Spike

Born: None

Spike (1952–1962) was a lop-eared yellow Mastador (Mastiff/Labrador Retriever crossbreed) and a dog actor best known for his performance as the title character in the 1957 film Old Yeller, in which he co-starred with Tommy Kirk, Beverly Washburn, Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, and Kevin Corcoran. Spike was rescued as a pup from a shelter in Van Nuys, California, and became the pet and pupil of animal trainer Frank Weatherwax. Spike also appeared as Patrasche in 20th Century Fox's A Dog of Flanders with Donald Crisp and David Ladd in 1959 and as King in the 1956 film The She-Creature. In 1961, Spike was the star of The Silent Call, playing as Pete with Roger Mobley, David McLean and Gail Russell; the entire film focused on his efforts to reunite with his human family who had been forced to leave him behind while traveling from Nevada to California. Various television episodes of the period in which Spike appeared included The Mickey Mouse Club and Lassie, and he appeared in every episode of The Westerner with Brian Keith.


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Old Yeller

as Old Yeller
Released: 1957-12-25

Young Travis Coates is left to take care of the family ranch with his mother and younger brother...

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The She-Creature

as King the Dog
Released: 1956-08-01

A mysterious hypnotist reverts his beautiful assistant back into the form of a prehistoric sea...

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A Dog of Flanders

as Patrasche
Released: 1959-03-17

The emotional story of a boy, his grandfather, and his dog. The boy's dream of becoming a great...

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The Silent Call

as Pete
Released: 1961-05-10

Young Guy Brancato and parents have to move from Elko, Nevada to Los Angeles, California, they...

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