Benji
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Benji is the name of a fictitious dog who has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s, and is also the title of the first film in the series. His character is a small, lovable mixed-breed dog with an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually helping a person overcome a problem. Joe Camp is the creator and director of the Benji films.[1]
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[edit] Dog actors who have played Benji
[edit] Higgins
The real name of the dog who first played Benji was Higgins. He was trained by Frank Inn, who found him in an animal shelter in Burbank, California. He was a small dog with dark golden-brown fluffy hair, black ears, a black muzzle, and big brown eyes. Inn wrote that he believed Higgins to have been a cross between a miniature poodle, a miniature schnauzer, and a cocker spaniel.
Before playing Benji, Higgins had a recurring role in the popular TV show Petticoat Junction in the mid 1960s, as did Edgar Buchanan, who also starred in the first Benji movie. Higgins and Edgar Buchanan also guest-starred together as partners on The Green Acres television series. Higgins made his first movie, Mooch Goes to Hollywood, in 1971. He then retired, but came out of retirement to play Benji. He was 15 years old when he made the first Benji film in 1974 and he did all his own stunts. He retired again not long afterward, and his daughter replaced him in later movies.
[edit] Benji #2
From 1977 to 1989, the part of Benji was played by a daughter of Higgins. Before she was chosen to be the second Benji trainer Frank Inn referred to her as Benjean, but once chosen to carry on the mantle of canine superstar, her name immediately became Benji and she was called nothing else. Benji #2 looked quite a bit like her father, being of a similar size and golden-brown colour, with those iconic big brown eyes, but her hair was softer and fluffier than his and she had a distinctive irregular patch of white fur around her nose on her muzzle. For her first movie, which she began at a young eleven months old, her ears were dyed black on the tips to make her look more like the original Benji, but as she grew older, her ears darkened and the dye was no longer necessary.
Benji #2 starred in three Benji feature films: For the Love of Benji (1977), Oh Heavenly Dog (1980), and Benji the Hunted (1987). She also starred in four prime time television specials for ABC, Benji's Very Own Christmas Story; a television documentary about how dog actors are trained and what they can do, Benji at Work (1980); a short film showing her performing an unusual underwater stunt, Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland (1981); and "The Phenomenon of Benji" which had the highest ratings of the week in its initial airing. Benji #2 also starred in a Saturday Morning science fiction television series for CBS Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince.
[edit] Benji #3
The most recent Benji movie, Benji: Off the Leash!, was released in 2004. The dog portraying Benji in this movie is a female who was adopted from a shelter in Gulfport, Mississippi by Benji creator Joe Camp after a three-month national search. She lives with Camp and his wife Kathleen, as does Benji's co-star Shaggy who played the role of Lizard Tongue in the film. [2][3] Also see podcast "Benji Movie Memories" for clips from all three dogs playing Benji at www.Benji.com.
Benji #3 was found in 2001 during Joe Camp's nationwide search for a new Benji. The original Benji was rescued from a shelter and caused over a million dog adoptions because of the original Benji movie according to the American Humnan. So Joe Camp wanted to recreate that mission. Benji #3 was a stray from the back streets of Pass Christian on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, she was picked up by Harrison County Animal Control, brought to the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport on September 29th, 2001, and adopted by the Camps on November 15th. A second Benji-type dog, adopted from a Chicago shelter, played Benji's side-kick Lizard Tongue. A third Benji-type dog, found in a Los Angeles shelter, became an "understudy" and then went to live with the film's co-producer, Margaret Loesch.[4].
Benji #3's next film with be with wild mustangs.
[edit] Benji in movies and television
- 1974, Benji (feature film)
- 1977, For the Love of Benji (feature film)
- 1977. "The Phenomenon of Benji" (Prime Time TV Special; ABC)
- 1978, Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (Prime Time TV Special; ABC)
- 1980, Oh Heavenly Dog (feature film)
- 1980, Benji at Work (Prime Time TV Special; ABC0
- 1981, Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland (Prime Time TV Special; ABC)
- 1983, Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince (TV series- CBS)
- 1987, Benji the Hunted (feature film)
- 2004, Benji: Off the Leash! (feature film)
[edit] Benji in popular culture
- A 1980s TV show titled Here's Boomer featured an acting dog that was very like Higgins, the original Benji.
- In the Family Guy episode North by North Quahog, Brian refers to himself as Benji.
[edit] References
- ^ Benji Trivia - Movie Facts - People Magazine
- ^ A New Benji is Found at petplanret.co.uk. retrieved December 10th, 2007.
- ^ http://www.benji.com/PodCasts%20&%20Email%20videos/SitStayPromoClip2.1.mov Benji.com: Joe Camp demonstrating a "stay" command and calling "] (Retrieved Nov. 27 2007)
- ^ For the Animals at benji.com retrieved December 10th, 2007
