The movie industry has always held a special place in its heart for cute animal movies. It's only natural, considering how successful heartwarming movies like Air Bud and Beethoven were.
Over the years, many furry friends have made an appearance on both the small and the silver screen. Of those, only a handful of animal actors remained popular and well-known throughout the years. Animals rarely ever get the spotlight in Hollywood, which makes these super-famous animal actors even more impressive.
Lassie
It's common knowledge that about nine different dogs played the titular role of Lassie during its multi-decade run. Of all the dogs to play Lassie in a movie or a television show, Pal was by far the most popular among casting directors.
His breakout movie, Lassie Come Home, originally wasn't meant to star him. Rather, the role went to a show dog. However, due to issues with the canine star, they chose to use Pal instead. He proved to be incredibly talented at following directions and would continue to star in six other movies as Lassie. He was so famous, that his animal actor's notoriety continued for generations and when he retired, his son took on the family business of being a living, breathing piece of Americana.
Bart the Bear
If you’ve ever seen a live bear being used in a recent movie, chances are that you've seen Bart the Bear doing his role. Bart the Bear was a 1,700-pound brown bear that was trained by one of the best animal trainers in Utah.
During his run in showbiz, he starred in The Great Outdoors and On Deadly Ground alongside major names like Dan Aykroyd, Alec Baldwin, and Anthony Hopkins and he was a very loved animal on Hollywood sets. When he passed, the gentle giant's trainer started the Vital Ground Foundation to honour Bart's memory and lead to charity work through his talent.
Bart's son, also known as Bart the Bear or "Little Bart," continued his family legacy and starred in hit movies like Without a Paddle, Dr. Dolittle 2, and We Bought a Zoo.
The Wizard of Oz was one of the biggest movie hits in Hollywood history and launched Judy Garland to star-level fame. However, she wasn't the only actor on set to get their name known by silver screen fans through this movie.
Terry, the pint-sized terrier who played Toto, also gained his fame here. Despite being so tiny, she had a giant career. This furry little bundle of love also starred along stars like Shirley Temple, and many other big names. Though her career was most active in the 1930s and 1940s, people still remember her. That alone makes her one of the most famous animal actors ever.
Lassie
It's common knowledge that about nine different dogs played the titular role of Lassie during its multi-decade run. Of all the dogs to play Lassie in a movie or a television show, Pal was by far the most popular among casting directors.
His breakout movie, Lassie Come Home, originally wasn't meant to star him. Rather, the role went to a show dog. However, due to issues with the canine star, they chose to use Pal instead. He proved to be incredibly talented at following directions and would continue to star in six other movies as Lassie. He was so famous, that his animal actor's notoriety continued for generations and when he retired, his son took on the family business of being a living, breathing piece of Americana.
Bart the Bear
If you’ve ever seen a live bear being used in a recent movie, chances are that you've seen Bart the Bear doing his role. Bart the Bear was a 1,700-pound brown bear that was trained by one of the best animal trainers in Utah.
During his run in showbiz, he starred in The Great Outdoors and On Deadly Ground alongside major names like Dan Aykroyd, Alec Baldwin, and Anthony Hopkins and he was a very loved animal on Hollywood sets. When he passed, the gentle giant's trainer started the Vital Ground Foundation to honour Bart's memory and lead to charity work through his talent.
Bart's son, also known as Bart the Bear or "Little Bart," continued his family legacy and starred in hit movies like Without a Paddle, Dr. Dolittle 2, and We Bought a Zoo.
The Wizard of Oz was one of the biggest movie hits in Hollywood history and launched Judy Garland to star-level fame. However, she wasn't the only actor on set to get their name known by silver screen fans through this movie.
Terry, the pint-sized terrier who played Toto, also gained his fame here. Despite being so tiny, she had a giant career. This furry little bundle of love also starred along stars like Shirley Temple, and many other big names. Though her career was most active in the 1930s and 1940s, people still remember her. That alone makes her one of the most famous animal actors ever.
Rin Tin Tin
He is one of those famous animal actors that had such a strong legacy, other actors that followed in his footsteps would later be named after him. The original Rin Tin Tin was a dog that was adopted shortly after World War II. His owner, a WWI vet, brought him home from France and taught him how to do tricks. By 1920, he was starring in tons of silent films and helped spread the German Shepherd's reputation as one of the best dog breeds for families.
He was featured in commercials, starred in Where the North Begins, and became an American icon. Though he died in the 1930s, his progeny would continue to survive the Hollywood movie industry. Eventually, one of his descendants would play in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
Golden Cloud was one of the very few famous animal actors to become so well-known for a role, he had his name changed to the character he played.
Anyone who loves old school Western movies or TV shows probably remembers Roy Rogers and that he rode a horse named Trigger. That horse was played by Golden Cloud through the span of the entire Roy Rogers Show franchise.
Golden Cloud was incredibly talented and was known for being able to dance on command. His most impressive trait, though, was that he was housebroken—which allowed Roy Rogers to take him to theatres and for a while, even had his own comic book.
Spike
He was an adopted Golden Retriever that had the fortune of being discovered by Disney executives. Though his name was Spike, most people will recognize him as the titular canine friend from Old Yeller.
His breakout success as a canine actor got him dozens of other roles, including on A Dog from Flanders, The She-Creature, and a multitude of commercials. Spike even had a special appearance on The Mickey Mouse Club due to the sheer number of kids who loved him.
He is one of those famous animal actors that had such a strong legacy, other actors that followed in his footsteps would later be named after him. The original Rin Tin Tin was a dog that was adopted shortly after World War II. His owner, a WWI vet, brought him home from France and taught him how to do tricks. By 1920, he was starring in tons of silent films and helped spread the German Shepherd's reputation as one of the best dog breeds for families.
He was featured in commercials, starred in Where the North Begins, and became an American icon. Though he died in the 1930s, his progeny would continue to survive the Hollywood movie industry. Eventually, one of his descendants would play in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
Golden Cloud was one of the very few famous animal actors to become so well-known for a role, he had his name changed to the character he played.
Anyone who loves old school Western movies or TV shows probably remembers Roy Rogers and that he rode a horse named Trigger. That horse was played by Golden Cloud through the span of the entire Roy Rogers Show franchise.
Golden Cloud was incredibly talented and was known for being able to dance on command. His most impressive trait, though, was that he was housebroken—which allowed Roy Rogers to take him to theatres and for a while, even had his own comic book.
Spike
He was an adopted Golden Retriever that had the fortune of being discovered by Disney executives. Though his name was Spike, most people will recognize him as the titular canine friend from Old Yeller.
His breakout success as a canine actor got him dozens of other roles, including on A Dog from Flanders, The She-Creature, and a multitude of commercials. Spike even had a special appearance on The Mickey Mouse Club due to the sheer number of kids who loved him.
Flipper
"They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning! No one you see, is smarter than he!"
If you read those two lines and immediately thought of the theme song used in Flipper, then congratulations. You already know why the dolphin is one of the most famous animal actors in history.
Gidget
must be one of the only famous animal actors to gain almost all her notoriety from her commercial work. Back in the 1990s, she could be seen in almost every television screen as the "Taco Bell dog." The company ended up making her a household name and she was able to use the fame from her commercial work to star in Legally Blonde and several other major motion pictures later.
"They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning! No one you see, is smarter than he!"
If you read those two lines and immediately thought of the theme song used in Flipper, then congratulations. You already know why the dolphin is one of the most famous animal actors in history.
Gidget
must be one of the only famous animal actors to gain almost all her notoriety from her commercial work. Back in the 1990s, she could be seen in almost every television screen as the "Taco Bell dog." The company ended up making her a household name and she was able to use the fame from her commercial work to star in Legally Blonde and several other major motion pictures later.
