Animals in Entertainment 

Animals have been entertaining film and television viewers for years.  Even in ancient times, there is evidence that the Greek author Plutarch wrote about a Poodle-like dog named Zoppico who performed for the Emperor Vespasian over 2000 years ago.  Zoppico's famous trick of "playing dead" was to eat a piece of meat and fall over as if he were dead, but he would be miraculously revived by the audience's applause.

Today, animals have become as famous as moviestars, supermodels, and even spokespersons ("spokesanimals") for advertisements.  The most respected animal from the big screen is probably Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd who became the first animal star in Hollywood.  Since then, we've been amused by countless animals, from cats and dogs, to fish and horses.

Here are some links to celebrity animals audiences have fallen in love with over the past several decades:


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