Bruno (bear actor)
Clint Howard with Bruno the Bear in 1967 | |
| 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. |
| 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) |
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.
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.