A fact known to barnyard animal experts and “Shrek” pundits: Until Thursday, the Bay Area was home to what may very well be the world’s most famous donkey.
Perry, a Jerusalem donkey born in New York in 1994, died at the age of 30. Donkey arrived at Stanford in the 1990s to serve as an emotional support animal for polo ponies, but he became famous when he modeled for the animators who designed the voiced “Shrek” character Donkey. by Eddie Murphy (Murphy received $3 million for the role, while Perry received $75). Given the international success of the four “Shrek” films, Perry has been the true face of a global animation superstar.
SFGATE met Perry in 2021, when he was just 26 years old, at his home in Cornelis Bol Park in Palo Alto.
Although Perry was a beloved member of the community, his life was not without controversy. The animal’s medical bills had become a significant expense over the years. Caring for Perry and two other donkeys who lived in the neighborhood cost taxpayers $25,000 a year, and in 2024, that bill increased by another $15,000 because of the extra care provided to Perry. One council member called it “irresponsible,” citing a budget shortfall (even though the money came from a discretionary fund that was about to expire).
Perry’s death was announced Friday on the Barron Park Donkeys Instagram account, prompting an outpouring of support in the form of dozens of comments in just a few hours. Users talked about how they saw Perry when they visited their grandparents in Palo Alto, how head scratching made their day, and what it was like to hang out with the donkeys in high school. Despite his fame, Perry has clearly managed to remain humble.
No announcement has been made regarding a memorial.
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