 Uggie onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2012 | |
| Species | Canis familiaris |
|---|---|
| Breed | Parson Russell Terrier |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | (2002-02-14)February 14, 2002 |
| Died | August 7, 2015(2015-08-07) (aged 13) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2004–15 |
| Known for | The Artist andWater for Elephants |
| Owner | Omar von Muller |
| Weight | 16 lb (7.3 kg) |
| Appearance | White and tan |
| Awards | 2011Palm Dog Award 2012 Golden Collar Award 2020Palm Dog of Palm Dogs (posthumously) |
Uggie (February 14, 2002 – August 7, 2015)[1][2] was a trainedParson Russell Terrier famous for his roles inWater for Elephants andThe Artist. His memoirUggie, My Story was published in the United States, the UK, and France in October 2012.
The campaign "Consider Uggie" was launched in December 2011 onFacebook by S.T. VanAirsdale, an editor atMovieline, for Uggie to receive a real or HonoraryAcademy Award nomination.BAFTA announced that he would be ineligible for one of its awards, while he received a special mention at theLumière Awards in France. He won thePalm Dog Award at the2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Uggie was rejected by at least his first two owners as being too wild.[3] He was about to be sent to adog pound, but was adopted by animal trainer Omar Von Muller after his friends alerted him to the dog.[3] Von Muller intended only tofoster the dog while he found him a new home, but decided that Uggie should stay.[4] He said of the dog, "He was a crazy, very energetic puppy, and who knows what would have happened to him if he [had] gone to the dog pound. But he was very smart and very willing to work. One of the most important thing[s] is that he was not afraid of things. That is what makes or breaks a dog in the movies, whether they are afraid of lights, and noises and being on sets. He gets rewards, like sausages, to encourage him to perform, but that is only a part of it. He works hard."[3] When not working, Uggie lived inNorth Hollywood with Von Muller, Von Muller's wife and Von Muller's daughter. There were six other dogs in the household, all of whom work in the film industry.[4]
Uggie's earliest roles were in commercials and minor roles in the filmsWhat's Up Scarlett,Wassup Rockers (2005) andMr. Fix It (2006) alongsideDavid Boreanaz.[3][4] His first named role, and big break, was as "Queenie" in the romantic dramaWater for Elephants, alongside actorsRobert Pattinson andReese Witherspoon.[3][5] He appeared in "The Incredible Dog Show" from August 2010 onwards,[6][7] a tour of dogs with different tricks, which toured the United States and South America; his trick was riding askateboard.[8]
He went on to appear in the 2011silent movieThe Artist, and it was this role which brought him to the attention of mass media,[3] with some critics describing him as "stealing every scene".[9] He had twostunt doubles in the film, named Dash and Dude, who were colored to look more like Uggie, but Uggie did most of his own stunts and the doubles were barely required.[3] Uggie and his trainers for the film, Sarah Clifford and Omar Muller, spent three days with the film's starJean Dujardin to teach the French actor the verbal commands and hand signals Uggie needed in a scene.[4] Because it was asilent film, the trainers could also call out commands while the film was rolling.[8]
He attended theAmerican Film Institute premiere of the film and walked thered carpet along with the rest of the cast.[10] Uggie promoted the film on a week-long promotional tour, appearing on television shows in the UK, includingThe Graham Norton Show. He also appeared at a charity screening in London'sWest End, in aid ofDogs Trust.[3] Uggie appeared opposite another Jack Russell terrier namedCosmo fromMike Mills'Beginners in a photoshoot spread forThe Hollywood Reporter.[11] He also appeared in other photoshoots forW magazine andThe Hollywood Reporter.[10] During the "Consider Uggie" campaign, an officialTwitter account was set up in his name.[12]
Trainer von Muller said that Uggie was approaching retirement and that he wouldn't want him to have to go through the same long hours that the dog experienced while filmingThe Artist again, but would be willing to let Uggie take other less intense jobs.[3] On February 8, 2012, Uggie was named asNintendo's first-ever spokesdog. He helped promote their3DS video gameNintendogs + Cats during Responsible Pet Ownership Month.[13] Later that year he became a spokesdog forPETA in an ad campaign that encouraged potential dog owners toadopt fromshelters.[14] Uggie made a cameo appearance in the 2012 comedy filmThe Campaign, his final film role before retirement.[15]
AfterThe Artist received critical acclaim sufficient to suggest that the film might have a real chance of winning "Best Picture" awards, S.T. VanAirsdale, an editor atMovieline, began a campaign called "Consider Uggie" onFacebook to seek recognition for Uggie's performance; he felt that the dog outperformedLeonardo DiCaprio's performance inJ. Edgar, but probably wasn't as good asGeorge Clooney inThe Descendants.[4][16] However, a precedent was set for theOscars in 1929 at the1st Academy Awards whenGerman Shepherd dog actorRin Tin Tin, according to legend, gained the most votes for theAward for Best Actor.[5] ActorEmil Jannings was actually presented with the award on the night.[17]
Cast and crew onThe Artist responded to the campaign, withJames Cromwell supporting the move to ensure Uggie was recognized, saying he was "wonderfully trained and talented" and supporting the move to install a special Oscar for animals in film.[4]The Daily Telegraph endorsed the campaign, believing that a win for Uggie at the Oscars would be a win for all canine film stars, such asFox TerrierAsta, andTerry, theCairn Terrier who portrayedToto inThe Wizard of Oz.[18]
TheBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts responded: "Regretfully, we must advise that as he is not a human being and as his unique motivation as an actor was sausages, Uggie is not qualified to compete for the BAFTA in this category."[3] This was after a number of members had contacted BAFTA to inquire if they were allowed to vote for Uggie for Best Actor.[19]
Uggie won thePalm Dog Award for best performance by a canine at the2011 Cannes Film Festival, for his role as "Jack" inThe Artist.[20][21] It was the 11th year in which the award was handed out and goes to the best canine performance.[3] Following the "Consider Uggie" campaign, Jone Bauman of theAmerican Humane Association said Uggie was in line for a Pawscar, the association's awards for animals in films.[17]
He has also received a special mention at theLumière Awards, the French equivalent of theGolden Globes.[22] Uggie andCosmo shared the prize for "Best performance by an animal", awarded byThe Seattle Times movie critic Moira Macdonald.[23]
On February 13, 2012, Uggie was named Best Dog in a Theatrical Film at the firstGolden Collar Awards, awarded byDog News Daily.[24] The awards were only launched a couple of months previously due to the attention Uggie was getting for his performance inThe Artist.[25]
On June 25, 2012, he had his paw prints placed in cement atGrauman's Chinese Theatre.[26]
Uggie waseuthanized at the age of 13 on August 7, 2015, after developing a prostate tumor.[27]
| Year | Film | Role | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | What's Up Scarlett | uncredited | |
| 2005 | Wassup Rockers | Biting Dog | |
| 2006 | Mr. Fix It | The Terrier | |
| 2011 | Water for Elephants | Queenie | |
| 2011 | The Artist | The Dog | Hollywood Walk of Fame American Humane Association for Association's Award Cannes Film Festival Palm Dog Award Golden Collar Award for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film Prix Lumière Special Mention The Seattle Times for Best Performance by an Animal (awarded by critic Moira Macdonald) |
| 2012 | The Campaign | Himself | |
| 2012 | Key & Peele | Racist Dog | |
| 2013 | Holiday Road Trip | Scoots |
Although his trainer Omar Von Muller had said that the perky pooch's appearance on February's Oscar show would be his last hurrah, Uggie will make one more curtain call at 10 a.m. June 25 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to plant his paws in its fabled cement.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
