Perry, the Real-Life Donkey Who Inspired Shrek’s Sidekick Passed Away in 2025
When people think of Shrek, they usually picture the green ogre or Eddie Murphy’s fast-talking Donkey. Very few realize that Donkey’s personality started with a real animal. In 2025, that connection came back into focus when Perry, the donkey who helped shape the character, passed away. His role had always stayed behind the scenes, even though the character he inspired became one of animation’s most familiar faces.
Perry’s full name was Pericles. He was a miniature donkey born in Jerusalem in 1994 and later spent most of his life at Barron Park in Palo Alto, California. In the late 1990s, as DreamWorks was developing Shrek, animators needed a real-life reference to study Donkey’s movement and body language. Perry turned out to be exactly what they needed.
Animators closely observed how he moved, how he shifted his weight, and how he carried himself when walking or coming to a stop. Those details shaped Donkey’s physical presence on screen and helped make the character feel believable. Perry was only five years old at the time and earned about $75 a week for his work, never knowing that his small role would help define a character audiences still quote decades later.
A Local Legend With Global Reach
In Palo Alto, Perry was known as part of everyday life, not as a movie footnote. At Barron Park, he greeted visitors during walks and local events, and children often stopped to pet him without knowing his link to Shrek. The Barron Park Donkey Project, which cared for him for 27 years, described him as gentle and curious.
Over time, Perry became an unofficial mascot for the area. When his health declined in 2024, the city helped cover a $1,000 veterinary bill. That support demonstrated how highly valued he was in the community, independent of any Hollywood connection.
Health Struggles and a Difficult Goodbye
Perry battled laminitis for years, an incurable hoof condition that causes pain and mobility issues in equine animals. Despite ongoing care, his condition worsened, and in early 2025, his handlers decided to euthanize him to prevent further suffering. He was 30 years old, well within the typical lifespan of a donkey, which ranges from 25 to 40 years.
The announcement came through the Barron Park Donkey Project, which shared that staff members spent extended time with Perry in his final weeks, offering comfort and reassurance. Memorial plans followed soon after, giving the community a chance to honor an animal who had quietly touched countless lives.
News of Perry’s passing traveled quickly online, surprising fans who never knew a real donkey inspired the physical animation of Donkey. For many, it reframed a childhood favorite in a more tangible way. Donkey’s expressive movements, paired with Eddie Murphy’s voice performance and Mike Myers as Shrek, helped define the franchise’s tone. Learning that part of that magic came from a real animal added emotional weight.
Perry’s story also showed how animation blends observation and imagination. His contribution didn’t replace performance or writing, but it grounded the character in real behavior. That balance helped Donkey feel alive in a way audiences still connect with more than two decades later.