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Canine actor Uggie, known for ‘The Artist,’ dies at 13

In the film “The Artist” which is about the rise and eventual downfall of two Hollywood stars in the 1920s, Uggie plays the part of the loyal pet “Jack” of a silent-movie star George Valentin whose career takes a turn for the worse with the dawning of talking movies.

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Uggie was diagnosed with a prostate tumor and put down last week, TMZ reported. Receiving top honors from the entertainment world, his 2011 performance won both the Golden Collar Award and the prestigious Cannes Film Festival’s Palm Dog Award.

Uggie’s other film credits include roles in “Key and Peele” and “Water for Elephants“.

His stunts and tricks led to numerous television appearances and in 2012 he became the first dog to have his prints cemented outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, alongside acting legends such as Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne and Judy Garland.

A second trainer, Sarah Clifford, described Uggie as “a ideal little terrier” and added: “I will forever hold him dearly in my heart and never forget his infinite love for chicken and hotdogs”. “Our beloved boy has passed away”, he wrote in a post.

View a compilation of some of Uggie’s best moments from “The Artist.”

Perhaps the most memorable star from “The Artist“, Uggie the dog has died.

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Not even Uggie, however, could ignore the great dog whistle in the sky when it finally blew for him.

Uggie seen with Jean Dujardin on their Oscar-winning night for'The Artist. | Mark J. Terrill  AP