Uggie, scene-stealing canine star of "The Artist," dies
Uggie, the scene-stealing canine star of "The Artist," has died. He was 13.
The Jack Russell terrier, who won over audiences of the Oscar-winning film in 2011, was put to sleep Friday in Los Angeles.
TMZ first reported the news, revealing that Uggie had suffered from a prostate illness and a cancerous tumor. It was reportedly a difficult decision for Uggie's owner, Omar von Mueller.
Mueller took to Facebook to confirm the sad news: "We regret to inform to all our friends, family and Uggie's fans that our beloved boy has passed away. We were not planning on posting anything until we healed a little more but unfortunately somebody leaked it to TMZ and they will be announcing it. In short, Uggie had a cancerous tumor in the prostate and is now in a better place not feeling pain. Thank you for your support, I will not be reading any comments for a while as it is too painful at the moment."
Uggie appeared in "The Artist" alongside Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo. The film went on to win five Academy Awards, including best picture in 2012. The four-legged pup even joined Dujardin onstage to accept one of the Oscars.
After his starring turn in "The Artist," Uggie made many television appearances and also placed his paw prints in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.
Uggie also starred in "Water for Elephants," "Mr. Fix It" and more recently appeared in an episode of "Key and Peele and in the TV film, "Holiday Road Trip."
