The world of animal acting mourns the loss of Perry, the donkey who served as the inspiration for Donkey, the beloved character voiced by Eddie Murphy in the Shrek film series. Perry passed away at the age of 30, leaving behind a legacy that touched countless hearts.
The Barron Park Donkey Project, a volunteer-run pasture in Palo Alto, California, where Perry lived for 27 years, confirmed his passing on Instagram.
"We are heartbroken to share that our beloved Barron Park donkey, Perry, passed away yesterday at the age of 30," the organization wrote. "He was a cherished member of our community, and we know his passing will touch many. Memorial plans will be announced soon."
Perry had been suffering from laminitis, a painful and incurable hoof condition. "In his last weeks, all of the handlers spent many hours at the pasture with him, petting him, cradling him, singing to him, and letting him know he was and always will be loved," the statement continued.
In an article by PEOPLE, Jenny Kiratli, one of Perry’s handlers, said that Perry was a key part of the Barron Park community. "He was so much more than just a donkey," she said. "So many people knew him and loved him. Children came by all the time to see him—not because he was famous as the inspiration for Donkey in Shrek, but simply because he was a little, fuzzy animal they loved to pet."
Perry arrived at Barron Park in 1997, initially intended to be a calming influence for polo ponies. However, as his bio on the Barron Park website humorously notes, "instead of calming them, he nipped at them!"
In 1999, animators from Pacific Data Images, the company that worked on Shrek, visited Barron Park to study donkey movements. Perry became their primary model for Donkey’s mannerisms, which were later brought to life by Eddie Murphy’s unforgettable voice performance.
While Perry was not credited in the Shrek films, his unique movements—like his head tilts, eye rolls, and energetic trots—shaped the animated character audiences fell in love with. Kiratli shared that many of Donkey’s iconic expressions were “straight from Perry.”
Though Perry may be gone, his legacy lives on in the Shrek films and in the hearts of those who loved him. For decades, he brought joy to his local community and became an integral part of cinematic history as the inspiration for one of animation’s most beloved characters.
Source: Entertainment Weekly