Animal Actor. A Cairn Terrier originally named Terry, she was born in Alta Dena, California, and was abandoned by her original owners at Carl Spitz's Hollywood Dog Training School. Spitz kept the dog himself, training her with his pioneering technique of hand signals, and in 1934, the trainer took her to her first audition where she won a role in 'Bright Eyes' (1934), a Shirley Temple vehicle. Numerous additional roles followed in such films as 'The Dark Angel' (1935); 'Fury' (1936); 'The Buccaneer' (1938); and 'Barefoot Boy' (1938) before she landed the role that would change her name; Dorothy Gale's dog, Toto, in the 1939 production of 'The Wizard of Oz.' She was reportedly paid a $125 weekly salary, more than some of the actors playing Munchkins received. During production, her foot was broken when an actor playing one of the Wicked Witch's guards stepped on it. After production wrapped, the habit of calling Terry Toto had become fixed, and she was thereafter usually called by Toto. Other films in which she appeared included 'Bad Little Angel' (1939); 'Calling Philo Vance' (1940); 'Tortilla Flat' (1942); 'George Washington Slept Here' (1942); and 'Easy to Look At' (1945) which would be her final roll. She retired at the age of 12, living with the Spitz family as a pet. After her death, the family buried her on the property, but in 1958, the Ventura Freeway was expanded and the Spitz property was sold to accommodate construction. The entire area was destroyed; Toto's grave included. In 2010, a campaign to provide Toto with a memorial stone met with success. A dedication ceremony on June 18, 2011 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery unveiled her new memorial.
Animal Actor. A Cairn Terrier originally named Terry, she was born in Alta Dena, California, and was abandoned by her original owners at Carl Spitz's Hollywood Dog Training School. Spitz kept the dog himself, training her with his pioneering technique of hand signals, and in 1934, the trainer took her to her first audition where she won a role in 'Bright Eyes' (1934), a Shirley Temple vehicle. Numerous additional roles followed in such films as 'The Dark Angel' (1935); 'Fury' (1936); 'The Buccaneer' (1938); and 'Barefoot Boy' (1938) before she landed the role that would change her name; Dorothy Gale's dog, Toto, in the 1939 production of 'The Wizard of Oz.' She was reportedly paid a $125 weekly salary, more than some of the actors playing Munchkins received. During production, her foot was broken when an actor playing one of the Wicked Witch's guards stepped on it. After production wrapped, the habit of calling Terry Toto had become fixed, and she was thereafter usually called by Toto. Other films in which she appeared included 'Bad Little Angel' (1939); 'Calling Philo Vance' (1940); 'Tortilla Flat' (1942); 'George Washington Slept Here' (1942); and 'Easy to Look At' (1945) which would be her final roll. She retired at the age of 12, living with the Spitz family as a pet. After her death, the family buried her on the property, but in 1958, the Ventura Freeway was expanded and the Spitz property was sold to accommodate construction. The entire area was destroyed; Toto's grave included. In 2010, a campaign to provide Toto with a memorial stone met with success. A dedication ceremony on June 18, 2011 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery unveiled her new memorial.
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Bio by: Iola
