie died last year at the age of 13.
How many of these furry talents have you seen on the big (or small) screen? Let us know in the comment section below.
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