12 Animals That Will Forever Be More Successful Than Your Actor Friend

One of the most prolific and beloved animal actors of all time, Bart the Bear has an IMDb page most struggling actors would sell their soul for. He wasn’t just working, however; he almost nabbed an Oscar nomination in the process. He’s seen here presenting an award at a later ceremony, possibly as a slight apology that he couldn’t qualify.

Speaking of Academy-honored dogs, famous German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin was rumored to have not only been nominated, but actually won the very first Best Actor award in Oscars history, before their anti-dog agenda once again took precedence. Awards aside, he still starred in an incredible amount of movies, with top billing, no less.

Their god-given (well, owner-given, I suppose) name was Pal, but you know them better as Lassie. Not only the most famous movie dog, but arguably the most famous dog of all time, period.

Not a lot of people were evaluated as having the acting chops to star opposite the iconic Audrey Hepburn. Who did make the cut? Orangey the Cat, who's enshrined along with the actor in memories of her biggest hit, Breakfast of Tiffany’s.

It might sound like the name of a particularly glum mafioso, but Jimmy the Raven was exactly as described. His performances are also almost required yearly Christmas viewing in homes across the country, thanks to his role in It's a Wonderful Life. Though, disrespectfully, IMDb credits him as “Jimmy the Crow.” A little more respect for the classier corvid, please.

Looking through the top of the cast list in old Westerns, some recognizable human names will pop up. Mixed right in, and usually sharing poster space with his owner, Tom Mix, was Tony the Wonder Horse.

I don’t need to even explain who this is, which is a level of fame most actors will never achieve.

Roy Rogers’ stalwart steed shared his fame, and his credits. You think going out for AT&T commercials is going to get Willie Nelson to name his guitar after you?

I’ve done Keiko the honor of not using the more alliterative, but ruder “killer whale” descriptor. Keiko was famous for portraying Free Willy. There’s precious few celebrities who have become so beloved that people have started campaigns to free them from an unhealthy situation. It’s basically just Keiko and Britney Spears.

Possibly the only actor specifically hired for their misbehavior is Crystal the Capuchin. Basically, if a monkey was yanking anyone’s hair in a comedy over the last decade, it was probably Crystal.

One of the only canines that can hold a flame to Lassie’s fame is Terry the Cairn Terrier, who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz. No one should be that surprised — I mean, look at him. Also, I can’t tell you how delighted I am to find out that there’s a dog named Terry.

Moose portrayed Eddie in all-timer sitcom Frasier, and the Jack Russell Terrier got so much fan mail that it reportedly caused a legitimate feud with Kelsey Grammer.