​Passage: Farewell, Uggie

It happened this past week ... news of the passing of Hollywood's biggest little star.

Animal trainer Omar Von Muller announced that Uggie The Dog had been put to sleep after a bout of prostate cancer.


A Jack Russell terrier too frisky for his owner, Uggie was about to be sent to the pound when Von Muller decided to take him in.

He channeled Uggie's energy into acting, and, after a few bit parts, Uggie attained superstardom in the 2011 Oscar-winning film, "The Artist," stealing scene after scene from leading man Jean Dujardin.

In his most heroic moment, Uggie saves his owner from a burning house by running for help in the nick of time.

View a compilation of some of Uggie's best moments from "The Artist."

Though a star on the red carpet as well as the silver screen, Uggie was ruled ineligible for an Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts rejected him, too, saying: "He is not a human being and, as his unique motivation was sausages, he is not qualified."

Uggie the Dog poses with his two-legged costars from the Oscar-winning Best Picture, "The Artist" in the press room at the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, Calif. JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images

After retiring from films, Uggie did occasional commercials, and served as a spokesdog for the dog rescue movement.

Uggie was 13 years old.

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