List of animal actors

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Animal actors are non-human animals that perform as characters in productions such as film, television, or theater.

Bears

Image Name Type Lifespan Partial credits Notes
Bart the Bear Kodiak bear 1977–2000 [1]
Bart the Bear 2 Grizzly bear 2000–2021 [2][3]
Brody the Bear Kodiak bear Born 1995
A black and white photograph of a black bear with a chain around its neck lying on the ground as a young boy rests his head on its back and smiles.
 Bruno American black bear 1962–1981 [4]
A statue of Hercules the bear at Langass Woods, Isle of North Uist, Scotland.
 Hercules Grizzly bear 1975–2001 [5]

Birds

Image Name Type Lifespan Partial credits Notes
Douglass Scarlet macaw 1967–2019 [6]
A black and white photograph of a raven standing on a wooden desk.
 Jimmy Raven 1934–? [7]
Mr Percival Australian pelican 1976–2009 [8]

Cats

Image Name Breed Lifespan Partial credits Notes
A small dwarf cat with a grumpy facial expression being held in a person's arms.
 Grumpy Cat (also known as Tardar Sauce) Mixed breed 2012–2019 Also popular as an Internet meme.[9]
A cat's face with an open mouth sticking out its tongue.
 Lil Bub 2011–2019 Also popular as an Internet celebrity.[10]
Henry Long-haired tuxedo cat 2003–2020 Won the title of "Best Cat Video on the Internet" at the Internet Cat Video Festival.[11]
A button with a picture of an orange cat's face on it. Around the cat are the words "Morris For President" and the year "1988".
 Morris the Cat Tabby cat Died 1978
  • 58 commercials for 9Lives (1969–1978)
 Won two PATSY Awards for his performances, in 1972 and 1973.[12]
Audrey Hepburn crouching in a white bathrobe next to an orange tabby cat with its paw on her leg.
 Orangey Tabby cat c. 1950–1967 Two-time PATSY Award winner, for Rhubarb and Breakfast at Tiffany's.[13]

Cetaceans

Image Name Type Lifespan Partial credits Notes
An orca whale in an aquarium looking at the viewer through glass.
An orca whale in an aquarium looking at the viewer through glass.
 Keiko Orca 1976–2003 Was re-released into the wild in 2002[14]
A dolphin without a tail in a pool of water.
 Winter Bottlenose dolphin 2005–2021 Depicted herself in the Dolphin Tale films[15]

Dogs

Image Name Breed Lifespan Partial credits Notes
A black and white photograph of a German Shepherd laying on the ground
 Ace the Wonder Dog German Shepherd Before 1938–after 1946
Air Buddy Golden Retriever 1988–1998 [16]
Brigitte French Bulldog Born 2010 Won the first Golden Collar Award for "Best Dog in a Television Series"[17]
A line drawing of a dog's face. Above the image is text reading "The Most Wonderful Animal in the World", and below the image is text reading "Brownie the Centuries Comedy Wonder-Dog".
 Brownie the Wonder Dog Bull Terrier–Fox Terrier crossbreed
A Jack Russel Terrier dog sitting on a black stool and wearing a blue sequined neckerchief with a black bowtie.
 Cook Jack Russell Terrier[18] 2000–2016
Cosmo Jack Russell Terrier [24]
Daisy (originally named Spooks) Cocker Spaniel-Poodle-Terrier mix 1937–1960
Darla Bichon Frisé 1975–1992 [25]
A photograph of a pug's head looking upwards with its tongue sticking out.
 Doug the Pug Pug Born 2012 Also popular as an Internet celebrity.[26]
A black and white photograph of a dog standing over a fallen man holding a gun.
 Dynamite the Dog
Enzo Jack Russell Terrier 1995–2010 Succeeded his father Moose in the role of Eddie.[27]
Flame German Shepherd
Gidget Chihuahua 1994–2009 [28]
Higgins Mongrel 1957–1975
A black and white portrait photograph of a Border Collie.
 Jean Border Collie 1902–1916
Jed Wolfdog (timber wolf-Alaskan Malamute[29]) 1977–1995
Johnny Mongrel 1976–? [31][32]
A reddish-brown Australian Kelpie dog sitting on a red carpet.
 Koko Australian Kelpie 2005–2012 [33]
Koton German Shepherd died 1991 [34]
Kuma von Clifford Mongrel 2001–2018 [35]
A black and white photograph of a German Shepherd raising its head and howling.
 Lightning German Shepherd
A black and white photograph of an American Pit Bull Terrier with a black studded collar.
 Luke the Dog American Pit Bull Terrier 1913–1926 [36]
Madison Labrador Retriever Born 1999 [37]
A black and white border collie sitting in a grassy field and looking at the viewer.
 Messi Border Collie Born 2016 Winner of the Palm Dog Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival[38]
Moonie Chihuahua 1998–2016 [39]
Moose Jack Russell Terrier 1990–2006 [40]
Olivia West Highland White Terrier Born 2015 [41][42]
A black and white photograph of a Rough Collie looking to the left.
 Pal Rough Collie 1940–1958
A black and white photographs of a small pit bull terrier puppy sitting between two young boys.
 Pal the Wonder Dog (also known as Pete the Pup) American Pit Bull Terrier 1924–1930 [43]
A dog with grey skin and sparse white hair being held in a man's arms. The dog's tongue hangs out of its mouth.
 Peggy Pug and Chinese Crested Dog mix Born c. 2018 Won the title of "Britain's ugliest dog"[44]
A poster with a painting of a German shepherd dog standing on a rock in a snowy environment.
 Rin Tin Tin German Shepherd 1918–1932 [45][46]
A black and white photograph of a Collie next to a young girl holding a bouquet of flowers.
 Shep Collie Died 1914
Sanggeun Pyrenean Mountain Dog 2004–2014 [47]
A black and white photograph of a German Shepherd's head labeled as "Silverstreak".
 Silver Streak German Shepherd Born 1924
A black and white photograph of a wire fox terrier barking. White text reading "With Asta (The Pooch)" is overlayed on the image.
 Skippy Wire Fox Terrier 1931–1951 [46]
Soccer Jack Russell Terrier 1988–2001 [49]
A black and white photograph of Brian Keith in a cowboy costume sitting with a large dog sitting in his lap.
 Spike Labrador Retriever and English Mastiff mix 1952–1962 [50]
A black and white portrait photograph of a German Shepherd.
 Strongheart German Shepherd 1917–1929 [51]
A black and white Parson Russel Terrier dog sitting on a green carpet.
 Sykes Parson Russell Terrier 2001–2019 [52]
A black and white photograph of a sitting Great Dane wearing bejeweled collars and a harness.
 Teddy Great Dane c. 1910–1925
A black and white photograph at bust-length of Judy Garland as a young girl holding up a small black Cairn Terrier dog.
 Terry Cairn Terrier 1933–1945
A black and white portrait photograph of a German Shepherd.
 Thunder German Shepherd 1921–c. 1928 [54]
Uggie Parson Russell Terrier 2002–2015 Won numerous awards for his performance in The Artist, including the Palm Dog Award during the Cannes Film Festival.[55]

Elephants

Image Name Type Lifespan Partial credits Notes
An Asian elephant wearing a golden headdress with a man riding on its back.
 Chirakkal Kalidasan Asian elephant Born 1980
Tai Asian elephant 1968-2021 [56]

Horses

See also: Wonder horses
Image Name Breed Lifespan Partial credits Notes
A black and white photograph of a horse at bust length.
 Bamboo Harvester American Saddlebred/part-Arabian 1949–1970
  • Mister Ed in Mister Ed (1961–1966, 145 episodes)
 [57]
A black and white photograph of a young girl riding a grey horse with black spots painted on it.
 Bunting Halfbred 1961–c. 1980s
  • Lilla gubben in Pippi Långstrump
 [58]
Buttermilk Quarter Horse 1941–1972 Dale Evans' famous horse
Cass Ole Arabian horse 1969–1993 [59]
A poster featuring a painting of a black horse rearing on its hind legs as a man dressed as a cowboy riding on its back raises his hat.
 Champion the Wonder Horse The name "Champion" was used by three different horses[60]
Docs Keepin Time American Quarter Horse 1987–2013
Popcorn Deelites Thoroughbred 1998–2022 [61]
A poster featuring a painting of a black horse's head.
 Rex Morgan horse born c. 1916 or 1917
A poster featuring a painting of a black horse running in an old Western setting.
 Tony the Wonder Horse Died 1942 Western star Tom Mix's horse (who often received equal billing) in most of Mix's films.
A black and white photograph of a man dressed as a cowboy with his right arm around a woman in a dress and his left hand holding the reigns of a horse.
 Trigger Palomino 1934–1965 Famous as Roy Rogers' horse.[62]

Primates

Image Name Type Lifespan Partial credits Notes
A bust-length photograph of a capuchin monkey wearing a blue shirt.
 Crystal the Monkey Capuchin monkey Born 1994 [63]
A black and white photograph of a chimpanzee wearing a hat, a button-up shirt, a tie, a jacket, pants, and shoes while holding a container with a strap over his shoulder.
 J. Fred Muggs Chimpanzee Born 1952 [64]
Jiggs Chimpanzee c. 1929–1938
Jimmy the Chimp Chimpanzee 1952–1968
  • Dark Venture
 Trained by John Calvert.[65]
Jo Mendi II Chimpanzee c. 1939–1980 Performer at the Detroit Zoo's chimpanzee theater [66]
A black and white photograph of an orangutan with its mouth open sticking its head through metal bars. It is wearing a police hat.
 Joe Martin Orangutan c. 1911–c. 1931 Joe Martin (orangutan) filmography [67]
Kokomo Jr. Chimpanzee There were at least two chimpanzees, who performed on alternate days to avoid overwork.
Manis Orangutan [68]
Pankun Chimpanzee Born 2001
  • Tensai! Shimura Dōbutsuen (天才！志村動物園, lit. Genius! Shimura Zoo)
  • Dōbutsu Kisō Tengai! (どうぶつ奇想天外!, lit. Unbelievable Animals!)
 Retired after attacking and severely injuring a zoo staff trainee.
Rancho Monkey
Travis Chimpanzee 1995–2009 It is disputed as to whether he was the same chimpanzee who acted in all of his claimed appearances.[70]

Reptiles

Image Name Type Lifespan Partial credits Notes
Frank Asian water monitor 2003–2021 [71]
Pocho Crocodile Died 2011
  • Touching the Dragon
  • Dragon's Feast
 [72]

See also

References

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