'Air Bud' Creator Kevin DiCicco Dead at 63
TMZ • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Kevin DiCicco, creator of "Air Bud," passed away at age 63 after spending time in hospice due to advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, linked to heavy smoking.
- DiCicco discovered Buddy, the dog who starred in "Air Bud," near his Yosemite cabin in 1989 and trained him to perform sports tricks, leading to the dog's appearance on "America's Funniest Home Videos" and later the 1997 film.
- Despite his creator credit on the original "Air Bud" film, DiCicco revealed in 2024 that he did not receive financial benefits from the movie.
- In recent years, DiCicco experienced significant hardships, including homelessness and hospitalization for severe pneumonia, before his death in San Diego.
- Buddy, the dog actor, died in 1998, shortly after the release of the original film.
