Pal a.k.a. "Lassie"

Pal was born at Glamis Kennels in North Hollywood, California, to parents Red Brucie of Glamis and Bright Bauble of Glamis. A male Rough Collie, he would go on to become the most celebrated canine performer in film history.

As an eight-month-old pup, Pal was brought to Hollywood animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax to correct his habits of barking and chasing motorcycles. When his original owner declined to reclaim him, Weatherwax kept the spirited young collie—a decision that would change entertainment history.

In 1943, Pal auditioned alongside 1,500 other dogs for the lead role in MGM's Lassie Come Home. Initially rejected for being male and having unconventional markings, he was hired instead as a stunt double. His moment came when the female lead refused to swim across the flooding San Joaquin River. Pal leaped into the raging waters without hesitation, delivering a performance so moving that director Fred Wilcox declared, "Pal may have gone into the river, but Lassie came out."

That single act of courage launched an extraordinary career. Pal starred in seven MGM feature films and earned a studio contract—a remarkable achievement for any performer, let alone a dog. When MGM could not pay what they owed him in 1951, Weatherwax accepted something more valuable: full ownership of the Lassie name and trademark.

In 1954, at age fourteen, Pal filmed the pilot episodes that launched the beloved Lassie television series before passing the role to his son. He remained a beloved presence on set, resting on his special bed behind the cameras while his descendants carried on his legacy. Cast and crew affectionately called him "The Old Man."

Pal spent his final years at Weatherwax's ranch, surrounded by the family who loved him. He passed away peacefully in June 1958 at the age of eighteen. His trainer never recovered from the loss, unable to watch the MGM films again because seeing Pal was simply too painful.

Pal's legacy endures through ten generations of descendants who have continued to portray Lassie, and through the countless lives touched by the brave, loyal character he brought to life. In 2009, the United States Postal Service honored his contribution to American culture with a commemorative stamp.

He was, as The Saturday Evening Post proclaimed, the dog with "the most spectacular canine career in film history."