Allisyn writes about tarot, astrology, angel therapy, aromatherapy, feng
shui, interior design, and human and animal behavior.
From the 1973 show “Diana”: the title character (Diana Rigg) with her roommate
Gulliver
Great Danes: The Gentle Giant Movie Stars
When we think of Great Danes, our minds usually go to the clumsy big dog in
cartoons—but while they were entertaining us as cartoon characters, they were
also entertaining us as live-action characters on screens big and small. Some
of them just had cameo appearances and others made it to be co-stars. Great
Danes have even made it into literature. Author Kristan Higgins depicted a
Great Dane in her book Until There Was You.
Whether they just have a small part or they are one of the main characters,
there is no doubt that they will make you laugh. Just the alarming size and
gentle-giant disposition alone will be sure to tickle your funny bone.
6 Famous Great Danes From TV and Movies
- Scooby-Doo
- Unnamed Dane from Little Rascals
- Marmaduke
- Astro from The Jetsons
- Chin-Up from Blondie in Society
- Landru from The Burbs
Scooby-Doo is perhaps the best-known big-screen Great Dane.
1. Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is a famous cartoon that first aired in 1969 and still airs
today. Scooby solved supernatural mysteries along with four teenagers, Fred,
Daphne, Velma and Shaggy. Scooby is a brown Great Dane and made the phrase
“rrrrrruttt rouhhhhh” famous.
2. Unnamed Great Dane From The Little Rascals ‘ “Dog Heaven”
Although Pete the Pit Bull is always the dog star in The Little Rascals
movies, a Great Dane makes a cameo appearance in this 1927 movie. A Great Dane
plays the bad dog and pushes Clarbelle (Joe’s new girl) into the lake.
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3. Marmaduke
A Sunday comic strip drawn by Brad Anderson starting in 1954. The comic is
about the Winslow family and the antics of a Great Dane named Marmaduke.
Anderson received an award from the National Cartoonist Society in 1978 for
his Marmaduke character. There have been several movies made based on the
comic strip keeping our most loved Great Dane on the charts.
4. Astro From The Jetsons
Astro is the blue Great Dane in the cartoon The Jetsons. The Jetson family
Jane, George, Elroy, Judy, Rosie, and of course Astro their dog, exist in
space in the future. Astro is George’s best friend and keeps Elroy out of
trouble. The Jetsons first aired in 1962 as a prime-time show.
5. Chin-Up From Blondie in Society
The movie Blondie in Society (1941) revolves around a Great Dane. Dagwood
brings home a champion Great Dane named Chin Up that promptly causes chaos for
the Bumpstead family. Blondie gets upset when Chin Up eats everything in sight
and causes the neighborhood to be mad and Baby Dumpling thinks that he has to
return his bike because of Chin Up.
6. Landru From The Burbs
In this 1989 horror comedy starring Tom Hanks, Landru is the Klopeks’ Great
Dane that is named after the French serial killer Henri Landu. The creepy
Klopeks move into Ray Peterson’s suburban neighborhood and cause his neighbors
to become paranoid. A quick-witted fun movie with a gorgeous fawn Great Dane
whose size overwhelms everybody.
That’s All Folks!
There are so many more movies out there with Great Danes being the star or
just a pop-in actor but these are some of my favorites. I hope that you
enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it. Here’s
to having a Great Dane day!
Written in loving memory of my best friend’s blue Great Danes Sterling, Blue,
and Sadie; and my blue Great Dane Levi Strauss who were always the stars of
our show.
Comments
Laken lomen on March 10, 2018:
Laken lomen