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![Lassie]()
The animated movie 'G-Force,' starring a bunch of guinea pig spies, opens July 24. But before their were guinea pigs, there was loyal Lassie. A dog named Pal starred in the original 1943 film, and reprised his role in the next six. Pal died in 1958, but his trailblazing legacy lives on. Just ask the guinea pigs.![Dumbo]()
He might have been ashamed of those big ears, but everyone else sure loved them.Cute and cuddly elephant Dumbo broke onto the scene in the 1941 Disney animated film.![Nemo]()
Finding Nemo told the harrowing tale of a serious clown fish father, aided by another forgetful fish (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), as they searched for his son, Nemo. The movie was a massive hit for studio Pixar.![Toto]()
A pooch named Terry played Toto in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Terry earned $125/week for her star-making turn. Not bad for a dog in 1939!![Turner and Hooch]()
Beasley played Hooch, the unruly police dog who drank beer and helped detective Scott Turner (played by Tom Hanks) solve crimes, in Turner and Hooch (1989). Beasley passed away in 1992 after his first and only movie role.![Monkey_Trouble]()
Finster played the kleptomaniac monkey Dodger in Monkey Trouble (1996) opposite Thora Burch. He also starred in Cutthroat Island in 1995. Yeah we didn't see that one either.![Bambi]()
"Mother? Mother?" Who didn't shed crocodile tears for adorable little Bambi in the 1942 Disney animated classic?![Bolt]()
Bolt, the wonder dog star of the 2008 Disney movie of the same name, featured the vocal talents of John Travolta. The film bolt-ed across theaters as another Disney dog success.![Old_Yeller]()
Spike played man's best friend in the Disney tearjerker "Old Yeller." Spike had been rescued from a California animal shelter, and starred in several other films, including "A Dog of Flanders."![Wilbur]()
In this 1973 movie made from the E.B. White classic, friendly Charlotte the spider saves Wilbur from being turned into bacon on Arable farm.![Men in Black Pooch]()
No other pooch could match Will Smith look for look as well as this pup could. Mushu played Frank the Pug in Men in Black (1997) and Men in Black 2 (2002). Mushu then reprised his role in Men in Black: The Series.![Keiko the Whale]()
Who didn't want a best friend whale after this movie? Keiko stole hearts as playing Willy the fun-loving whale in all three "Free Willy" movies. Keiko died in 2003 from pneumonia.![Chicken_Little]()
The 2005 Disney flick "Chicken Little," featured this eccentric but shy chicken who claimed the sky was falling.![Manis the Orangutan]()
Manis the orangutan played Clyde in "Every Which Way But Loose" (1978). He had to be replaced in the sequel "Any Which Way You Can" because he had grown too much in the two years since the first film. What, Clint Eastwood couldn't just bulk up a little?![Benji]()
Higgins played the title role in the 70s classic "Benji." Higgins had an impressive 14-year career in show business. In 1971, he starred in the film, "Mooch Goes to Hollywood With Zsa Zsa Gabor," and after a brief hiatus, came out of retirement in 1974 to star in "Benji." Higgins died in 1975, at the height of his fame and talents.![Bonzo the Chimp]()
Bonzo starred in "Bedtime for Bonzo" (1951). This film tells the story of a professor, played by former president Ronald Reagan, who raises a chimp as a human. Bonzo was the break-out star of the film. Even Reagan agreed, saying: "I fought a losing battle with a scene-stealer with a built-in edge - he was a chimpanzee."![Andre the Seal]()
A pet seal? Really? Torey played Andre in the 1994 film, "Andre." Torey captured our hearts playing an orphaned baby seal who befriends a 9-year-old girl. Most impressive? Torey is actually a sea lion. Now that's acting.![Air Bud]()
Buddy played Bud, the basketball-playing dog, in "Air Bud" (1997). Buddy got his start in show-biz appearing as Comet in a few episodes of "Full House" before getting his big break playing a dog with exceptional basketball skills. Sadly, Buddy passed away in 1998, soon after his feature film debut.Famous Animal Film Stars
The G-Forceguinea pigs owe a debt of gratitude to these acting animals, who paved the way.
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- Famous Animal Film Stars
