Copyright 2018 by Gary L. Pullman
In
their day, dogs, horses, mules, pigs, and other animals were some of
biggest actors in film. They starred in multi-million-dollar movies,
sharing the silver screen with some of the biggest human stars in the
Hollywood constellation. They also appeared in television series. In
some cases, generations of animal celebrities earned their living as
actors, following in the paw or hoof prints of their famous sires,
dams, and ancestors. Along the way, they won awards and became
famous. Although gone now, their stars still shine in the memories of
millions of moviegoers and TV audiences who watched their exploits
with bated breath and unabashed delight.
They
leave behind their legacies and their monuments, the latter of which
fans still visit to pay their respects and to offer a wreath or a
bouquet of flowers.
In
alphabetical order (as they sometimes say in show business), here are
10 of the biggest celebrity animals and their final resting places.
10
Arnold the Pig (aka Arnold Ziffel)
No,
actor Arnold the Pig (1964-1972), who created the original role of
Arnold Ziffel, was never eaten at a wrap party for the cast and crew
of the TV sitcom Green Acres (1965-1971).
Yes, Arnold was a talented performer. The award-winning actor played
the “son” of Fred (Frank Patterson) and Ethel Ziffel (Barbara
Peppers), neighbors of attorney Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert)
and his socialite wife Lisa (Eva Garbo). The Douglases moved from New
York to a spread near Hooterville to farm. The Ziffels were among the
community's many eccentric residents.
Arnold
Coached
by Frank Inn, could “change . . . television stations. . . drink
using a straw, play cricket . . . , play the piano, deliver letters
and newspapers [,] and even predict the weather.” Arnold carried a
lunch box, and “he was even drafted.” He enjoyed “watching
Walter Cronkite on the CBS
Evening News,”
spoke English and French “fluently,” as well as a smattering of
Japanese, and ordered “mail-order products.” (LINK 1)
In
addition to his role on Green
Acres,
Arnold was a guest on The
Joey Bishop Show
and What's
My Line? He
also reprised his role as the Ziffels' “son” in the TV movie,
Return
to Green Acres
(1990.(LINK 2) Arnold won the 1968 Picture Animal Top Star of the
Year (Patsy) Award, an honor bestowed upon animal actors by the
American Humane Society. (LINK 3)
Although
a rumor suggests Arnold was barbecued and eaten by the cast and crew
of Green
Acres
at the series' wrap party, Inn categorically denied Arnold suffered
any such fate. In fact, the actor was cremated, and his ashes are
interred at Forest
Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, California. (LINK
4)
9
Bamboo Harvester (aka “Mr. Ed”)
Mr. Ed
Bamboo
Harvester (1949-1968) started show business as a “parade and show
horse.” Coached by Les Hilton, Harvester starred as Mr. Ed, in a TV
sitcom of the same name (1958-1966), playing the talking horse of
architect Wilbur Post (Alan Young) and his wife Carol (Connie Hines).
To encourage him to talk, Hilton smeared the insides of Harvester's
lips with peanut butter. As Harvester ate the treat, his mouth moved
in such a way as to appear he was mouthing words. During the series'
run, Harvester played opposite many of Hollywood's brightest stars,
including Leo Durocher, Zsa Zsa Garbo, George Burns, Donna Douglas,
and Clint Eastwood. In 1968, Harvester began to experience health
problems. When he broke a leg, he “was put quietly to sleep without
publicity.” Thereafter, a stand-in posed for studio “publicity
photos.” (LINK 5)
Harvester
won Picture Animal Top Star of the Year (Patsy) Awards in 1962, 1963,
1964, and 1965. (LINK 6)
He
is buried at Krasnodar Farm, Atahualpa, Oklahoma. (LINK 7)
8
Golden Cloud (aka “Trigger”)
Galloping
Western trails alongside Dale Evans' gelding Buttermilk, Roy Rogers'
golden palomino starred in The Roy Rogers Show,
a TV Western series, and in all 81 of the films his human costars
made. When Smiley Burnett, a member of the the TV series' cast,
suggested the horse, Golden Cloud, was “quick on the trigger,”
Rogers changed his name. Born in San Diego, California, Cloud
(1932-1965) also appeared, with Olivia de Havilland, in The
Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).
Little Trigger, a look-a-like, stood in for Cloud during promotional
events. (LINK 8)
Trigger
Cloud
had a 20-year career in film. Cloud also won a Patsy Award in 1953.
LINK 9)
After
his demise, Cloud was stuffed and stood alongside Buttermilk and the
Rogers' dog, Bullet, who also appeared in their TV series and motion
pictures, as the main exhibits in the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in
Victorville, California. The museum was moved to Branson, Missouri,
but closed in 2009, and its contents, including Cloud, Buttermilk,
and Bullet, were sold at auction. Cloud and Bullet found a new home
with “Patrick
Gottsch, founder and President of RFD-TV, a cable network based in
Nebraska.” (LINK 10)
7
Higgins (aka “Benji”)
Described
by CBS as “the most appealing short star since Dustin Hoffman”
and as “the Lawrence Olivier of the dog world” by The
New York Daily News, motion
picture superstar Higgins, who is better known by his stage name
Benji (1957-1975), was homeless before he made it big in Hollywood.
Before he got his big break, he spent many nights in a Beverly Hills
shelter (LINK 11)
A
protege of acting coach Frank Inn, Higgins' ancestry is unclear. He
may have descended from Tibetan terriers and spaniels. Before making
his way to Los Angeles, Higgins lived “on the streets” in Pass
Christian, Mississippi. To win the coveted role as the star of the
original Benji
film, he auditioned many times, competing against other actors from a
number of big cities. Finally, Higgins was selected from the
resulting “three finalists.” (LINK 12)
Prior
to becoming a featured star, Higgins appeared in an unaccredited role
on the TV sitcom Petticoat
Junction
(1963-1970). (LINK 13) In Benji,
Higgins was able to bring his own experience to the role. He had been
homeless, and, in the movie Benji
(1974), he plays a “stray” who saves “two kidnapped children.”
Benji
Although
Higgins passed away in 1974, his appearance in the original film of
the series paved the way for other canine actors who took his stage
name. Three in all, these other “Benjis” had starring roles in
numerous movies, the TV series Benji,
Ax & the Alien Prince
(1983), and the documentary The
Phenomenon of Benji
(1978). (LINK 14) Upon his death, Higgins was cremated. His urn is
buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles,
California. (LINK 15)
6
Molly (aka “Francis the Talking Mule”)
The
actress Molly is best known for her starring role as Francis the
Talking Mule in a series of motion pictures based on the novel
Francis
by David Stern III. Molly was selected because she was easy to
direct, or “handle.” (LINK 16)
Coached
by the famous Will Rogers and his assistant, Les Hilton, Molly was,
in 1950, the first star ever to receive the prestigious Patsy Award.
She won additional Patsy Awards in 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957.
She also won the 1953 Award of Excellence. (LINK 17) To assist her in
talking, Hilton threaded Molly's mouth with a string; “when when
tugged, [it] gave the impression that she was speaking.” (LINK 18)
Francis
From
1950 to 1956, Francis starred in six Francis
movies.
Her costars were some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time:
Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, David Jansen, Leonard Nimby, Gail
Gordon, Assure Pitts, Chill Wills, Jim Backus, Clint Eastwood, Mickey
Rooney, Paul Free, and Richard Deacon. The movies launched a line of
successful Dell comic books. (LINK 19) In 1952, she also guest
starred on the TV game show What's
My Line?
(LINK 20)
Molly's
final resting place is unknown, although she may have been cremated.
(LINK 21)
5
Pal (aka “Lassie”)
The
original Lassie was a male Rough Collie named Pal (1940-1958). He had
a tough time as a puppy. At 8 months old, he wasn't housebroken, and
he was unruly. His owner said he chased motorcycles, chewed up the
family's belongings, and barked incessantly. He left Pal with Rudy
Weatherwax who, with his brother Frank, had just opened Studio
Dog Training School. Although Weatherwax broke Pal of all his bad
habits except chasing motorcycles, his owner decided he didn't want
him back, and Weatherwax agreed to adopt him, in lieu of the $10 fee
he was supposed to have been paid for training Pal. (LINK 22)
Lassie
When
Weatherwax learned MGM was looking for a collie to star in a film,
Weatherwax took Pal to the audition, but he wasn't asked to perform.
After a nationwide search, MGM hired another dog for the part, but he
experienced stage fright. Weatherwax took Pal to see the movie's
producer, Fred M. Wilcox, and, after a successful audition and screen
test, Pal received a contract. (LINK 23)
He
didn't start out as a star, though. He had to work his way up. He
started show business as a stunt dog. However, his performance
upstaged the female dog who played Lassie, and Pal was cast in the
lead role. He debuted as an actor in Lassie
Come Home
(1943), starring in five other movies and in two pilots for the
Lassie
TV series. In Lassie
Come Home,
Pal's co-star was Elizabeth Taylor, but Pal was paid twice her
salary. Blind and deaf during his last year, Pal died in 1958. (LINK
24) Nearly all the dogs to have assumed his role since his demise
have been his descendants. (LINK 25)
Besides
Lassie Come Home,
Pal also starred in Son
of Lassie (1945),
Courage of Lassie
(1946), Hills of Home
(1948), The Sun Comes Up (1949),
Challenge to Lassie
(1950), and The
Painted Hills (1951).
(LINK 26) Pal won the 1951 Award of Excellence and two Patsy TV
awards (1958 and 1959). In 1960, “Lassie” was honored with “her”
own star on the Hollywood Walk of fame. (LINK 27)
Pal
was laid to rest on Weatherwax's ranch. (LINK 28)
4
Rintintin (aka Rin Tin Tin)
Originally
named Rintintin (1918-1932), after a puppet, “Rinty” was found by
American serviceman Lee Duncan in 1918, inside a “mostly
destroyed dog kennel” on a World War I battlefield in Lorraine,
France. The two had something in common: both were orphans. (LINK 29)
His
name changed to Rin Tin Tin, Linty first appeared in The Man from
Hell's River (1922), playing a
wolf, and starred in many movies thereafter. When he died, his son,
Rin Tin Tin, Jr, and his descendants followed his lead, starring, as
“Rin Tin Tin” in additional films. (LINK 30)
Rin Tin Tin
Rin
Tin Tin starred in The Man from Hell's River
(1922), Where The North Begins (1923),
Shadows of the North
(1923), Clash of the Wolves
(1925), A Dog of the Regiment
(1927), and Tiger Rose
(1929). (LINK 31) Rin Tin Tin is one of the few canine actors to have
earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (LINK 32)
Upon
his death, Rin Tin Tin's body was returned to his homeland, and he is
buried in Lie aux Chiens (Cimetiere Des Chiens),
Asnieres-sur-Seine, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Ile-de-France,
France. The inscription on his headstone reads “Rin Tin Tin: La
Grande Vedette du Cinema” (Rin Tin Tin: the Superstar of the
Cinema.”) (LINK 33)
3
Soda (aka “Buttermilk”)
Despite
a shaky start, Soda (1941-1972) had a storied life. As a nameless
colt, he was headed to the slaughterhouse when Glenn Randall, a
farmer, rescued him. The “severely abused” colt was half-wild.
Named Soda by his rescuer, he came around after some tender, loving
care. When Dale Evans needed a gentler horse than the one she rode in
The Roy Rogers Show, starring
her and her husband, Roy Rogers, Randall introduced her to Soda. He
became her new horse, and she renamed him Buttermilk, after a Hoary
Carmichael song, “Ole Buttermilk Sky.” They were together from
then on. A quarter horse, he upstaged Rogers' horse, Trigger, unless
Dale held him back. (LINK 34)
In
addition to The Roy Rogers Show,
Soda starred in several of Rogers and Evans' movies.
Buttermilk
After
Soda's death, his hide was mounted on a plaster likeness, and he was
displayed alongside Rogers' stuffed horse Golden Cloud (aka Trigger)
and their dog Bullet in the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Orville,
California, which was later relocated to Branson, Missouri. In 2009,
the museum closed, (LINK 35) and Soda was “sold for $25,000.00 at
the NYC Christie’s Auction, when the Roy Rogers estate was
liquidated in 2010.” (LINK 36)
2
Terry (aka “Toto”)
Terry
(1935-1945)
starred in many major motion pictures, but she is perhaps best known
for her portrayal of Dorothy Gale's Cairn terrier Toto in the MGM
classic movie
The
Wizard of Oz.
Terry was abandoned in 1935 at Carl Spitz's Hollywood
Dog Training School, and Spitz became her acting coach, using hand
signals to cue the pooch as to what to do on the set. She first
appeared in an uncredited role in Ready
For Love,
a Paramount romantic comedy, before her big break, a part in Bright
Eyes (1934),
starring Shirley Temple. Her star launched, Terry next appeared in
films with such superstars as Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.
Everlasting fame came her way in 1939, when, out of thousands of
competing actors, she was cast to portray Toto, opposite Judy
Garland. She became so identified with this role that her name was
changed from Terry to Toto. (LINK 37)
Toto
In addition to the many uncredited roles she had, Terry starred in Barefoot Boy (1938) and The Wizard of Oz (1939). (LINK 38)
Terry
passed away in 1945 and was buried behind Spitz's home. When the
Ventura Freeway was expanded, CalTrans purchased Spitz's property,
and the burial ground was destroyed. A cenotaph (a marker erected
someplace other than the deceased is buried) in Hollywood Forever
Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, honors Terry's memory. A statue of
the canine actor stands atop the structure. The inscription reads,
“In Memory of Toto. We give you this new home 53 years later, as
'There's No Place Like Home.' Rest in Peace, Dear Friend.” (LINK
39)
1
Wahana (aka “Flicka”)
Another
award-winning TV star better known by her stage name, Flicka, than by
her given name, Wahana (1950-1968) starred in the TV series My
Friend Flicka
(1955-1956). A lot was riding on her, because the show was “20th
Century-Fox’s very first venture into television production.”
Wahana proved up to the task, and My
Friend Flicka, one
of the first TV series filmed and broadcast in color, became a hit,
first on CBS and then on NBC. Major talents, such as Hugh Beaumont,
Claude Akins, Denver Pyle, and John Carradine starred alongside
Wahana. (LINK 40) In 1957, for her role as Flicka,Wahanna, a Les
Hilton protege, won the coveted Patsy Award, “the animal equivalent
of the 'Oscar'.” (LINK 41)
Flicka
One
of 20th Century-Fox's stable of stars, Wahana enjoyed the perks of
stardom, being cast “in the love scenes while her stunt double got
to take the falls.” After retiring from show business, Wahana lived
on a ranch until her demise. Wahana had two offspring, a stallion,
Hanabu, born March 11, 1961, and a mare, Ross Flicka, born March 16,
1962. Wahana died delivering her third foal. Tragically, the foal
also died a few days later. (LINK 42) Wahana is believed to have been
buried at the Saueressig Ranch, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she
spent her retirement years. (LINK 43)
LINK
11: http://benji.com/
LINK
14: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071206/
LINK
29:
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2011/09/24/140746523/rin-tin-tin-from-battlefield-to-hollywood-a-story-of-friendship
LINK
38: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1206094/
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