Robert Weatherwax died: “Lassie” trainer was 83
Robert Weatherwax, a second-generation Hollywood animal trainer and son of Lassie Co-creator Rudd Weatherwax has died. He was 83 years old.
The late trainer’s son, Robert Jr., who also continued in the family business, announced his father’s death on Friday with an old photo of the two of them and one of the original dog’s collie offspring. Lassie Dog actor Pal.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my legendary dog trainer father,” Robert Jr. wrote in the post. “He was born exactly one year after my grandfather’s MGM Lassie – ‘Pal.’ I am proud to be the last representative of the greatest dog trainer family in history.”
Rudd created Lassie for CBS in 1954 with producer Robert Maxwell. Robert Weatherwax Sr. joined his father on the show in the early 60s and led the Lassie legacy after Rudd died in 1985 at age 77. The family voted to sell the character’s trademark in 2002.
“Thanks to my dad’s genius, we transformed the training of dogs from being simple props on a movie set to actors who seemed to behave with human-like emotions,” Robert previously said in his biography. “Dad was a transitional figure in animal training in Hollywood, and my experiences with him from childhood to adulthood changed my life and made me who I am today.
“I hope that my father’s lifelong labour of love, which I witnessed and am proud to be a part of at his side, will have an uplifting effect on a world that more than ever needs inspiration from the past,” he added.
In addition to his work on LassieRobert trained the dog Einstein from the Back to the future Films, as well as animals on Big Jake (1971), The thing (1982) and Dennis, the threat (1993).
The Weatherwax family has been in Hollywood since Rudd’s father, Walter Weatherwax, moved the family to Hollywood and entered the business. Robert’s uncle Jack trained Toto in The Wizard of Ozand his uncle Frank trained Spike, the dog who Old Screamer (1957).
