Benji is a fictional canine character created by

Joe Camp Joseph Shelton Camp Jr. (April 20, 1939 – March 15, 2024) was an American film director and writer who is best known as the creator and director of the '' Benji'' films, as well as ''Hawmps!'' and ''The Double McGuffin''. He made over $600 mil ...

. He has been the focus of several feature films and other media, beginning with the independently produced 1974 film of that title. Benji is a small, golden,

mixed-breed dog A mongrel, mutt, or mixed-breed dog is a dog that does not belong to one officially recognized Dog breed, breed, including those that result from intentional Dog breeding, breeding. Although the term ''mixed-breed dog'' is sometimes preferred, m ...

with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually to help someone overcome a problem.

Casting

The character has been portrayed by several different mixed-breed dogs over the years. A dog named Ginger played Benji's mom, Daisy. After the release of ''Benji: Off the Leash!'', Joe Camp told an interviewer that he decided from the beginning to use only

rescue dogs Pet adoption is the process of transferring responsibility for a pet. Common sources for adoptable pets are animal shelters, rescue groups, or other pet owners. Some organizations give adopters ownership of the pet, while others use a guardian ...

Breeds

All of the Benji dogs are mutts. Higgins, found as a puppy, had a shaggy, golden-tan coat adorned with white markings.

Training

Actually, Frank Inn was who discovered Higgins (who was three years old) in 1960, adopted him from the Burbank Animal Shelter, and brought him home to be a pet and show-business dog for his wife Juanita and himself. Inn trained Higgins for roles in such TV shows as ''

The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor backwoods family ...

'' (10 episodes), ''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, an ...

'' (all episodes), and ''

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'' (three episodes). After a few episodes of ''

Lassie Lassie is a fictional female Rough Collie dog and is featured in a 1938 short story by Eric Knight that was later expanded to a 1940 full-length novel, '' Lassie Come-Home''. Knight's portrayal of Lassie bears some features in common with anot ...

'', Inn retired Higgins, but brought him back at age 14 in 1974 to star in ''Benji''. Inn, also a

dog breeder Dog breeding is the practice of mating selected dogs with the intention of maintaining or producing specific qualities and characteristics. When dogs reproduce without such human intervention, their offspring's characteristics are determined by ...

, bred Higgins for more offspring that resembled him. These included daughter Benjean. Higgins died in 1975, and the filmmakers knew they would want future Benjis. Joe's wife, Andrea Carolyn Hopkins Camp (who also served as producer and assistant director on the 1974 ''Benji'', ''

Benji the Hunted ''Benji the Hunted'' is a 1987 American adventure drama film directed and written by Joe Camp and produced by Ben Vaughn. It is the fourth film in the Benji series. The film is about Benji trying to survive in the wilderness and looking after o ...

'', and ''

Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince ''Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince'' is a live-action children's science fiction television series created by Joe Camp, the creator of the '' Benji'' film series. The series was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Mulberry Square Productions, ...

''), ran a training "Benji boot camp" whenever her husband and son came home from the animal shelter with multiple likely candidates. For ''Benji: Off the Leash!'', for example, three dogs were adopted and trained; one dog was given away, Moochie became the new Benji, and Shaggy, his sidekick, was played by a dog nicknamed Lizard Tongue. Several animal handlers worked with the various Benjis across the years. Gerry Kerns served as Benji's trainer, and Roger Schumacher as Shaggy's trainer, for ''Benji: Off the Leash!''.

Filmography

Films

* '' Benji'' (1974) * ''

Hawmps! ''Hawmps!'' is a 1976 American Western slapstick comedy film about a United States Cavalry experiment to introduce camels into the service in the western United States, specifically Texas. The cast included James Hampton, Christopher Connelly ...

'' (1976; cameo) * ''

For the Love of Benji ''For the Love of Benji'' is a 1977 family film, directed and written by Joe Camp. It is the sequel to the original film, featuring Benji, and the second film in the Benji series, released on June 10, 1977. It is the first Benji film to star ...

'' (1977) * ''

The Double McGuffin ''The Double McGuffin'' is a 1979 American mystery film written and directed by Joe Camp. The film stars Ernest Borgnine and George Kennedy. Elke Sommer and NFL stars Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Lyle Alzado also appear in smaller roles. The fil ...

'' (1979; cameo) * ''

Oh! Heavenly Dog ''Oh! Heavenly Dog'' is a 1980 American fantasy comedy film written by Rod Browning and directed by Joe Camp as the third film in the series featuring the dog Benji and stars Chevy Chase as a private investigator who is reincarnated as a dog to ...

'' (1980) * ''

'' (1987) * '' Benji: Off the Leash!'' (2004) * '' Benji'' (2018)

Television

* ''

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story ''Benji's Very Own Christmas Story'' is a 1978 American Christmas television special featuring Benji and is one of two such ''Benji'' specials to have been nominated for an Emmy Award. Patsy Garrett and Cynthia Smith reprise their respective ro ...

'' (1978) * ''Benji at Work'' (1980 - short) * ''Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland'' (1981 - short) * ''

'' (1983 - series)

Documentaries

* ''Benji's Life Story'' (1976) * ''The Phenomenon of Benji'' (1978)

Video games

*''Benji: Space Rescue'' (1983) for

C64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness Wor ...

Collections

*''Benji's Film Festival'' (2001)

References

External links

* {{Benji Film characters introduced in 1974 Fictional dogs Mass media franchises