Moviegoers have always loved animals in film, and the golden retriever from 'Air Bud' quickly became a celebrity back in the '90s. The movie, which centered on a dog named Old Blue (later renamed Buddy) playing basketball and, of course, finding love with his very own boy, was a huge hit.
In fact, the film even spawned countless sequels and spinoffs, including many movies about the 'Air Buddies,' which was about the next generation of sports-loving canines. And who knows, the films might've inspired modern shows like 'Vanderpump Dogs.'
But what happened to Buddy from 'Air Bud,' and where did he end up after becoming famous?
Who Was Buddy From 'Air Bud'?
In real life, the golden retriever who portrayed Buddy was really named Buddy. His owner, Kevin Dicicco, came across Buddy as a stray in 1989. Dicicco trained Buddy himself, which led the duo to fame, first on 'America's Funniest Home Videos' and later on David Letterman.
But in 1997, Disney was pitching a film about a golden retriever who could play basketball. The original script called for a dog that could actually play basketball, but it seemed that Disney wanted to use CGI at first.
When the director who wound up at the helm of the film was first approached with the idea, though, he shot down CGI. Instead, he wanted to find a retriever that could be trained to do some believable tricks. Fortunately for Charles Martin Smith, Kevin Dicicco's dog came with all the talent necessary.
Did Buddy Actually Play Basketball?
Though that was really Buddy shooting hoops in the film, the director admitted that it took countless takes to get the footage. Plus, though Buddy was obsessed with basketballs, the crew used a few tricks -- such as deflating the ball a bit and coating it with olive oil so it'd slip out of Buddy's mouth -- to get the footage they needed.
For the other tricks, such as a scene where Buddy comes out a second-story window and makes his way down to the driveway to pick up a newspaper, Buddy's natural talent (and the help of a dog trainer) achieved the perfect shot.
What Happened To Buddy After 'Air Bud'?
Sadly for fans of Buddy, he didn't live long after completing 'Air Bud,' which would be his final acting gig. Because he was a stray, his owner could only guess at his age (around 9), but Buddy passed away in 1998 of bone cancer.
Even when he was in the films, though, the director explained, the makeup crew often had to touch up some gray around Buddy's muzzle. But thanks to his career, Buddy will never be forgotten, especially as Disney continued churning out puppy films that echoed his legacy. Of course, not all of the franchise's films were well-received.
But yes, some of the puppies were actually Buddy's; the dog sired at least nine pups before his passing.