Bruno (bear actor)
Bruno, also called Ben or Gentle Ben (1962− c. 1981), was a male black bear actor best known for playing the leading role of Ben the bear in the 1967-1969 CBS television series, Gentle Ben. He also played the adult Ben in the feature film prelude to the TV series, Gentle Giant (1967). In 1968, Bruno received a first-place PATSY Award for his work on the Gentle Giant film and a second-place award for his work on the TV series. After the Gentle Ben series ended, Bruno made another well-received appearance in the 1972 John Huston-directed film The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, starring Paul Newman.
Bruno and Paul Newman in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) | |
| Other name(s) | Ben, or Gentle Ben |
|---|---|
| Species | North American black bear |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 1962 Near White Lake, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | c. 1981 Acton, California, U.S. |
| Nation from | United States |
| Occupation | Bear Actor |
| Years active | 1965 - late 1970s |
| Owner | Ralph Helfer |
| Weight | 600–800 lb (272–363 kg) |
| Height | approx. 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
He is not related or otherwise connected to the earlier bear actor also named "Bruno the Bear" who appeared in several Mack Sennett comedies and similar comedy films, such as Her Week-End starring Gale Henry, during the 1910s and 1920s.