Hollywood has been deprived of a thespian of the most rarified breed. Bart the Bear ™ — the 1,500 pound, 9 1/2 feet tall grizzly perhaps best-known for playing its kind in the 1997 survival flick “The Edge” with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin — died in Utah on May 10, it has been disclosed. He was 22.
Bart’s other big-screen credits include “Legends of the Fall” and “The Bear,” in which he played the bear.
Bart the Bear ™ was born in a stateside zoo on Jan. 19, 1978, and went to live with his adopted human family — Doug and Lynne Seus — shortly after.
His distinguished film career took his humans and him from the Austrian/Italian Alps to the wilderness of Alaska, and finally to a stage appearance on the 1998 Academy Awards.
Perhaps taking his cue for Hollywood activists such as Kim Basinger, Bart the Bear ™ was deeply involved in wildlife causes. He was the “spokesbear” for the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University and also proudly served as the ambassador for an animal habitat preservation foundation.
Bart the Bear ™ is survived by his humans and his bear brother Tank.
No word yet from the Bart’s camp on funeral arrangements.
