Animal Actor. He was the first of several mainly female pigs trained by Frank Inn to appear on the zany television show "Green Acres" (1965 to 1971 starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor) in the role of "Arnold Ziffel." As the animals quickly grew in size, it was necessary to replace them with a new smaller size pig. Females were preferred due to their smaller growth rate as an adult sow will reach up to 900 pounds by age two. As each pig was retired from the show, they were relegated either to the property housing the menagerie of animals at the Frank Inn property in Sylmar or to an area farm to live out their life until natural death would claim them. Arnold could write his name, change channels on a television set, play the piano, drink with a straw, deliver letters and newspapers, play cricket with a bat while predicting weather with his curly tail. He attended school while carrying a lunch box in his mouth. Arnold was the main contributor to the success of the show and its ratings. He received thousands of fan letters and made guest appearances on "What's My Line" and "The Joey Bishop Show." Arnold toured 4-H clubs and schools across America while being the recipient of a Patsy Award, an annual honor bestowed to animal actors by the American Humane Society. All the pigs were trained by Frank Inn and were pedigree Chester White's obtained from the Jim Clem Farm located in Mooresville, Indiana. Upon the death of the original Arnold Ziffel at his Sylmar training facility, he was cremated and the ashes placed in an urn and kept by Frank until his own death and his wish was fulfilled as the receptacle was placed in his casket.
Animal Actor. He was the first of several mainly female pigs trained by Frank Inn to appear on the zany television show "Green Acres" (1965 to 1971 starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor) in the role of "Arnold Ziffel." As the animals quickly grew in size, it was necessary to replace them with a new smaller size pig. Females were preferred due to their smaller growth rate as an adult sow will reach up to 900 pounds by age two. As each pig was retired from the show, they were relegated either to the property housing the menagerie of animals at the Frank Inn property in Sylmar or to an area farm to live out their life until natural death would claim them. Arnold could write his name, change channels on a television set, play the piano, drink with a straw, deliver letters and newspapers, play cricket with a bat while predicting weather with his curly tail. He attended school while carrying a lunch box in his mouth. Arnold was the main contributor to the success of the show and its ratings. He received thousands of fan letters and made guest appearances on "What's My Line" and "The Joey Bishop Show." Arnold toured 4-H clubs and schools across America while being the recipient of a Patsy Award, an annual honor bestowed to animal actors by the American Humane Society. All the pigs were trained by Frank Inn and were pedigree Chester White's obtained from the Jim Clem Farm located in Mooresville, Indiana. Upon the death of the original Arnold Ziffel at his Sylmar training facility, he was cremated and the ashes placed in an urn and kept by Frank until his own death and his wish was fulfilled as the receptacle was placed in his casket.
Bio by: Donald Greyfield
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