You know ’em, you love ’em! There are a countless number of dog actors that have gone unrecognized and enough is enough. Here are some classic faces you’re sure to recognize with some facts that you probably didn’t know about them.
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Lassie
This classic character was actually played by a male Collie named Pal from 1954-1971. He was initially a stunt double for the original Lassie and took over the role due to female Collie’s shedding too much while in heat making them look smaller at certain times of the year. After Pal passed away in 1959, his son took over the role and a line of male descendants after that until the series ended in 1971.
Benji
Though the Benji series lasted from the 1970s-2000s, we will be discussing the original Benji from the very first film in 1974. The original Benji was actually named Higgins and was adopted from a shelter in Burbank, CA. Higgins was in show business for 14 years and also starred in the popular TV series of the time, Petticoat Junction.
Pete the Pup
Through his 6 year career in the 1920s, Pal the Wonder Dog played the beloved ‘Pete’ or ‘Petey’ in the comedy series by Hal Roach, Our Gang. You may be more familiar with the 1994 adaptation, The Little Rascals. Pal was born with almost a complete circle around his eye, it was filled in with marker for the show establishing an iconic look for decades to come.
Napoleon
Do you remember this little guy?! Napoleon is a golden retriever puppy who decides he wants to be a wild dog rather than a domesticated pooch and ventures out to pursue this dream. This Australian film came out in 1995 and wasn’t necessarily a Blockbuster, to say the least, but one thing to know about this heart-warming character is it was played by 64 different dogs!
Buddy
Who can forget Buddy from the original Air Bud in 1997? Buddy was trained in multiple sports, including basketball, hockey, baseball, football, and soccer. He was also known for his role as Comet in the TV sitcom Full House!
Wishbone
This beloved character from PBS Kids series Wishbone was played by a Jack Russell Terrier named Soccer. He had an extensive career appearing in multiple commercials for brands like Nike and Mighty Dog Dog Food. This pup was Texas-born and raised on a ranch in Plano, TX.
Rin-Tin-Tin
This internationally renowned German Shepard truly started from the bottom. After some time walking up and down Poverty Row with his owner, he got his first gig as a wolf in The Man from Hell’s River in 1922 and starred in a series motion pictures and advertisements through the 1920s. He even received the key to the city by Mayor Jimmy Walker in New York City and received the most votes for Best Actor at the first Academy Award competition in 1929. Though he did not take home the award due to the Academy wanting to appear more serious, his lovable and heroic character brought joy to audiences around the world.
Balto
This Siberian Husky was a real-life sled dog! He is best known for leading his team for the final leg of the 1925 serum run transporting medicine from Nenana, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. Though he did not receive the recognition he deserved after the legendary race, he is remembered through a series of movies telling his story and immortalizing his character. It is unconfirmed if Balto had a goose and two polar bears as best friends.
Toto
Terry was a female Cairn Terrier who appeared in 16 different movies through the 1920s and worked with many stars including Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. She is best known for her work as ‘Toto’ in The Wizard of Oz. Terry’s salary was $125 a week, which is equivalent to $2,200 a week in 2018. That’s double the current average annual salary in the United States!
Enzo & Moose
Enzo the Jack Russell Terrier was explicitly bred to replace his father, Moose, who played Eddie Crane in the hit TV sitcom Fraiser. He was a joy to work with on the set of the heart wrenching 2000 film My Dog Skip. Enzo’s father even made an appearance in the movie as ‘older Skip’ in a few scenes.
Looking for more dog movies to binge? Check out our post on 5 Underrated Dog Movies You Need to Watch
