The Pets of Hollywood: 23 Famous, Adorable Animal Actors

Actors are loved for their talent and praised for each role they do excellently in, but what about pets and animal actors? How often have you watched a movie with animals and wondered about the bear, dog, cat, or primate starring in the film?

You may be surprised to know that quite a few animal actors have starred in your favorite movies. Some animal actors have stayed in their franchise or only starred in one flick.

Ready to learn about the pets of Hollywood? Click through the slideshow for 23 famous and adorable animal actors, along with some fun facts about each. For this slideshow, 24/7 Tempo reviewed entertainment sources and found news clips on some of the older animal actors. Do you recognize any?

• Species: Kodiak bear
• Born: January 19, 1977
• Died: May 10, 2000
• Height: 9 ft 7.5 in
• Weight: 1,500 lb
• Years Active: 1980–2000
• Movies/Shows: "Windwalker" (1981), "The Bear" (1988), and "The Gambler: The Adventure Continues" (1983)

• Species: Common raven
• Born: 1934
• Died: 1954
• Years Active: 1938–1954
• Movies/Shows: "You Can't Take It with You" (1938), "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), and "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

• Species: Red domestic shorthair tabby cat
• Born: 1950
• Died: 1967
• Years Active: 1950s–1960s
• Movies/Shows: "Rhubarb" (1951), "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957), and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961)

• Species: Orca
• Born: 1976
• Died: 2003
• Weight: 11,500 lb
• Movies/Shows: "Free Willy" (1993)

• Species: Bottlenose dolphin
• Born: October 2005
• Died: November 11, 2021
• Movies/Shows: "Dolphin Tale" and "Dolphin Tale 2"

• Species: Golden Retriever
• Born: 1988 (approximate year)
• Died: February 10, 1998
• Years Active: 1989–1998
• Movies/Shows: "Air Bud" (1997)

• Species: Jack Russell Terrier
• Born: November 11, 2000
• Died: May 19, 2016
• Height: 11 inches
• Weight: 15 pounds
• Role/Best Known For: Pancho in the Lotería Primitiva of Spain ad
• Movies/Shows: "Aquí no hay quien viva" (2003 - 2006) and "Pancho, el perro millonario" (2014)

• Species: Scotch Collie
• Born: 1902
• Died: 1916
• Movies/Shows: "Jean and the Calico Doll" (1910), "Jean Rescues" (1911), "The Signal of Distress" (1912), and "Far from the Madding Crowd" (1915)

• Species: American Pit Bull Terrier
• Born: November 1913
• Died: 1926
• Years Active: 1916-1920
• Movies/Shows: "The Knockout" (1914), "Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day" (1915), "Fatty's New Role" (1915), and "The Scarecrow" (1920)

• Species: Chihuahua
• Born: 1998
• Died: March 10, 2016
• Years Active: 2001–2014
• Movies/Shows: "Legally Blonde" (2001) and "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde" (2003)

• Species: Rough Collie
• Born: June 4, 1940
• Died: June 18, 1958
• Years Active: 1943–1954
• Movies/Shows: "Lassie Come Home" (1943), "Son of Lassie" (1945), "Courage of Lassie" (1946), and "The Painted Hills" (1951)

• Species: Wire Fox Terrier
• Born: 1931
• Died: 1951
• Years Active: 1932–1941
• Movies/Shows: "The Thin Man" (1934), "Fog Over Frisco" (1934), "The Daring Young Man" (1935), "After the Thin Man" (1936), and "Shadow of the Thin Man" (1941)

• Species: Mastador (Mastiff/Labrador Retriever crossbreed)
• Born: 1955
• Died: 1971
• Movies/Shows: "The She-Creature" (1956), "Old Yeller" (1957), "The Westerner" (1960), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1961), and "What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?" (1969)

• Species: Parson Russell Terrier
• Born: 2001
• Died: June 2019
• Years Active: 2003-2016
• Movies/Shows: "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003), "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007), and "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010)

• Species: Cairn Terrier
• Born: November 17, 1933
• Died: September 1, 1945
• Years Active: 1934–1945
• Movies/Shows: "Ready for Love" (1934), "The Dark Angel" (1935), "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), "The Ghost Comes Home" (1940), and "George Washington Slept Here" (1942)

• Species: British Pugese
• Born: 2018
• Movies/Shows: "Deadpool & Wolverine" (2024)

• Species: German Shepherd
• Born: October 1, 1917
• Died: June 24, 1929
• Years Active: 1921–1927
• Movies/Shows: "The Silent Call" (1921), "Brawn of the North" (1922), "White Fang" (1925), and "The Return of Boston Blackie" (1927)

• Species: Asian elephant
• Born: November 4, 1968
• Died: May 17, 2021
• Height: 8 feet, 10 inches
• Weight: 9,300 pounds
• Movies/Shows: "Quest for Fire" (1981), "Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book" (1994), "George of the Jungle" (1997), and "Water for Elephants" (2011)

• Species: American Saddlebred/part-Arabian
• Born: 1949
• Died: 1970
• Movies/Shows: "Mister Ed" (1961-1966)

• Species: Arabian
• Born: March 6, 1969
• Died: June 29, 1993
• Movies/Shows: "The Black Stallion" (1979) and "The Black Stallion Returns" (1983)

• Species: Morgan stallion
• Born: 1916 or 1917
• Movies/Shows: "The King of Wild Horses" (1924), "The Devil Horse" (1926), "Guardians of the Wild" (1928), and "The Adventures of Rex and Rinty" (1935)

• Species: Tufted capuchin
• Born: May 6, 1994
• Height: 1 foot, 7 inches
• Years Active: 1997-present
• Movies/Shows: "George of the Jungle" (1997), "Dr. Dolittle" (1998), "Night at the Museum" (2006), and "Legends of the Hidden Temple" (2016)

• Species: Chimpanzee
• Born: 1929
• Died: February 28, 1938
• Years Active: 1932-1938
• Movies/Shows: "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1932), "The New Adventures of Tarzan" (1935), and "Her Jungle Love" (1938)