Hollywood’s star system isn’t exclusive to humans. Throughout the years, many animals, especially dogs, have been part of this industry and have even become more iconic and famous than their human counterparts. Their cuteness and incredible skills have made them shine on-screen through convincing performances that have melted our hearts. Here are the ten most popular Hollywood dog stars. These adorable pups won our hearts and became icons of the movie industry.
Hachiko
Nobody can’t forget the heartfelt story of Hachiko, the cute Akita that waited for his owner every day at the train station after his passing. Based on a real-life story, the 2009 film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale moved the entire world, and although Richard Gere’s performance was truly touching, two furred stars stole his thunder: Chico and Forrest. These two played the role of Hachiko. Chico was so special that even the set trainer ended up adopting him.
Beethoven
We all remember the adorable Saint Bernard in Beethoven. This cute giant called Chris won the lead after an exhaustive casting that took months. Chris captivated the camera with his playful tricks and personality. He was two years old and had a bit of experience in the industry; unlike dogs of his breed, he was very agile and playful, which made him the perfect choice for the film. His cuteness and talent won everybody’s heart to the point that the producers had to make a sequel to avid fans who were willing to see more of the funny Saint Bernard.
Lassie
Probably one of the most popular dogs in film history, and definitely one of the most profitable ones. Lassie (actually called Pal) became a huge star in Hollywood; he ended up making way much more money than his human co-stars. This cute Collie had so much more energy than when he was a puppy his original owners couldn’t manage him, so they ended up giving it away to a professional trainer. The academy he ended up at, was specialized in training dogs stars. However, it was hard for Pal to find projects on-screen since Collies weren’t that popular back in the day. His biggest opportunity came in 1943 with Lassie Come Home. He starred in six other movies.
Bruiser Woods
Let’s talk about the most fashionable dog in films, Moon or Moondoggie, who played the iconic role of Bruiser Woods, Elle Wood’s bestie in Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2. His cute outfits, always matching those of her also fashionable owner, made him so popular in the industry that he became the face of one of the biggest food chains in the United States: Taco Bell.
Rin Tin Tin
Also a star of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd, starred in over 160 episodes of a series with his name. Actually, his real name was Rin Tin Tin Jr., named after his famous father. Besides the iconic television series that made him a true hero, our Rin Tin Tin also starred in 27 movies. He even got his name on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Toto
There’s no place like home, and certainly, there’s no dog like Toto. The adorable Scotch Terrier, Terry, from The Wizard of Oz gave one of the most memorable dog performances and became one of the most famous dogs in cinematic history. Terry had been abandoned as a pup until a couple adopted him. One of them was one of the most prestigious dog trainers in Hollywood. After feeding him lots of love his anxiety was cured, and his talents flourished. Terry starred in several great movies during the Golden Age of Hollywood, including Bright Eyes alongside Shirley Temple.
Uggie
Uggie melted our hearts in the innovative and highly acclaimed silent movie of 2011, The Artist. The film ended up winning tons of awards including Best Movie and Best Actor at the Oscars. The craze over Uggie, and his unique skills, took him on every red carpet of the moment and even tv shows where he demonstrated his craft, including skateboarding! He won the Palm Dog Award at Cannes as well.
Comet
It would’ve never been truly a ‘full house’ without Comet, the cute Golden Retriever of the Tanner family in Full House. Buddy, his real name, was trained to play several sports like basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, and football. His talents as an athlete also took him to star in films like Air Bud and Fluke.
Brandy
Sayuri is one of the most recent dog stars of the industry, and one that definitely fulfilled many actors’ dream of becoming part of the Tarantino Universe (besides sharing the screen with Brad Pitt) in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This cute Pit Bull gave such an impressive performance that she ended up being the first member of the cast to receive an award. She won the Palm Dog Award at Cannes; Tarantino himself received the award on her behalf.
Strongheart
Last but not least, we have the doggie that probably started the star system for these cute creatures. The real name of this iconic German Shepherd was Etzel von Oeringen, born and raised in Berlin as a police dog. This dog hero also served with the Red Cross during World War I! However, after the war, his owner went bankrupt, and he was sold and sent to the US. That’s where he met a movie director who renamed him and turned him into a movie star. Strongheart also got a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His descendants followed his steps in the entertainment industry; one of his grandchildren, Lightning, went to be known as the ‘Wonder dog.’
Hard not to fall for these gorgeous dogs isn’t it?!
