Buddy (dog actor)
| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
|---|---|
| Breed | Golden Retriever |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | March 23, 1988 Sierra Nevada, (found near June Lake, California) |
| Died | February 10, 1998 (aged 9) San Diego, California |
| Occupation | Dog actor |
| Years active | 1989–1998 |
| Owner | Kevin di Cicco |
Buddy (March 23, 1988 – February 10, 1998) was a Golden Retriever dog actor. He was best known for his role as himself in the movie Air Bud.
Early life
Buddy was found by Kevin DiCicco as a stray dog in the Sierra Nevada in the summer of 1989.[1] DiCicco adopted the disheveled Golden Retriever and brought him home to San Diego, where he trained him in the sports of basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey.[1] Buddy's most eagerly awaited sport was basketball. He was touted as the Michael Jordan of dogs[citation needed]. DiCicco revealed that Buddy tried to bite the ball, but its slipperiness, enhanced by saliva or more efficiently by olive oil, would propel it from his mouth.[2]
Early appearances
His first appearance was on America's Funniest Home Videos.[3] He then gained further fame bouncing a basketball off his muzzle and into a basketball hoop on David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment of the Late Show with David Letterman.[4] Buddy appeared three times on the Letterman Show.[2]
Film
He was cast as Buddy in the 1997 Disney movie Air Bud, a movie that tells the story of a golden retriever abandoned by his alcoholic abusive owner. In the movie, he moved in with a boy named Josh Framm who was depressed after his father died in a plane crash. He appeared on the Kids' Choice Awards in 1998, where he was nominated for a Blimp Award for the movie. Prior to his death, Buddy sired nine puppies.[5][6] Air Bud was Buddy's final acting role.
Illness and death
In 1997, Buddy had his right hind leg amputated due to synovial cell sarcoma, a type of cancer that manifests near the joints, although he was still able to shoot hoops.[7] Six months later Air Buddy died in his sleep due to complications from cancer on February 10, 1998, at his owner's San Diego home.[8] At the time of his death, Buddy was 9 years old.[5] Buddy was a month and 13 days away from celebrating his 10th birthday. Air Bud: Golden Receiver was dedicated to his memory.
Book
Buddy's story is told in the 2012 book Go Buddy!, written by his owner Kevin DiCicco.[1][9]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Animal Star | Nominated |
| 1998 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Animal Star | Nominated[10] |
Movies and TV
Film
- Air Bud - Buddy (1997)
- Fluke - Buddy (1995)
Television
- Full House - Comet (1 episode)(1995)
- America's Funniest Home Videos - Himself (1992)
- Late Show with David Letterman - Himself (1994)
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards - Himself (1995, 1998)
See also
References
- ^ a b c di Cicco, Kevin (2012). Go Buddy! The Air Bud Story. Air Bud Publishing Group / Amazon.com. p. 348. ISBN 0-9859-8370-1.
- ^ a b Air Bud: Kevin DiCicco Exclusive Interview on YouTube, ScreenSlam.com
- ^ Tony Perry (August 9, 1992). "Once Again, It's Man's Best Friend to the Rescue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ Margaret A. McGurk (August 14, 1998). "Wholesome Air Bud scores with youngsters". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ a b Tribune News Services (February 13, 1998). "Athletic Canine Star Of `Air Bud' Film Dies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Joal (Feb 13, 1998). "Hollywood Mourns Loss of "Air Bud"". E! Online. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ Tribune News Services (August 7, 1997). "Cancer Can't Ground `Air Bud' Hoops Pooch". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "'Air Bud' Star Dies Of Cancer,". The Spokesman-Review. February 13, 1998. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "The Story Behind "Air Bud"". KATU. August 30, 2012. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ Melanie Mcfarland (April 3, 1998). "The Kids Get Their Say For Nickelodeon Awards". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
External links
- Buddy at IMDb
- Kevin DiCicco at IMDb
- Buddy at Find a Grave