Orangey

Born: None

Orangey, also known as Orangey Minerva (c. 1950–1968), was a male marmalade tabby cat, who was an animal actor owned and trained by the cinematic animal handler Frank Inn. Orangey (credited under various names) had a prolific career in film and television in the 1950s and early 1960s and was the only cat to win two PATSY Awards (Picture Animal Top Star of the Year, an animal actor's version of an Oscar), the first for the title role in Rhubarb (1951), a story about a cat who inherits a fortune, and the second for his portrayal of "Cat" in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). For this film Orangey won the 1962 PATSY Award for his portrayal of "the poor slob without a name." He has also been credited as the cat Mouschi in the film adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank (1959). In that film, he nearly reveals the Jews' hiding place, and later becomes its only escapee. The cat was credited as the family pet, "Butch," in the film The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), in which he is mistakenly assumed to have eaten the title character. According to Sam Wasson, author of 5th Avenue, 5AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, Inn said Orangey was "a real New York type cat, just what we want. In no time at all I'm going to make a method, or Lee Strasberg type, cat out of him." Orangey was called "the world's meanest cat" by one studio executive. He often scratched and bit actors. But he was prized for his ability to stay for several hours. Sometimes, however, he would flee after filming some scenes and production would be shut down until he could be found. Inn would sometimes have to post guard dogs at the studio entrance to keep him from running away. Other appearances included a regular role as "Minerva" on the television series Our Miss Brooks (1952–1958). The cat was also credited as "Jimmy," "Jeremy," and "Rhubarb." Orangey's last known appearance came in two consecutive episodes in the TV series Batman in 1967-68 in which he played an uncredited role alongside Eartha Kitt who portrayed Catwoman. Sofia Bohdanowicz's 2020 short documentary film The Hardest Working Cat in Show Biz, based on Dan Sallitt’s essay of the same name, explores Orangey's history, mythology, and rumors that the name "Orangey" was ascribed to several different cats as opposed to one single cat. Orangey was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), located in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States.


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as Cat
Released: 1961-10-06

Holly Golightly is an eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian...

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The Diary of Anne Frank

as Mouschi (uncredited)
Released: 1959-03-18

The true, harrowing story of a young Jewish girl who, with her family and their friends, is...

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Darby O'Gill and the Little People

as Ginger (uncredited)
Released: 1959-06-24

A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for...

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The Incredible Shrinking Man

as Butch (uncredited)
Released: 1957-02-22

A dangerous combination of radiation and insecticide causes the unfortunate Scott Carey to...

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This Island Earth

as Neutron (uncredited)
Released: 1955-06-01

Aliens have landed and are hiding on Earth, but need Earth’s scientists to help them fight an...

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The Matchmaker

as Himself - a cat (as Rhubarb)
Released: 1958-07-23

Thornton Wilder's tale of a matchmaker who desires the man she's supposed to be pairing with...

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The Matchmaker

as Cat (credited as Rhubarb)
Released: 1958-07-23

Thornton Wilder's tale of a matchmaker who desires the man she's supposed to be pairing with...

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Village of the Giants

as Giant cat (uncredited)
Released: 1965-10-20

"Genius" accidentally invents "goo" which causes living things to rapidly grow to an enormous...

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Under the Yum-Yum Tree

as Cat (uncredited)
Released: 1963-10-23

A love-struck landlord tries to convince a pretty tenant to dump her fiancé and give him a chance.

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The Comedy of Terrors

as Cleopatra (credited as Rhubarb)
Released: 1964-01-22

An undertaker who hasn't had any 'customers' in a long time is forced to pay one year's...

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Visit to a Small Planet

as Clementine (uncredited)
Released: 1960-02-04

The weirdest alien of the galaxy pays a visit to Earth... Jerry Lewis is Kreton, a childish...

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Short Cut to Hell

as Cat (uncredited)
Released: 1957-09-01

A hitman is found out because he was paid off in traceable stolen money. On the run, he kidnaps...

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Rhubarb

as Rhubarb (uncredited; one of 14 cats in the role)
Released: 1951-08-29

Rich, eccentric T.J. Banner adopts a feral cat who becomes an affectionate pet he names Rhubarb....

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Beau James

as Cat (uncredited)
Released: 1957-06-07

The story of Jimmy Walker who became mayor of New York in the '20s.

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Audrey Hepburn: Remembered

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1993-08-11

Audrey Hepburn was one of the movies' best-loved stars, blessed with beauty, talent, an elegant...

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Our Miss Brooks

as Minerva (uncredited)
Released: 1956-04-24

The big-screen translation of the successful television show of the 1950's. Arden stars as...

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Fluffy

as Cat (uncredited)
Released: 1965-06-27

A college professor gets into trouble when he tries to prove any animal can be domesticated,...

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Gigot

as Cat (uncredited)
Released: 1962-11-01

A poignant comedy about a mute who befriends Nicole, the little daughter of a prostitute....

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Mission: Impossible

as Rusty
First aired: 1966-09-17

Mission: Impossible is an American television series that was created and initially produced by...

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The Twilight Zone

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1959-10-02

A series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science...

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Batman

as Circe (uncredited)
First aired: 1966-01-12

Wealthy entrepreneur Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson lead a double life: they are actually...

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Batman

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1966-01-12

Wealthy entrepreneur Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson lead a double life: they are actually...

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I Dream of Jeannie

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1965-09-18

While on a mission, American astronaut Captain Tony Nelson is forced to make an emergency...

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The Outer Limits

as Kagan Family housecat (uncredited)
First aired: 1963-09-16

The Outer Limits is an anthology tv series of self-contained sci-fi-horror stories, sometimes...

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The Fugitive

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1963-09-17

Richard Kimble is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death penalty. En route...

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The Fugitive

as Rusty (uncredited)
First aired: 1963-09-17

Richard Kimble is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death penalty. En route...

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Petticoat Junction

as Miranda (uncredited)
First aired: 1963-09-24

The Bradley family are proud owners of the Shady Rest Hotel. Kate and her three young daughters...

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Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

as Henrietta (uncredited)
First aired: 1964-09-25

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September...

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The Dick Van Dyke Show

as Mr. Henderson (credited as Rhubarb)
First aired: 1961-10-03

The Dick Van Dyke Show centers around the work and home life of television comedy writer Rob...

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Leave It to Beaver

as Puff Puff (uncredited)
First aired: 1957-10-04

Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive and often...

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The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1959-09-29

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1963. The...

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Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1955-10-02

A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.

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Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Stanley (uncredited)
First aired: 1955-10-02

A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.

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My Favorite Martian

as Cat on footpath (uncredited)
First aired: 1963-09-29

Newspaper reporter Tim O'Hara finds a crashed alien spaceship that contains one live alien. Not...

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My Favorite Martian

as Max (credited as Rhubarb)
First aired: 1963-09-29

Newspaper reporter Tim O'Hara finds a crashed alien spaceship that contains one live alien. Not...

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My Favorite Martian

as Herbie (uncredited)
First aired: 1963-09-29

Newspaper reporter Tim O'Hara finds a crashed alien spaceship that contains one live alien. Not...

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Gilligan's Island

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1964-09-26

The slapstick adventures of hapless Gilligan, long-suffering Skipper and their gang of...

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The Rifleman

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1958-09-30

The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas...

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Mister Ed

as Cat (uncredited)
First aired: 1961-01-05

Wilbur Post and his wife Carol move into a beautiful new home. When Wilbur takes a look in his...

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Shirley Temple's Storybook

as The Cat (credited as Rhubarb)
First aired: 1958-01-12

Shirley Temple's Storybook is an American children's anthology series hosted and narrated by...

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Our Miss Brooks

as Minerva
First aired: 1952-10-03

Our Miss Brooks is an American situation comedy starring Eve Arden as a sardonic high school...

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