These Animal Actors Were the Best in Showbiz

From commercials to TV shows and movies, these animal actors have not only entertained us but have added to the very fabric of American culture.

From commercials to TV shows and movies, these animals have not only entertained us but have added to the very fabric of American culture. They excelled at what they did, and on top of that, they were incredibly adorable!

Meet 30 of the most popular animal actors of all time.

Rin Tin Tin

Wikimedia Commons

Years lived: 1918-1932

Born in: Flirey, France

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “The Man from Hell’s River,” “My Dad,” “Where the North Begins,” “Shadows of the North,” among many others

Why Rin Tin Tin Is One of the Best

Wikimedia Commons

Even a hundred years after his peak in popularity, Rin Tin Tin is widely regarded as the most famous animal actor of all time and was so well-loved during the silent film era that he pulled Warner Brothers Studios out of financial ruin and made a major player in Hollywood. He also came close to winning a best actor Oscar.

Rin Tin Tin’s legacy continued throughout the television era, with the 1950’s classic, “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.” Today, Rin Tin Tin No. 12, a descendant of the original dog on his maternal side, makes appearances around the country and is a spokesdog for the American Humane Association (AHA) Red Star Emergency Services program.

Pal

MGM / IMDb

Years lived: 1940-1958

Born in: North Hollywood, California

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Lassie Come Home,” “Son of Lassie,” “Courage of Lassie,” among many others

Why Pal Is One of the Best

Wikimedia Commons

The first dog to play Lassie, Pal was actually a male who sired a line of dogs that continue to play the character he originated to this day. This athletic, intelligent dog began his career in 1943’s “Lassie Come Home” opposite A-listers Roddy McDowell and Elizabeth Taylor.

It was a hit with critics and audiences alike and even made “best movie” lists for that year. Pal’s performance helped MGM turn Lassie into a bonafide star; in fact, Variety named her one of the “100 Icons of the Century” — the only animal character to make the list!

Bamboo Harvester

CBS / IMDb

Years lived: 1949-19470

Born in: Los Angeles, California

Animal type: Horse

Starred in: “Mr. Ed”

Why Bamboo Harvester Is One of the Best

Wikimedia Commons

If anyone says the words “talking horse,” who else would you think of other than Mr. Ed? The sitcom was a smash for a decade — audiences couldn’t get enough of Mr. Ed’s gift of gab, which was initially achieved with a string to flip his upper lip.

Over the years, Bamboo Harvester was taught to wag his lips with a touch of his hoof. When he was done playing his role, he’d simply walk off set, and the production would call it quits for the day. Now, that’s a true Hollywood star!

Keiko

Warner Bros. / IMDb

Years lived: 1976-2003

Born in: Captured near Iceland

Animal type: Whale

Starred in: “Free Willy,” “Keiko: The Untold Story,” “The Whale Who Would Not Be Freed”

Why Keiko Is One of the Best

Berkeley Library

While Keiko is known largely for his starring role in “Free Willy,” he left a much greater impact on the world by shining a light on the terrible living conditions of orcas in captivity.

Despite movie success, his life was hard — he suffered from a weakened immune system after living in a too small tank in Mexico. He was flown to Oregon in 1996, moved to a sea pen in 1998 and released back into the wild after over 20 years of captivity. But he could never fully adapt to life in the wild — he died in 2003 off the coast of Norway.

Bart the Bear

Columbia Pictures / IMDb

Years lived: 1977-2000

Born in: Baltimore, Maryland

Animal type: Bear

Starred in: “White Fang,” “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” “On Deadly Ground,” “Legends of the Fall,” “12 Monkeys,” among many others

Why Bart the Bear Is One of the Best

Columbia Pictures / IMDB

At 9-foot-6 and weighing about 1,500 pounds, Bart the Bear starred in dozens of film and TV roles. This gentle giant was praised for his acting abilities and temperament by his fellow co-stars, including Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins and has made it onto several lists of the greatest animal actors.

Bart’s lasting legacy is his trainers’ devotion to conservation. In 1990, they established the Vital Ground Foundation to benefit grizzlies from Idaho to Alaska and have since expanded it to include over 600,000 acres of protected land where bears can roam free.

Moose

fandom.com

Years lived: 1990-2006

Born in: Orlando, Florida

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Frasier”

Why Moose Is One of the Best

Moose, who played Eddie Crane on “Frasier,” was the show’s breakout star when it debuted in 1993. He was so popular, he landed on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, and his fellow stars could not stop raving about him. John Mahoney once said: “He’s probably the most disciplined cast member.” Jane Leeves agreed: “He’s amazing, the things he can do.”

The show’s human star, Kelsey Grammer, however, apparently didn’t like being upstaged and at one point exclaimed, “He’s not an actor, he’s a dog!” When Eddie passed away, his role was taken over by his son, Enzo.

Jimmy the Raven (aka, Jimmy the Crow)

Wikimedia Commons

Years lived: 1938-1954

Born in: Mojave Desert, California

Animal type: Bird

Starred in: “You Can’t Take It With You,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “It’s A Wonderful Life”

Why Jimmy the Raven Is One of the Best

MGM / IMDb

Jimmy has over a thousand screen credits and starred in films with some of the biggest names from the Golden Age of Hollywood, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart ,Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. He became so popular he would often get screen credit as “Jimmy the Crow,” and the studio even insured him for $10,000.

Jimmy Stewart called him, “the smartest actor on the set,” because he needs less retakes than the rest of the cast.

Terry

Wikimedia Commons

Years lived: 1933-1945

Born in: Chicago, Illinois

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Women,” “Bad Little Angel,” among many others

Why Terry Is One of the Best

The Wizard of Oz / Facebook

Aside from Rin Tin Tin, there is no better known animal on this list. During her legendary turn as Dorothy’s witch-fighting sidekick, Toto, in “The Wizard of Oz,”she received a $125 a week salary, which was more than many Munchkins made. She suffered a sprained foot when one of the witch’s guards stepped on her and had to take some time off but returned to set just in time to accompany Dorothy back to Kansas.

Terry officially became Toto, and she made 17 other films before she died in 1945. She is the only dog to have a memorial stone in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Golden Cloud (aka, Trigger)

Wikimedia Commons

Years lived: 1934-1965

Born in: San Diego, California

Animal type: Horse

Starred in: “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “Man from Cheyenne,” “San Fernando Valley”, among many others

Why Golden Cloud Is One of the Best

Wikimedia Commons

Hollywood cowboyRoyRogers bought Golden Cloud in 1943 and renamed him Trigger due to his quickness of foot and mind. The horse was highly intelligent — he knew 150 tricks and could walk 50 feet on his hind legs. He could sign his name, sit in a chair, and he was even housebroken.

He hammed it up for audiences almost immediately — as soon as he heard their applause, he would bow and ruin the trick he was about to do. He became the most famous horse in all of filmdom and even has his hooves immortalized in cement at Grauman’s (TLC) Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Uggie

The Weinstein Company / IMDb

Years lived: 2002-2015

Born in: California

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Water for Elephants,” “The Artist,” “The Campaign,” “Key & Peele,” “Holiday Road Trip,” among many others

Why Uggie Is One of the Best

The Weinstein Company / IMDb

As a puppy, Uggie was on his way to the pound, but thanks to animal trainer Omar von Muller, fate had other plans. Like many actors, he started out in commercials before making his way to the silver screen and making Academy Award history in 2012’s silent film, “The Artist.”

For his role as “The Dog,” he won a Palm Dog award at the Cannes film festival. He was also the first canine to leave his paw prints outside Grauman’s (TLC) Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Higgins

Mulberry Square / IMDb

Years lived: 1957-1975

Born in: Burbank, California

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Petticoat Junction,” “Benji”

Why Higgins Is One of the Best

CBS / IMDb

Despite being in only one “Benji” movie, Higgins is the dog that is most well known due to his acting chops. He first came to attention for his work as the uncredited dog on the sitcom “Petticoat Junction” for six seasons. He also made guest appearances on “Green Acres” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

He became such a popular entertainment icon that he received a PATSY Award (the animal equivalent of an Oscar) in 1966 and was featured on the cover of TV Guide. He came out of retirement to play the titular role in “Benji”and cemented the character’s long-lasting Hollywood legacy that continues to this day.

Orangey

Tumblr

Years lived: 1951-1967

Born in: Los Angeles, California

Animal type: Cat

Starred in: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “Rhubarb,” “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” “Batman”

Why Orangey Is One of the Best

fairfax_house / Twitter

t one time, Orangey was an animal A-lister in Hollywood. He played Audrey Hepburn’s nameless cat in “Breakfast at Tiffany’”sand was successful due to his ability to “stay” for long hours while in front of the camera. Behind the scenes, however, he was a bit of a diva—he would often run away and scratch and spit on his co-stars, prompting at least one executive to call him “the world’s meanest cat.”

But, make no mistake, he was a bonafide star — he won two PATSYs in his lifetime and now rests among Hollywood’s most well-known human faces at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Jean (Vitagraph Dog)

Wikiwand

Years lived: 1902-1916

Born in: New York

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: Several Vitagraph shorts

Why Jean Is One of the Best

Wikiwand

Before there was a Rin Tin Tin, there was Jean the collie, who is likely the first dog star in motion pictures. Hollywood wasn’t even Hollywood yet — Vitagraph Studios was in Brooklyn when Jean was discovered in 1909. She was soon starring in Vitagraph’s one- and two-reel shorts and was as popular as its human stars.

There was even a documentary about her, “Jean and Her Family,” that showed her life as a working mom with six puppies. While she made several films for Vitagraph, only three exist.

Mushu

vetsupply.com

Years lived: Unknown

Born in: Unknown

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Men in Black” movies

Why Mushu Is One of the Best

vetsupply.com

While not much is known about Mushu‘s personal life, he made quite an impact as the wise-cracking alien pug opposite Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the “Men in Black” movies. Mushu starred in the first two installments but passed away before the third film was filmed.

Mushu was with Animal Actors of Hollywood Inc., and took to film sets like a duck to water, according to trainer Cristie Miele. “It’s rare that you find a special dog who loves to act … he is very serious about his work and enjoys doing it.”

Buddy

Walt Disney Pictures / IMDb

Years lived: 1988-1998

Born in: June Lake, California

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Air Bud,” “Fluke”

Why Buddy Is One of the Best

Walt Disney Pictures / IMDb

Actor Kevin Dicicco found Buddy as a stray dog roaming the Sierra Nevadas and brought him home to San Diego where he taught him how to play sports. He quickly became adept at basketball, baseball, football, soccer and hockey, but he was best at shooting hoops, with some even calling him the Michael Jordan of the canine world.

Buddy’s sportsmanship paid off when he was cast as “Air Bud,” which was one of his only film roles. Before his untimely death at only 10 years old, he sired nine puppies.

Spike

Walt Disney Pictures / IMDb

Years lived: 1952-1962

Born in: Van Nuys, California

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Old Yeller,” “A Dog of Flanders,” “The Silent Call,” “The She Creature”

Why Spike Is One of the Best

Walt Disney Pictures / IMDb

Trainer Frank Weathermax found Spike at a Van Nuys animal shelter, but he didn’t appear to have the makings of a star. He was clumsy with a bark that wasn’t commanding, but he was eager to please and he learned quickly.

When Frank brought Spike to Disney (who owned the rights to “Old Yeller”), studio executives weren’t convinced, but after a little training, he nailed the part of the courageous dog with a sad ending and cemented his place in Hollywood history. He lived out the rest of his life with the Weathermax family and sired dogs who also worked in the industry.

Bart the Bear II

Vertical Entertainment / IMDb

Years lived: 2000-Present

Born in: Paxson, Alaska

Animal type: Bear

Starred in: “Dr. Dolittle 2,” “Without a Paddle,” “An Unfinished Life,” “Evan Almighty,” “Into the Wild,” “We Bought a Zoo,” “Game of Thrones,” among many others

Why Bart the Bear II Is One of the Best

HBO / IMDb

Bart II was adopted as an orphan by Doug and Lynne Seus, Bart I’s trainers, at the same time as his sister, Honey Bump. While not related to Bart I, he was named after the first bear because “[he] had the same nature as the original Bart and a lot of the attributes.”

When he’s not working in the industry, he serves as an ambassador for the Sues’s Vital Ground Foundation and is the “spokesbear” for the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University.

Sayuri

Years lived: 2016-Present

Born in: Delaware

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Why Sayuri Is One of the Best

Columbia Pictures / IMDb

Brad Pitt won an Oscar in 2020 for his role as Cliff Booth in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, but for animal lovers, it was Cliff’s dog, Brandy, that stole the show. Monique and Matt Klosowski own Delaware Red Pit Bulls when they got a random call from Quentin Tarantino’s people in 2018. They were somewhat suspicious, but Hollywood was looking for a specific kind of star.

Sayuri plays a pivotal role in the movie; she did such a great job that she won the Palm Dog Award at Cannes. Tarantino, who accepted on her behalf said, “I have to say, I am so honored to have this. I want to dedicate this to my wonderful actress Brandy. She has brought the Palm Dog home to America.”

Gidget

Years lived: 1994-2009

Born in: Unknown

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: Taco Bell commercials, “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde”

Why Gidget Is One of the Best

Amazon

For three years, Gidget was on top of the world as the face of Taco Bell. Her ad campaign for the fast-food giant began at the peak of the “burger wars.” Her catchphrase, “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!” was so popular that it became part of the cultural vernacular of the late 1990s.

After ending the campaign in July 2000, Taco Bell sales fell by 6 percent; it was the largest such decline in the company’s history. Gidget moved on to movies, but roles were hard to come by, as she was typecast. Nevertheless, she lived a good life and spent her later years in the comfort of her trainer’s home.

Skippy (aka, Asta)

MGM / IMDb

Years lived: 1931-1941

Born in: Unknown

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “The Thin Man” movies

Why Skippy Is One of the Bes

MGM / IMDb

Skippy was in several movies in the early 1930s, but he became a star overnight with the release of the first “Thin Man” movie. He was said to be one of the smartest canine actors in the business, working just as easily with verbal commands as he did hand cues. He made a lot of money, too — $250 a week, which was no joke at the height of The Depression.

At the time, American Magazine gave readers a behind-the-scenes look at life as one of the rich and famous: “Movie actresses stroke Skippy lovingly. They coo at him and murmur endearing terms in his ears. He takes it all in his stride because, with contracts, options and exacting work before the movie cameras, he hasn’t much time for the attention of Hollywood’s most beautiful stars. But if he’s paid for it and given the proper cue he will snuggle in the arms of the loveliest of stars, gaze into her limpid eyes and, if necessary — howl.”

Moonie

MGM / IMDb

Years lived: 1998-2016

Born in: Unknown

Animal type: Dog

Starred in:“Legally Blonde,” “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde”

Why Moonie Is One of the Best

MGM / IMDb

Moonie captured the hearts of audiences everywhere with his commanding presence in the “Legally Blonde” films, appearing alongside Reese Witherspoon. As Bruiser Woods, he stole the show in pink outfits that matched hers and was as spoiled as could be. In the real world, Moonie lived a quiet life with Gidget, the Taco Bell dog.

When he died, Reese paid tribute to her co-star on Instagram: “With a sad heart, I have to let all the #LegallyBlonde fans know that Bruiser Woods (also known as Moonie) passed away yesterday. He was a sweet Chihuahua who was very loved. I will never forget all the days we spent together … I’m sure his tail is wagging in the sky. Sending love to his trainer, the wonderful @tailsticks #RIPBruiser.”

Peggy

Universal Pictures / IMDb

Years lived: 1946-1951

Born in: Unknown

Animal type: Chimpanzee

Starred in: “Bedtime For Bonzo”

Why Peggy Is One of the Best

PaulbernalUK / Twitter

Peggy was only in one movie and may have been long forgotten if her co-star hadn’t become future president Ronald Reagan. When Reagan campaigned in 1980, the film had a resurgence, and the world discovered Peggy’s talents once again.

Peggy would have likely continued in entertainment, but she died tragically in a fire right before the movie was released.

Highland Dale

NBC / IMDb

Years lived: 1943-1972

Born in: Missouri

Animal type: Horse

Starred in: “Fury”television series and several movies

Why Highland Dale Is One of the Best

Heart of a Horse / Facebook

Highland Dale was one of the most popular Hollywood horses, starring in many films in the 1940s and ’50s, including “Giant” (with Elizabeth Taylor) and as “Black Beauty” in 1946.

However, he was most well known for his work in TV western “Fury,” which aired for five seasons. At his peak, he made $5,000 a week. Today, horses like him are often used as therapy breeds.

Beasley

Touchstone Pictures / IMDb

Years lived: 1978-1992

Born in: Merrimac, Wisconsin

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Turner and Hooch”

Why Beasley Is One of the Best

Touchstone Pictures / IMDb

As a house-wrecking police dog who drank beer, Beasley won the hearts and minds of critics and audiences alike with his debut in “Turner & Hooch,” opposite Tom Hanks.

At the time, movie critic Gene Siskel stated that Beasley had a better chance than Hanks for the Oscar, due to his “wooden” performance. He was arguably cuter, too.

Enzo

Warner Bros. / IMDb

Years lived: 1995-2010

Born in: Los Angeles, California

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “Frasier,” “My Dog Skip”

Why Enzo Is One of the Best

Warner Bros. / IMDb

Enzo took over acting duties for his father, Moose, as Eddie Crane in “Frasier.” Trainer Mathilde de Cagny has said that Moose and Enzo did not have a loving relationship and that the two “could not stand to be in the same room together.”

Enzo also starred in “My Dog Skip” as the older version of Skip. Producer Mark Johnson said of his performance, “Skip never failed us. I wish I worked with actors who were as well prepared as Skip. There was not a trick or a piece of business we asked the dog to do that he wasn’t able to do; it was uncanny. The trainers were so good, they could stop him on a mark, he could lift his leg, he could do a somersault. I expected to see him reading The New York Times any day.”

Popcorn Deelites

Old Friends

Years lived: 1998-Present

Born in: Los Angeles, California

Animal type: Horse

Starred in: “Seabiscuit”

Why Popcorn Deelites Is One of the Best

Old Friends

Before he was an actor, Popcorn was a thoroughbred race horse. He ran for six years, winning 11 of his 58 races and receiving $56,880 in earnings. Five other horses also played “Seabiscuit,” but Popcorn, who played him in race sequences, is the most well known.

After the movie, he went back to racing but is now retired and living his best life at Old Friends, a horse rescue and retirement center in Kentucky.

Tiger

fandom.com

Years lived: Unknown

Born in: Unknown

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “The Brady Bunch”

Why Tiger Is One of the Best

ABC / IMDb

The Bradys had their share of pets, but the most well known and loved by gen-Xers is Tiger, the family mutt. There’s not much known about the real dog — where he was born and his training are in the dustbin of history.

Sadly, he passed away halfway into the first season after being hit by a truck. Two more Tigers came after him, but the character was axed from the series after his replacements were found to be too hard to handle.

Honey Tree Evil Eye

Facebook

Years lived: 1983-1993

Born in: Chicago, Illinois

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: Bud Light commercials

Why Honey Tree Evil Eye Is One of the Best

Amazon

As Spuds Mackenzie, Honey Tree Evil Eye, was the face of Bud Light in the late 1980s. Spuds first appeared in a Super Bowl commercial in 1987. He was so popular, he helped sales of Bud Light rise nearly 20 percent in the year after his debut, and there were over 200 officially licensed items with his face on them.

Lawmakers, however, didn’t like the party lifestyle that Spuds came to represent, and slowly but surely his appearances as spokesdog were fewer and fewer. Spuds’ real life counterpart couldn’t be more different — nicknamed “Evie,” she lived a quiet, unassuming life with her owners. When her fame was all over, she spent her days happy and snacking on cereal next to her owners.

Morris the Cat

Morris The 9Lives Cat / Facebook

Years lived: Circa 1960s-1978

Born in: Chicago, Illinois

Animal type: Cat

Starred in: 9Lives commercials

Why Morris Is One of the Best

Morris The 9Lives Cat / Facebook

The orange tabby who is a “finicky” eater but loved 9Lives cat food was rescued from a shelter in 1968 and was minutes from being euthanized. Morris was loved by millions and won PATSY Awards for his work in 58 commercials.

The original Morris died in 1978, but rescue cats continue to play him to this day. 9Lives named its foundation, “Morris’ Million Cat Rescue,” after this feline legend.

Strongheart

Associated First National Pictures / IMDb

Years lived: 1917-1929

Born in: Wroc?aw, Germany

Animal type: Dog

Starred in: “The Silent Call,” “Brawn of the North,” “The Love Master,” “White Fang,” among many others

Why Strongheart Is One of the Best

Associated Exhibitors / IMDb

After Jean, the Vitagraph dog, passed away, her owner was looking for another star and discovered Strongheart at a Shepherd Dog Club of America show. He preceded Rin Tin Tin by a few years as Hollywood’s first canine star.

He also became the face of Strongheart Dog Food in 1932 until about 2002 when the brand was discontinued. Unfortunately, most of Strongheart’s films are considered lost, but his offspring continue to survive to this day.