Air Buddy

Buddy (March 23, 1988 – February 10, 1998) was a Golden Retriever dog actor. He was best known for his role as himself in the film Air Bud.

Buddy
SpeciesCanis familiaris
BreedGolden Retriever
SexMale
BornMarch 23, 1988
Sierra Nevada, (found near June Lake, California)
DiedFebruary 10, 1998 (aged 9)
San Diego, California
OccupationDog actor
Years active1989–1998
OwnerKevin di Cicco

Early life

Buddy was found by Kevin DiCicco as a stray dog in the Sierra Nevada in the summer of 1989.[1] DiCicco adopted the disheveled Golden Retriever and brought him home to San Diego, where he trained him in the sports of basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey.[1] Buddy's most eagerly awaited sport was basketball. He was touted as the Michael Jordan of dogs. DiCicco revealed that Buddy tried to bite the ball, but its slipperiness, enhanced by saliva or more efficiently by olive oil, would propel it from his mouth.[2]

Early appearances

His first appearance was on America's Funniest Home Videos.[3] He then gained further fame bouncing a basketball off his muzzle and into a basketball hoop on David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment of the Late Show with David Letterman.[4] Buddy appeared three times on the Late Show.[2]

Film

He was cast as Buddy in the 1997 Disney film Air Bud, a film that tells the story of a golden retriever abandoned by his alcoholic abusive owner. In the film, he moved in with a boy named Josh Framm who was depressed after his father died in a plane crash. He appeared on the Kids' Choice Awards in 1998, where he was nominated for a Blimp Award for the film. Prior to his death, Buddy sired nine puppies.[5][6] Air Bud was Buddy's final acting role.

Illness and death

In 1997, Buddy had his right hind leg amputated due to synovial cell sarcoma, a type of cancer that manifests near the joints, although he was still able to shoot hoops.[7] Six months later Air Buddy died in his sleep due to complications from cancer on February 10, 1998, at his owner's San Diego home.[8] At the time of his death, Buddy was 9 years old.[5] Buddy was a month and 13 days away from celebrating his 10th birthday. Air Bud: Golden Receiver was dedicated to his memory.

Book

Buddy's story is told in the 2012 book Go Buddy!, written by his owner Kevin DiCicco.[1][9]

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryStatus
1999Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite Animal StarNominated
1998Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite Animal StarNominated[10]

Films and TV

Film

Television

See also

References
  1. di Cicco, Kevin (2012). Go Buddy! The Air Bud Story. Air Bud Publishing Group / Amazon.com. p. 348. ISBN 0-9859-8370-1.
  2. Air Bud: Kevin DiCicco Exclusive Interview on YouTube, ScreenSlam.com
  3. Tony Perry (August 9, 1992). "Once Again, It's Man's Best Friend to the Rescue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  4. Margaret A. McGurk (August 14, 1998). "Wholesome Air Bud scores with youngsters". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  5. Tribune News Services (February 13, 1998). "Athletic Canine Star Of `Air Bud' Film Dies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  6. Ryan, Joal (Feb 13, 1998). "Hollywood Mourns Loss of "Air Bud"". E! Online. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  7. Tribune News Services (August 7, 1997). "Cancer Can't Ground `Air Bud' Hoops Pooch". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  8. "'Air Bud' Star Dies Of Cancer,". The Spokesman-Review. February 13, 1998. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  9. "The Story Behind "Air Bud"". KATU. August 30, 2012. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  10. Melanie Mcfarland (April 3, 1998). "The Kids Get Their Say For Nickelodeon Awards". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
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