Skippy (dog)

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Skippy (later Asta ) was a wirehaired fox terrier and animal actor who appeared in numerous films in the 1930s. The dog has been heralded as both Skippy and Asta throughout his career .

Life

The wirehaired fox terrier Skippy was born around the early 1930s. He was trained by former actress Gale Henry. His first film The Skinny Man , in which he played William Powell's dog Asta as private detective Nick Charles , in 1934 , was a huge success. Skippy was so successful in the role of Asta , the sidekick of William Powell and Myrna Loy , that he was officially named Asta and also starred in the sequel After the Thin Man from 1936. It is unclear whether he appeared in the third film Thin Man, 3rd Case from 1939. Other dogs were definitely used in other films in the series.

Skippy, aka Asta, was paid around $ 250 a week in later years, while his dog trainer only got around $ 60. In addition to the Thin Man films, he appeared in The Terrible Truth , in which Irene Dunne and Cary Grant cannot agree on custody of their dog during their divorce proceedings. A year later, Grant played again with Skippy in Leopards Don't Kiss . Skippy buries the precious bones of a Brontosaurus there . Other films include The Big Broadcast of 1936 and Topper Goes to Travel .

Asta was withdrawn from the film business around 1939.

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