Terry (dog)
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Terry (November 17, 1933 – September 1, 1945) was a female Cairn Terrier performer who appeared in many different movies, most famously as Toto in the film '' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939). It was her only credited role, though she was credited not as Terry but as Toto, and because of the role's popularity her name was officially changed to Toto in 1942. She was owned and trained by Carl Spitz and Gabrielle Quinn.


Life and career

Terry was born in the midst of the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. She was trained and owned by Carl Spitz. She was the mother of Rommy, another movie Cairn Terrier, who appeared in other films including ''
Reap the Wild Wind ''Reap the Wild Wind'' is a 1942 American adventure film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Ray Milland, John Wayne, and Paulette Goddard, with a supporting cast featuring Raymond Massey, Robert Preston (actor), Robert Pres ...
'' (1942) and ''
Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...
'' (1943). Her first film appearance was in '' Ready for Love'' (1934) which was released on November 30, 1934, roughly one month before her first major film appearance, with
Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple; April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat, who was Hollywood's number-one box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938. Later, she was na ...
, in '' Bright Eyes'' (1934) as Rags. She did her own stunts, and was seriously injured during the filming of '' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939) when one of the Winkie guards accidentally stepped on one of her paws, spraining it. Terry spent two weeks recuperating at
Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...
's residence, and Garland developed a close attachment to her. Garland offered to buy Terry from Spitz, but he refused to sell her. Terry's $125 per week salary (), was more than that of many human actors in the film, and also more than the average working American at the time. She attended the premiere of ''The Wizard of Oz'' at
Grauman's Chinese Theatre Grauman's Chinese Theatre, known as the Chinese colloquially and officially billed as TCL Chinese Theatre for sponsorship reasons, is a movie palace on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Unite ...
; because of the popularity of the film, her name was formally changed to Toto in 1942. She had 23 total film appearances, three of which were playing in theaters at the same time in the fall of 1939: ''The Wizard of Oz'', '' The Women'', and '' Bad Little Angel''. Among the last ones was '' Tortilla Flat'' (1942), in which she was reunited with ''Oz'' director
Victor Fleming Victor Lonzo Fleming (February 23, 1889 – January 6, 1949) was an American film director, cinematographer, and producer. His most popular films were the historical drama ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'', for which he won an A ...
and
Frank Morgan Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous sound ...
, who played Professor Marvel and the Wizard. Terry's final film role was in '' Easy to Look At'', released three weeks before her death. Terry died at age 11 in Hollywood on September 1, 1945, and was buried at Spitz's ranch in
Studio City, Los Angeles Studio City is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States, in the southeast San Fernando Valley, just west of the Cahuenga Pass. It is named after the studio lot that was established in the area by film producer Mack Sennett in ...
. The grave was destroyed during the construction of the
Ventura Freeway The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California, United States, that runs from the Santa Barbara County, California, Santa Barbara/Ventura county line to Pasadena in Los Angeles County. It is the principal east–west route (designate ...
in 1958. On June 18, 2011, a permanent memorial for Terry was dedicated at the
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematorium, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries ...
in Los Angeles.


Filmography

* '' Ready for Love'' (1934) as Dog (uncredited) * '' Bright Eyes'' (1934) as Rags, Loop's Dog (uncredited) * '' The Dark Angel'' (1935) as Dog (uncredited) * '' Fury'' (1936) as Rainbow, Joe's Dog (uncredited) * '' The Buccaneer'' (1938) as Landlubber (uncredited) * '' Barefoot Boy'' (1938) as herself * '' Stablemates'' (1938) as Pet Dog (uncredited) * '' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939) as Toto * '' The Women'' (1939) as Fighting Dog at Beauty Shop (uncredited) * '' Bad Little Angel'' (1939) as Rex, the Dog (uncredited) * '' Calling Philo Vance'' (1940) as McTavish (uncredited) * '' The Ghost Comes Home'' (1940) as Dog in Pet Shop (uncredited) * '' Son of the Navy'' (1940) as Terry * ''Cinderella's Feller'' (1940 short) as Rex the Dog (uncredited) * '' The Old Swimmin Hole'' (1940) as Toto (uncredited) * '' The Chocolate Soldier'' (1941) as Dog (uncredited) * '' Rings on Her Fingers'' (1942) as Dog (uncredited) * '' Twin Beds'' (1942) as Dog (uncredited) * '' Tortilla Flat'' (1942) as Little Paelito (uncredited) * '' George Washington Slept Here'' (1942) as Dog (uncredited) * '' The Heavenly Body'' (1944) as Dog in Groomer's Tub (uncredited) * '' Easy to Look At'' (1945) as Toto (uncredited) (final film role)


See also

*
List of individual dogs The following is a list of individual dogs. Actors Advertising * Alex the dog, Banjo, portrayed Carlos, an Irish Setter-Golden Retriever mix and star of Stroh Brewery Company, Stroh's beer advertising in the 1980s. Also mentioned in the 1 ...


References


External links

*
Toto aka Terry at Animal Discovery

Toto memorial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Terry 1933 animal births 1945 animal deaths Dog actors